Easy To Judge

Recently I tried to watch a movie about Afghanistan, a fictional movie called Osama. I stopped within 15 minutes of the start – it just wasn’t a style of filmmaking I like, as it was a bit frenetic and the storytelling was all over the place. But the subject matter is something that interests and devastates me alike. The subject matter was about women in Afghanistan and how poorly they’re treated and regarded in society. Women aren't allowed to work. Without a husband, brother, father or grandfather to work for the family, starvation and poverty are rampant, especially among the numerous families who have lost the men in their lives because of war.

No one can downplay the hardship on the women of Afghanistan and any country where women are veiled, burqa-ed, abused, circumsized, stoned, arrested and jailed for doing things that are considered basic human rights in other places (gathering, walking around, asking questions and speaking out against their oppression), and prevented from working, driving, and otherwise participating as a normal human and citizen of their country.

According to now.org

On Sept. 26, 1996, women were 70% of the school teachers, 40% of the doctors, 50% of government workers and 50% of the university students — what a difference a day makes! Today, a woman must be accompanied by a male relative in order to leave the confines of her home. When a women is outside the home she is compelled to wear a head to toe covering called a "burqa," with only a small mesh opening over the eyes to facilitate a limited view of the outside world. It is important to note that the peripheral vision of Afghan women wearing burqas is so restrictive that many have been injured due to poor visibility.
Women have been beaten for showing a bit of ankle or having noisy shoes. Women are not allowed to speak in public and any female from puberty until death may only speak to men who are relatives. Homes in which women reside must have all the windows painted over to obscure view.

Beaten for having noisy shoes.

Not allowed to speak in public and not allowed to speak to a male other than male relatives.

Seriously?

There's more. 

Health care is virtually nonexistent for women, and journalists report that the girls living in the Kabul orphanage have not been let outside since the edict was issued. Tens of thousands of families are starving. In the city of Kabul alone there are 40,000 widows who can no longer work to support themselves and their families. Some widows are fortunate enough to have male children who can beg for the family. Others sit in dark houses praying for humanitarian aid which can only be delivered to them by a male intermediary. Many are eating grass, suffering from skin diseases due to the lack of sunlight and dying due to starvation and untreated illness.

It seems we, as humans, have outdone ourselves. I haven't heard of any creature in the animal kingdom with such strict and, let's be honest, ridiculous and enforced rules regarding gender.

But...

It’s easy to judge these countries as horrific examples of how to treat half their citizens.

But it wasn’t all that long ago that our country did horrible things to women trying to work.

I caught part of the movie North Country recently.

The way the female miners were treated by many of their male coworkers was absolutely disgusting and despicable.

I acknowledge that we are more progressive in many ways on gender equality than other countries, but women reportedly still get paid less for the same job as men. Our country still won’t allow gay people to get legally married (save a few states - thank you Conneticuit, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Washington, Vermont and D.C.). How is that anything other than discrimination?

It was made legal to marry interracially in 1968. That’s only forty-five years ago! That's a short enough time ago that a large number of people alive today remember when it happened.

It’s easy to judge, but step back, put on a wider lens, then do something. Whatever you feel compelled to do.

Years ago I was involved with an organization that supports women’s rights locally and internationally. Over three years (in college, no less), we raised over $30,000 for women’s shelters and charities.

I think it’s time for me to get involved again. I’m not sure how, but I’ll write about it when I do.

Step back.

Put on a wider lens.