Is it hypocritical for Feminist to oppose the Iraq war?
I’ll ignore the wider picture and concentrate only on the rights of women compared to the rights of men. I shan’t discuss those abuses that affected men and women more-or-less equally. In terms of women’s rights, before the Gulf War, Iraq was one of the more progressive Middle Eastern States. The Ba’athist regime understood the benefits of educating women and bringing them into the public sphere, and also made some progress in family law. Iraq deteriorated after the Gulf War, and women’s rights were sacrificed in favour of short-term political / economic expediency. Nevertheless, Iraqi women were still freer than their sisters in, say, Iran or Saudi Arabia. After the US invasion — well — it depends on whom you ask. Many women complain that they can no longer walk the streets at night, which surely counts as a huge loss of freedom. You’re probably confusing Iraq with Afghanistan. The Taleban oppressed women more than any regime in the world, banning them from schools, paid employment,
I’ll ignore the wider picture and concentrate only on the rights of women compared to the rights of men. I shan’t discuss those abuses that affected men and women more-or-less equally. In terms of women’s rights, before the Gulf War, Iraq was one of the more progressive Middle Eastern States. The Ba’athist regime understood the benefits of educating women and bringing them into the public sphere, and also made some progress in family law. Iraq deteriorated after the Gulf War, and women’s rights were sacrificed in favour of short-term political / economic expediency. Nevertheless, Iraqi women were still freer than their sisters in, say, Iran or Saudi Arabia. After the US invasion — well — it depends on whom you ask. Many women complain that they can no longer walk the streets at night, which surely counts as a huge loss of freedom. You’re probably confusing Iraq with Afghanistan. The Taleban oppressed women more than any regime in the world, banning them from schools, paid employment,
