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@jessesingal has disputed my interpretation of Gay's stance on the relationship between western feminism & Islamic misogyny,
Reading back through the audio transcript he provided as evidence, I stand by my original statements. If anything, my portrayal was too generous.
@jessesingal has disputed my interpretation of Gay's stance on the relationship between western feminism & Islamic misogyny,
Reading back through the audio transcript he provided as evidence, I stand by my original statements. If anything, my portrayal was too generous.
To me, Gay's quoted response is a weak deflection that allows her to avoid addressing oppressive Islamic norms directly. Although it may appear to harmlessly advocate for cautionary intervention, it's riddled with cultural relativism that hides behind woke activist buzzwords.
The boundaries she defines for intersectional activism by saying " I don't think we know better than what those communities need for themselves" are based on a commonly perceived moral obligation to protect other cultures from white ignorance & imperialist tendencies.
The message to stand back until instructed otherwise is pretty clear to me here and yet @jessesingal alleges that paraphrasing her stance as "we should wait for representatives of that culture to speak up” is an "inflammatory claim" that "just isn't true."
We can't underestimate the impact of a 'stay in your lane' sentiment within the current political climate. Criticism of Islam, no matter how valid, is already stigmatized with associations of bigotry, making the topic off limits to many leftist activists. This doesn't help.
Her hands-off approach is also demonstrated by her assertion that " it would be really presumptuous of me as a feminist to know what's best for Saudi Arabian women, who have been very effective at organizing." Is this a joke?
With this whitewashing fuckery, she distorts the reality of liberal activists in Saudi & other Muslim majority countries. Saudi women have been imprisoned, tortured & sexually assaulted for campaigning for gender equality and somehow she thinks that they've got it covered?
It's one thing to praise their work, which is undoubtedly deserved, & another to ignore a sociopolitical environment that crushes dissent & the challenge this creates for advocacy This needs to be acknowledged to understand why western allies need to speak out UNAPOLOGETICALLY.
Going on to say "they need our support materially, probably financially and certainly in terms of highlighting voices in those communities who are leading these movement to create change" is utterly meaningless when she has used this very platform to sugarcoat their plight.
Given the opportunity to unpack this topic & engage with the timely examples provided by both Desh & Sommers, she chose to focus on the protocols of western intervention & reiterate the need for cultural sensitivity. She made it about us rather than them.
Finally, to say that "Sommers replied by more & less agreeing" does her a great disservice. She was anything but cautious & provided a much needed reality check of the situation. It was her that highlighted the failings of intersectional feminism & need for universal activism.
Please read for yourself & let me know what you think. I think the article is great but this particular point is just too important to let it go unchallenged. Ex-Muslims struggle with their activism b/c rhetoric like this undermines our cause.
@YasMohammedxx & @Geemme what do you guys think?
