After selection by my high school, I got the opportunity to visit Japan for a Chemistry Olympiad. This was the very first time that I had set foot outside my home country, a fact that explains the immense excitement that had beset me. Japan is a country very different from Pakistan in almost every realm. I knew at once that the short visit to this culturally rich and diverse country will forever enrich me in my intellectual development. It is a testament to the unique quality of the human spirit that despite the multifarious differences that are discernible between countries, humanity is bonded even in this fine line of distinction. It really is astonishing how social norms and values differ in each part of the world and that something inconceivable in one country would be perfectly normal in another. Herein, lies the beauty of human civilization and it was only my trip to Japan that had expanded my horizons and instilled in me the sense of varied cultures of the modern world. Understanding the range of cultures of our times is pivotal to my understanding of how the world operates. Perhaps, the most striking realization was the recognition of the difference between cultures amid the appreciation of the qualities that make us all akin. I felt that I had changed after the trip, as the way I made sense of the world was forever altered.
Qatar is a country that is a showcase of Middle Eastern culture and values. As an ambassador for TAMUQ, I would like to elucidate the social customs that are present in the Middle East. Qatar is increasingly defining itself as a melting point and the very fact that Education City is home to students from more than fifty countries stands as a testament to this. The country, in line with the 2030 vision, seeks to become a knowledge hub with Texas A and M being a focal point for the study of engineering and liberal arts. The negative picture of Islamic countries painted by the media cannot be generalized at all times, and I would like to remove some of the stigmas that are normally attached to this region. These conventional notions about the Middle East as being rigid and unreceptive to change no longer hold credence as epitomized by Qatar’s inspiring growth in the last decade. The country is increasingly becoming liberal and tolerant to the torrent of changes that have emerged in the last few years. It is noteworthy that Qatar is the world’s biggest exporter of liquefied natural gas which in turn means that engineers are in high demand as Texas A and M supplies the workforce in the one of the world’s most important energy producing region. Education City is perhaps the most globalised campus on Earth which is a reflection of its cultural diversity. It is the fusion of education in an interracial setting that has helped me to interact with students from different races who I otherwise would never have met. I would like to enlighten my peers at College Station that the Aggie spirit runs high in Education city and it is this very spirit that so tightly bonds the two campuses despite the thousands of miles that separate the two.
In our globalised era, international student exchanges serve as an important bridge between cultures and nations as we come to appreciate the multifarious aspects that make us all similar, as world citizens. Such an opportunity would help me to understand the workings of American culture and society, a topic for which I have developed a profound and deep craving ever since I came cognizant of the world around me. The experience of meeting new people is beyond doubt an opportunity that I have never let go of. This would greatly aid me in improving my interpersonal skills, a skill that is increasingly defining itself as pivotal in any field of study. Upon my return to TAMUQ, I aim to share all the amazing experiences with my peers in Doha, aiding them in our collective realization of how the Aggies in College Station are not so different from those in Education City. I also plan to shed light on the cultural values and norms of the United States and how Texas A and M is educating the world’s next generation of leading engineers, not only in College Station but also in the Doha campus. It is this geographical and cultural diversity that set Texas A and M apart and give it the edge required in this interconnected world. I would fine immense pleasure in sharing whatever I learn in College Station with my peers in Doha and my intellectual development would transmute me into a better student leader at TAMUQ.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
The search for the surprising
The first chapter downplays the role idealism and heroism can play in a war and instead goes about showing how humans have to be motivated to achieve a set target. Marshall’s description of how men in combat can easily vacillate between behaving like lions or like scared hares serves to justify the fallibility of human nature. Something that bolsters this argument is the pivotal role that has been attached to army officers, men who provide disorganized soldiers with leadership and guidance. By taking a rather pessimistic view of human nature, one that relegates man to the status of an egotistical creature, Gwynne Dyer lays bare his belief that humans need strong leadership at all times. Dyer also endorses the manipulation and psychological brainwashing that the military often resorts to. In his depiction of humans as captive to the fear of death, the author fails to appreciate the unique quality of the human spirit. The acceptance of unlimited liability by all soldiers highlights the selflessness displayed when they sign up in the army. To sign a contract for your own death does tell us something about the person who does so. The unromantic view of solders under stress can be castigated on the grounds that fear is a reality and is very much palpable. When you put at risk the most precious thing you have, your life, then it is only understandable that a person will show some signs of tension.
Dyer underscores the fact that total war is only sleeping and it is only a matter of time before the world community finds itself enveloped in another major conflict. Such a conclusion ignores the placating effect of nuclear weapons .Given that humans are rational, the presence of nuclear weapons can, paradoxically, deter major conflict. Consider the economic interdependence that marks the modern epoch, a fact that serves to exemplify why nations will avoid war when they can. This is not to say that war will become a thing of the past for it will remain as long as humanity survives. But the likelihood of a major armed conflict between the nuclear powers diminishes owing to the realization of the tremendous destruction it can engender.
The observation that is war is completely capricious and that no amount of planning can negate the multitude of variables present in it cannot be generalized as a rule of thumb. As the years roll forward, planning is increasingly defining itself as paramount to success in any war. In essence, the burgeoning need for planning is a reflection of the complexity of our era. In his endorsement of war as the ‘province of uncertainty’, Dyer has to some extent relegated an important factor to something that lacks efficacy. There is no denying the fact that unpredictably is entrenched in the very nature of conflict, but this does not give us the warrant to label preparation as insignificant. What I find surprising is the extent to which Dyer is willing to do so.
The second chapter underlines the role of basic training as something that caters to the metamorphosis that marks the entry of new recruits into the army. Basic training is a method of transmuting the young civilians into bellicose soldiers, ready to kill at the slightest whim. It is worth outlining the considerable level of resistance and non conformity that accompanies this period of basic training. Not everyone internalizes the military values to the same degree and even if they do, they cannot be any degree of assurance that once on the battlefield; their ingrained belief in the sanctity of human life will not deter them from engaging in combat. If nothing else, this serves to show that about 20 years of socialization has left behind its imprint on the young recruit’s soul. It is rather hard to see how three weeks of intensive training can, in the slightest, reverse all the moral norms and values embedded inside the individual. Taken together, the notion that otherwise empathetic humans can be turned into heartless beasts in a period of three weeks renders itself worthy of a certain degree of suspicion. In stark contrast, evidence corroborates the difficulty of killing even in face to face combat, where the price of doing so is potentially one’s life. As pointed out by US army Colonel S.L.A. Marshall, only 15 percent of trained combat riflemen fired their weapons at all in battle. Also, consider the Battle of Gettysburg where huge numbers of soldiers refused to fire their weapons at short range. It needs to be pointed out that the new training methods stand out as an anomaly in their ability to mitigate the moral compunction that results from killing. The tactics used in such modern training methods are more successful as they take into account human psychology. That said, the inability of basic training to instill military values into the new recruits stands as a testament to the compassion embedded in all of humanity.
Dyer underscores the fact that total war is only sleeping and it is only a matter of time before the world community finds itself enveloped in another major conflict. Such a conclusion ignores the placating effect of nuclear weapons .Given that humans are rational, the presence of nuclear weapons can, paradoxically, deter major conflict. Consider the economic interdependence that marks the modern epoch, a fact that serves to exemplify why nations will avoid war when they can. This is not to say that war will become a thing of the past for it will remain as long as humanity survives. But the likelihood of a major armed conflict between the nuclear powers diminishes owing to the realization of the tremendous destruction it can engender.
The observation that is war is completely capricious and that no amount of planning can negate the multitude of variables present in it cannot be generalized as a rule of thumb. As the years roll forward, planning is increasingly defining itself as paramount to success in any war. In essence, the burgeoning need for planning is a reflection of the complexity of our era. In his endorsement of war as the ‘province of uncertainty’, Dyer has to some extent relegated an important factor to something that lacks efficacy. There is no denying the fact that unpredictably is entrenched in the very nature of conflict, but this does not give us the warrant to label preparation as insignificant. What I find surprising is the extent to which Dyer is willing to do so.
The second chapter underlines the role of basic training as something that caters to the metamorphosis that marks the entry of new recruits into the army. Basic training is a method of transmuting the young civilians into bellicose soldiers, ready to kill at the slightest whim. It is worth outlining the considerable level of resistance and non conformity that accompanies this period of basic training. Not everyone internalizes the military values to the same degree and even if they do, they cannot be any degree of assurance that once on the battlefield; their ingrained belief in the sanctity of human life will not deter them from engaging in combat. If nothing else, this serves to show that about 20 years of socialization has left behind its imprint on the young recruit’s soul. It is rather hard to see how three weeks of intensive training can, in the slightest, reverse all the moral norms and values embedded inside the individual. Taken together, the notion that otherwise empathetic humans can be turned into heartless beasts in a period of three weeks renders itself worthy of a certain degree of suspicion. In stark contrast, evidence corroborates the difficulty of killing even in face to face combat, where the price of doing so is potentially one’s life. As pointed out by US army Colonel S.L.A. Marshall, only 15 percent of trained combat riflemen fired their weapons at all in battle. Also, consider the Battle of Gettysburg where huge numbers of soldiers refused to fire their weapons at short range. It needs to be pointed out that the new training methods stand out as an anomaly in their ability to mitigate the moral compunction that results from killing. The tactics used in such modern training methods are more successful as they take into account human psychology. That said, the inability of basic training to instill military values into the new recruits stands as a testament to the compassion embedded in all of humanity.
The morality of murder
The short story, Just Lather is shaped by the presence of both internal and external conflicts. Most conspicuous is the struggle taking place inside the barber who grapples with the relative importance of morality, professionalism and loyalty. A somewhat latent conflict goes on inside Captain Torres whose final remark reveals the human that lives inside him. Also, the existence of external factors like political and social unrest, help us in understanding the setting of the story.
Just lather is a story that presents to us in the most lucid way all the hesitation that results from us exercising our morality. The grand setting concocts an image that leaves the barber in a quandary. The symbolism employed through the use of the razor and the ever so vulnerable neck of Captain Torres provides a strong sense of suspense. This makes it rather simple to fathom the golden opportunity knocking at the barber’s door, an opportunity that could transmute his lowly existence into a hero worthy of veneration. It is against this backdrop that we see the barber making his choice, rendering the ending all the more dramatic. That he did not succumb to his belligerent inclinations leaves us gaping at the ingenuity of the author and the principles of a man who finds redemption through his work.
Conflict is a theme that resonates throughout the story. Needless to say, it is imperative to our understanding of the barber. The barber’s profound sense of morality and commitment to his profession is first revealed through the bitter conflict that leaves him undecided and bamboozled. This internal conflict is further exacerbated by Captain Torres who deliberately adds salt to his wounds. Consider the callous remarks made by Captain Torres, comments that help the reader to form an early impression of him. The manner in which Captain Torres is able to relegate the killing of the rebels to the status of a ‘Fine show’ and as something that lends itself worthy of amusement serves to provide us with one such example. The author provides us with further evidence in relation to Captain Torres’s search of the rebels: ‘Not one of them comes out of this alive, not one’ (Tellez, p.16). The image of the barber armed with his razor, all the while being incensed by the piercing commentary sets the stage for the climax of this gripping story.
It is worthwhile to explore the reasons that led the barber to go against his natural inclination, an instinct that would surely have led him to avenge the heartless killings of his countrymen. To rebel against one’s nature is beyond doubt an act that defies logic and which, therefore merits scrutiny. The barber finds himself in a moral quandary as outlined by the author: ‘Curse him for coming, because I am a revolutionary and not a murderer. And how easy it would be to kill him. And he deserves it. Does he? No. No one deserves to have someone else make the sacrifice of becoming a murderer. What do you gain by it? Nothing’ (Tellez, p. 18-19). The beauty of the compelling narrative lies in the inexorable struggle taking place inside the barber who is torn between his urge to kill and his overriding belief in the nobility of a profession that he has helped to elevate to the sacrosanct status of an art. That said, the barber does, for some time, entertain the thought of killing Captain Torres. But this time, the conflict inside him takes into account the possibility of the effects of his act: ‘He slit his throat while he was shaving him- a coward. And then on the other side. ‘The avenger of us all. A name to remember’ (Tellez, p.19). The barber prides himself in relation to his occupation and this hinders him from killing Captain Torres. The battle raging inside the barber lays bare his dedication and more over, his undying respect for an occupation whose worth many would question. As underscored by the author: ‘Yes, I was secretly a rebel, but I was also a conscientious barber, and proud of the preciousness of my profession’ (Tellez, p.17).As it turns out, the barber is swayed to a greater extent by this line of reasoning. The conflict inside the barber is resolved as a consequence of his ingrained respect for a profession that he cannot dare defile.
The author’s depiction of Captian Torres as a man who has no qualms in killing serves a useful pupose as it sets the stage for his dramatic confession later in the story. In order to shed more light on the conflict present inside Captain Torres, it is worthwhile to explore the rationale for his last comment. The author, in a single sentence, is able to change the makeup of the story: ‘’they told me that you’d kill me. I came to find out. But killing isn’t easy. You can take my word for that’ (Tellez, p.21). By accepting that killing is not easy, Captain Torres goes on to show that he is not the savage that we consider him to be. Captain Torres likens himself to any normal being in his appreciation of the difficulty that comes about as a direct result of engaging in such egregious behavior. The ending of the story serves to humanize Captain Torres, a man otherwise depicted as the embodiment of all that is evil. The author paints a picture which exposes the animal that resides in him: ‘A man of imagination but who else would have thought of hanging the naked rebels and then holding target practice on certain parts of their bodies’( Tellez, p.16)?
He could very well be a man trapped in the captivity of negativity, a condition that impedes morality from overshadowing one’s innate belligerence. If nothing else, Captain Torres’s confession mitigates his own sense of guilt and to some extent justifies his flagrant behavior. A prisoner of his social role, Captain Torres does lay bare the inexorable conflict that resides in him. In a kind of role reversal, Captain Torres begins to see himself through the barber, which is possibly an attempt to uncover and unravel the moral quandary that envelops him.
The internal conflicts that go on unabated inside the two principal characters cannot be fully understood without an appreciation of the external factors that helped shaped the plot. The backdrop of the narrative is provided by the civil war that is wreaking havoc in the country. These external factors have an important bearing on how the two principal characters conduct themselves. For example, it is inconceivable to fully understand the moral quagmire the barber found himself without knowledge of the atrocious killing of the rebels. Such acts of unspeakable horror instilled in the barber a desire for revenge. All in all, conflict (internal or external) is a pervasive feature of the story line and one that is central to our understanding of the characters.
Just lather is a story that presents to us in the most lucid way all the hesitation that results from us exercising our morality. The grand setting concocts an image that leaves the barber in a quandary. The symbolism employed through the use of the razor and the ever so vulnerable neck of Captain Torres provides a strong sense of suspense. This makes it rather simple to fathom the golden opportunity knocking at the barber’s door, an opportunity that could transmute his lowly existence into a hero worthy of veneration. It is against this backdrop that we see the barber making his choice, rendering the ending all the more dramatic. That he did not succumb to his belligerent inclinations leaves us gaping at the ingenuity of the author and the principles of a man who finds redemption through his work.
Conflict is a theme that resonates throughout the story. Needless to say, it is imperative to our understanding of the barber. The barber’s profound sense of morality and commitment to his profession is first revealed through the bitter conflict that leaves him undecided and bamboozled. This internal conflict is further exacerbated by Captain Torres who deliberately adds salt to his wounds. Consider the callous remarks made by Captain Torres, comments that help the reader to form an early impression of him. The manner in which Captain Torres is able to relegate the killing of the rebels to the status of a ‘Fine show’ and as something that lends itself worthy of amusement serves to provide us with one such example. The author provides us with further evidence in relation to Captain Torres’s search of the rebels: ‘Not one of them comes out of this alive, not one’ (Tellez, p.16). The image of the barber armed with his razor, all the while being incensed by the piercing commentary sets the stage for the climax of this gripping story.
It is worthwhile to explore the reasons that led the barber to go against his natural inclination, an instinct that would surely have led him to avenge the heartless killings of his countrymen. To rebel against one’s nature is beyond doubt an act that defies logic and which, therefore merits scrutiny. The barber finds himself in a moral quandary as outlined by the author: ‘Curse him for coming, because I am a revolutionary and not a murderer. And how easy it would be to kill him. And he deserves it. Does he? No. No one deserves to have someone else make the sacrifice of becoming a murderer. What do you gain by it? Nothing’ (Tellez, p. 18-19). The beauty of the compelling narrative lies in the inexorable struggle taking place inside the barber who is torn between his urge to kill and his overriding belief in the nobility of a profession that he has helped to elevate to the sacrosanct status of an art. That said, the barber does, for some time, entertain the thought of killing Captain Torres. But this time, the conflict inside him takes into account the possibility of the effects of his act: ‘He slit his throat while he was shaving him- a coward. And then on the other side. ‘The avenger of us all. A name to remember’ (Tellez, p.19). The barber prides himself in relation to his occupation and this hinders him from killing Captain Torres. The battle raging inside the barber lays bare his dedication and more over, his undying respect for an occupation whose worth many would question. As underscored by the author: ‘Yes, I was secretly a rebel, but I was also a conscientious barber, and proud of the preciousness of my profession’ (Tellez, p.17).As it turns out, the barber is swayed to a greater extent by this line of reasoning. The conflict inside the barber is resolved as a consequence of his ingrained respect for a profession that he cannot dare defile.
The author’s depiction of Captian Torres as a man who has no qualms in killing serves a useful pupose as it sets the stage for his dramatic confession later in the story. In order to shed more light on the conflict present inside Captain Torres, it is worthwhile to explore the rationale for his last comment. The author, in a single sentence, is able to change the makeup of the story: ‘’they told me that you’d kill me. I came to find out. But killing isn’t easy. You can take my word for that’ (Tellez, p.21). By accepting that killing is not easy, Captain Torres goes on to show that he is not the savage that we consider him to be. Captain Torres likens himself to any normal being in his appreciation of the difficulty that comes about as a direct result of engaging in such egregious behavior. The ending of the story serves to humanize Captain Torres, a man otherwise depicted as the embodiment of all that is evil. The author paints a picture which exposes the animal that resides in him: ‘A man of imagination but who else would have thought of hanging the naked rebels and then holding target practice on certain parts of their bodies’( Tellez, p.16)?
He could very well be a man trapped in the captivity of negativity, a condition that impedes morality from overshadowing one’s innate belligerence. If nothing else, Captain Torres’s confession mitigates his own sense of guilt and to some extent justifies his flagrant behavior. A prisoner of his social role, Captain Torres does lay bare the inexorable conflict that resides in him. In a kind of role reversal, Captain Torres begins to see himself through the barber, which is possibly an attempt to uncover and unravel the moral quandary that envelops him.
The internal conflicts that go on unabated inside the two principal characters cannot be fully understood without an appreciation of the external factors that helped shaped the plot. The backdrop of the narrative is provided by the civil war that is wreaking havoc in the country. These external factors have an important bearing on how the two principal characters conduct themselves. For example, it is inconceivable to fully understand the moral quagmire the barber found himself without knowledge of the atrocious killing of the rebels. Such acts of unspeakable horror instilled in the barber a desire for revenge. All in all, conflict (internal or external) is a pervasive feature of the story line and one that is central to our understanding of the characters.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Oil and the common man
The recent increase in the price of oil has raised strong outcry from, almost all sectors of the economy except the oil producers themselves who are blessing the government for its most recent act of eliminating poverty from our country. The notion of bringing inflation to an unprecedented level in order to keep control on poverty is a policy that can be very effective in the short run. With people committing mass suicides, the government can proudly claim that the poor are being reduced for the first time in the short history of the country. After the price hike, suppliers cut of supply without warning rendering immense difficulty to the workings of a transport system that is reliant on oil like a 2 year old baby is on his mother. With moral values all going down the drain, petrol pumps showed the extent of their greed by cutting off supply all together in the search for excessive profits. The government’s policy regarding oil fails to satisfy any sensible pattern in relation to the price of oil in the world markets. This points to the existence of external forces that are having a strong say in the workings of the whole system. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist in order to understand the egregious effects of this price hike. Oil is a basic good in this country and is as important as wheat in the eyes of the consumer because of its multifarious use in different sectors of the economy that range the transport to industry. Inflation is likely to display its evil powers in the months to come after the birthday gift it received from the benevolent government of Pakistan
IMPLICATIONS OF TERRORISM
The last thing that Pakistan wanted was the permanent label of a terror state. This does little to revamp its already tarnished reputation in the world community. In the West, the name of our country commensurate with a place plagued by death, destruction and marked by a torrent of suicide killings and bomb attacks. As time marches on and the attacks rise in number and intensity, the potency of this impression will only get stronger. Countless soldiers risk their lives in the Fata region, an area that has never known law and order. The amount of damage that such a situation does is beyond the scope of calculation. If you have any misgivings of this argument, then try to quantify the grief of a mother who has lost her son to a suicide attack or that of a brother who is staring at the dead body of his beloved brother. Excluding the physical suffering, such events render the economy a severe blow. This takes the form of reduced foreign investment and a fall in the stock exchange index. At this point in time, it is also noteworthy to mention the psychological effects on the people who have already been deprived of food, jobs and security. Sometimes, I credit the nation for remaining strong in the face of such appalling problems. If our rulers had shown some compassion to the million of denizens who are trapped in the grip of poverty, the situation would not have been such a hopeless one. But, why should these sybarites part ways with their opulent lifestyle, especially one that is exclusively financed by public money. Their concept of a ruler is deeply flawed which explains why they seek to emulate those despots who have set their names apart in world history, on account of a ingrained belief in nepotism, debauchery, and the unwarranted notion that public money was part of a heritage their father left them at birth Among other things, this reflects why it is imperative for the masses to rise and take hold of their own destiny, because no one from the elite will care to voice concern for their civil rights.
FEMINISM UNMASKED
If you ever happen to open a history book, the concept of patriarchy would strike you as a blatant feature of a male dominated society. Women have always been denigrated as the weaker sex, which falls in line with their biological makeup. This however, does not give men a license to exploit women. Since the time when human settlements began to crop up, women have been considered as the private property of men. Considering the multifarious atrocities committed against women, the success of the newly founded feminist movement is a testament to the burgeoning desire among many women to set things right for once. The movement has come a long way since its establishment but to say that equality between the genders has been achieved would be like stretching truth to the breaking point. Women received the vote in Denmark and Iceland in 1915, The USSR in 1917, Austria, Germany and Canada in 1918.French women did not receive the vote till 1945. Lichtenstein was one of the last countries, in 1984.
The change in the fortunes of women can be traced to the outset of the World War 2 which led to increased need for personnel in the armed forces. Enter women who seized the opportunity with both hands and usurped the position of men in the labor market. The popular icon Rosie the Riveter became a symbol for a generation of working women Even when the war veterans returned, the majority of the women retained their jobs and the newly found grip in the labor force.
The feminist movement was spearheaded, in the first stage by Virginia Woolf and the right to vote was the major issue that was promulgated by the feminists. The presence of a political voice ensured that the rights of women were not condoned during the decision making process. In the 1960’s, the second wave of the feminist movement in the United States began. Unlike the first wave, the second wave of the 1960’s was focused on many complex social and political rights. The liberationists of the 1960’s aimed to completely rework the way that women were treated and perceived by their community. Impetus was provided by Betty Friedan's 1963 book, The Feminine Mystique, which blamed the society for the multitude of problems that beset women. This book proved to be a watershed in the feminist awakening to the ground reality. It called for women to accept social roles equal to that of their male counterparts and to shed the housewife stereotype, a factor ensuring that patriarchy becomes the order of the day in millions of households. The next step was to fight against discrimination in the workplace. Although, many employers do state in their job advertisements that the organization is an equal opportunity employer, this in itself does not serve to justify that bias and chauvinism is a thing of the past. The third wave of feminism was a direct response to the perceived failures of its antecedent.
Despite the fact that women can now vote and drive and have increased presence in normally male dominant sectors like the military, the claim that women no longer face any discrimination at home and work is a far cry from the stark reality that still ensures that behind the façade of development, there lies a male dominated society. As exemplified by the thought of a leading feminist; the way ahead is very long and tiring but we can rest assure that the journey towards an egalitarian society has begun.
Maybe a lesson or two of human psychology would help us understand why males have treated their counterparts as noxious insects. As history testifies, males always did the more dangerous jobs while women were happy to take care of the children. This built an aggression inside the human male, an aggression that found its expression through beating wives at home. This ingrained belief in the fragility of women, corroborated by their biological makeup, has infused of concept of male superiority in our subconscious mind.
Often the reason why females have not been able to articulate their rights is a self image that they concoct for themselves. Such an image enjoins that transgressing the rules of patriarchy is a crime that would be in a direct conflict with the social norms. A Vindication of the Rights by Wollstonecraft saw that it was the education and upbringing of women that created their limited expectations based on a self-image dictated by the male gaze.
The school of thought called functionalism in the realm of sociology partly explains there is such a proclivity to conform to existing standards of acceptable behavior. To speak against your husband would be considered as the height of debauchery even in a world that prides itself on its ability to treat both the genders equitably. This leads us to the conclusion that women can only change their life chances by transmuting their attitude towards their roles in society.
One of the most misguided notions of conventional wisdom is that men have both a physical and mental edge over women. Nothing could have been further from the truth. In stark contrast, statistics corroborate the fact that women have overshadowed men in academics. The unwarranted notion that men are physically resilient may hold some veracity but this does not override the fact that women outlive men on average. The global economic crisis has proved to be a metamorphosis for the fate of countless women around the planet. Considering the fact that females are becoming important contributors to the world labor supply, their burgeoning purchasing power lends credence to their invisible powers. As history marches on, woman's presence in all walks of life will make them a potent and powerful group .This is a far cry from the 18 century when even the basic civil right of suffrage was denied to them, a fact that testifies to the success of the feminist movement.
The Feminist movement has many obstacles in its way among which internal disagreement stands out in prominence. It is no secret that there are disparate ways to achieve gender equality which elucidates why disputes about the plausible ways to move ahead remains a matter that is open to ferocious debate. Add to this the differing racial and geographical interests and you get a quandary which leads to the middle of nowhere.
The change in the fortunes of women can be traced to the outset of the World War 2 which led to increased need for personnel in the armed forces. Enter women who seized the opportunity with both hands and usurped the position of men in the labor market. The popular icon Rosie the Riveter became a symbol for a generation of working women Even when the war veterans returned, the majority of the women retained their jobs and the newly found grip in the labor force.
The feminist movement was spearheaded, in the first stage by Virginia Woolf and the right to vote was the major issue that was promulgated by the feminists. The presence of a political voice ensured that the rights of women were not condoned during the decision making process. In the 1960’s, the second wave of the feminist movement in the United States began. Unlike the first wave, the second wave of the 1960’s was focused on many complex social and political rights. The liberationists of the 1960’s aimed to completely rework the way that women were treated and perceived by their community. Impetus was provided by Betty Friedan's 1963 book, The Feminine Mystique, which blamed the society for the multitude of problems that beset women. This book proved to be a watershed in the feminist awakening to the ground reality. It called for women to accept social roles equal to that of their male counterparts and to shed the housewife stereotype, a factor ensuring that patriarchy becomes the order of the day in millions of households. The next step was to fight against discrimination in the workplace. Although, many employers do state in their job advertisements that the organization is an equal opportunity employer, this in itself does not serve to justify that bias and chauvinism is a thing of the past. The third wave of feminism was a direct response to the perceived failures of its antecedent.
Despite the fact that women can now vote and drive and have increased presence in normally male dominant sectors like the military, the claim that women no longer face any discrimination at home and work is a far cry from the stark reality that still ensures that behind the façade of development, there lies a male dominated society. As exemplified by the thought of a leading feminist; the way ahead is very long and tiring but we can rest assure that the journey towards an egalitarian society has begun.
Maybe a lesson or two of human psychology would help us understand why males have treated their counterparts as noxious insects. As history testifies, males always did the more dangerous jobs while women were happy to take care of the children. This built an aggression inside the human male, an aggression that found its expression through beating wives at home. This ingrained belief in the fragility of women, corroborated by their biological makeup, has infused of concept of male superiority in our subconscious mind.
Often the reason why females have not been able to articulate their rights is a self image that they concoct for themselves. Such an image enjoins that transgressing the rules of patriarchy is a crime that would be in a direct conflict with the social norms. A Vindication of the Rights by Wollstonecraft saw that it was the education and upbringing of women that created their limited expectations based on a self-image dictated by the male gaze.
The school of thought called functionalism in the realm of sociology partly explains there is such a proclivity to conform to existing standards of acceptable behavior. To speak against your husband would be considered as the height of debauchery even in a world that prides itself on its ability to treat both the genders equitably. This leads us to the conclusion that women can only change their life chances by transmuting their attitude towards their roles in society.
One of the most misguided notions of conventional wisdom is that men have both a physical and mental edge over women. Nothing could have been further from the truth. In stark contrast, statistics corroborate the fact that women have overshadowed men in academics. The unwarranted notion that men are physically resilient may hold some veracity but this does not override the fact that women outlive men on average. The global economic crisis has proved to be a metamorphosis for the fate of countless women around the planet. Considering the fact that females are becoming important contributors to the world labor supply, their burgeoning purchasing power lends credence to their invisible powers. As history marches on, woman's presence in all walks of life will make them a potent and powerful group .This is a far cry from the 18 century when even the basic civil right of suffrage was denied to them, a fact that testifies to the success of the feminist movement.
The Feminist movement has many obstacles in its way among which internal disagreement stands out in prominence. It is no secret that there are disparate ways to achieve gender equality which elucidates why disputes about the plausible ways to move ahead remains a matter that is open to ferocious debate. Add to this the differing racial and geographical interests and you get a quandary which leads to the middle of nowhere.
PATHWAY TO HELL
Our country may have set a new record; the amount of turbulence would have made the Mongol proclivity towards violence seem paltry if it were to be juxtaposed with our very own. The unbridled law and order situation in Pakistan has made a name for the country, an achievement that its establishment was never capable of. Pakistan’s image has been marred by acts of terrorism that have left the indelible mark of a failed state on its denizens. If you happen to be a patriotic citizen, the current plight of the nation would leave you aghast and apprehensive. A wave of indignation sweeps me as I muse over the multitude of problems that have like an inferno, besieged a nation that has all the resources to transmute itself into a paragon of democracy, freedom and economic self sufficiency. Such a state would commensurate with the political ideals our founding father had envisioned over 60 years ago. That being said, it is an irony that we are the antithesis of such a definition. Amoral, rapacious and disorderly are apposite ways to delineate the plight of our society. Considering the fact that Islam enjoins none of these egregious values, explanations for such devious behavior are difficult to find in a god-fearing nation. Small wonder that our country lags behind in every realm, ranging from economic development to political stability. It goes without saying that one item that thrives is corruption, a blatant aspect of our society that has found a safe heaven in this country. An accepted part of conventional wisdom is that discrimination engenders a situation that is not viable for the development of a nation. Much of the blame rests on the sanctimonious leaders who have allowed personal interest to supplant those of the nation. A discerning eye would point out with alacrity how these inept leaders have squandered the opportunity to set their country on the right track. The ease with which they still manage to manipulate the common man, who is not cognizant of their stratagems, has allowed these affluent people to remain in positions of ascendancy. It would be wrong to hold the impoverished, illiterate man on the street culpable of not being able to read between the lines. It is no secret that the masses are gullible by nature and promises of food and shelter during the election campaign are enough to delude them of the ground reality. This, in turn, means that the onus falls on the media and the educated class, who should ensure that the rights of these weak beings are not condoned during the decision making process.
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