Group+18

FINISHED POWERPOINT!!

 Womankind Worldwide says millions of Afghan women and girls continue to face systematic discrimination and violence in their households and communities. Guarantees given to Afghan women after the fall of the Taliban in 2001 have not translated into real change.


 * BBC NEWS**, Oct. 31, 2006

Topic Choice: Women's Rights in the Middle East

===Essential Question: How have women’s rights in Afghanistan, Iran, and Turkey developed and/or decreased over time? How can we, as American women, relate to their struggles and what can we do to aid them?===

**Links To Look At** //(Additions please!)// [|__http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/globalconnections/mideast/questions/women/index.html__] [|__http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/muslims/themes/women.html__] [|__http://www.mwlusa.org/__] [|http://www.jannah.org/sisters/] [|http://www.globalissues.org/issue/103/middle-east]

I really like the below links because they represent the "problems and issues" side of our topic. Pakistan and Afghanistan are problematic, but let's also look a little bit into women's rights activists and progressing areas in the Middle East, just in case. [|http://web.ebscohost.com/src/detail?vid=4&hid=105&sid=2d243383-c483-4c09-9996-b9721af043d7%40sessionmgr104&bdata=JnNpdGU9c3JjLWxpdmU%3d#db=ulh&AN=36084449]

[|http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/aug/14/afghanistan-womens-rights-rape]

Afghanistan looks like a really big target for our paper. With the Taliban as a oppressive force, we can easily pin point the problems with women's rights. The article that Christyn put up can help us to jump start our essential question.

Jen, here's the timeline for the proposal. Could you add our due date for our power points. I'm not sure when we wanted it done. Thank you. Here’s a link that I felt was helpful to our project: [|http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/aug/14/afghanistan-womens-rights-rape] This article was about how women’s rights are being violated by men. In this article it talks about how men are allowed to deny women food and sustenance if they don’t give in to their husband’s sexual needs. They are allowed to rape their wives within marriage and without. Essentially rape is illegal but in Afghanistan if a man rapes a woman he can pay her a monetary reparation for any damage that was inflicted upon the women during or after the rape crime was committed. Although the Taliban has crashed the leader in charge has reinstated these laws with his “stamp of approval”. ​ --yes i read that article. uhm, could you gmail me the essential question. please and thank you. [|http://www.afghan-web.com/woman/] This article is about Afghan women who have been through torture under the Taliban rule. The Taliban ruled from 1996-2001. Women could not leave their homes without any male escort to take them where they needed to be, and could not seek medical attention from a doctor who was a male. They would have to hide their faces and bodies under clothes, and could not reveal themselves to any person except their husband. Women who used to be professionals were forced to lead their lives as beggars and prostitutes. Though the Taliban does not reign any more many women still feel the impact. In some families women and young girls still get the same treatment as they would have when the Taliban did reign. The system has gotten a little better in the sense that women could return to their professions and positions of power were restored. They don’t need to cover their bodies with masses of clothes, but are still forced into marriage. Women are denied a education and schools have been burned down.
 * Feb.12,2010 - Prepare our outline [RESEARCH SHOULD ALREADY BE COLLECTED]
 * **Feb.19,2010- RESEARCH OUTLINE DUE**
 * March 26, 2010 - Finish First draft [proof read/edit]
 * **March 31, 2010- FIRST DRAFT DUE**
 * April 16, 2010- Final draft must be completed
 * **April 27, 2010 - FINAL DRAFT DUE**
 * **May 14, 2010 - PRESENTATIONS**
 * MAHINA**


 * Iran**

here's some stuff i found on Iran.

[|http://www.women4peace.org/women-rights.html] "Women." //Women for Peace and Justice in Iran//. Web. 16 Feb. 2010. < [|http://www.women4peace.org/women-rights.html].>

[|http://www.prb.org/Articles/2009/iranyouth.aspx] I like this article because it was more positve then negative. There were some interesting graphs and tables that could be useful in our powerpoint. "Youth, Women's Rights, and Political Change in Iran - Population Reference Bureau." //Home - Population Reference Bureau//. Web. 16 Feb. 2010. < [|http://www.prb.org/Articles/2009/iranyouth.aspx]>.

[|http://www.opendemocracy.net/article/the-rights-of-irans-women] This is a good article because it talks about current times. Though it was back in 2009 it's till some pretty current news. "The rights of Iran's women |." //OpenDemocracy//. Web. 16 Feb. 2010. < [|http://www.opendemocracy.net/article/the-rights-of-irans-women]>.

[|http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/asia/091012/iran-economy-tehran-subway?page=0,1] Women in Iran go as far as working in subways as vendors during rough economic times. it's a place free from preying men and theharsh environments outside. the ages of this all women wagon vendor crowd rage from young to old, wives to widows, or simply students trying to pay theri tuition,Tehran’s 7-Tir station has a sign posted out in the front that says womens only. Men aren't able to go on the train and stop them, and there aren't many female police.

[|http://www.parstimes.com/women/womens_employment_situration.html] Women and job oppurtunites. "Women's Employment Situation in Iran." //Bienvenue! - Welcome! to Pars Times//. Web. 16 Feb. 2010. [|http://www.parstimes.com/women/womens_employment_situration.html].

[|http://www.wfafi.org/laws.pdf] Laws and articles concerning iranian women. wp #1

2/6/10 [|http://www.downtownexpress.com/de_89/fashionandthetreatment.html] Dress code of iranian women. "Fashion and the treatment of women in Iran." //THE WEEKLY NEWSPAPER OF LOWER MANHATTAN//. Web. 17 Feb. 2010. < [|http://www.downtownexpress.com/de_89/fashionandthetreatment.html]>.

[|http://www.rferl.org/content/Bans_Burqinis_And_Bad_Hijab/1872428.html] Buqini-might be helpful for all 3 countires for swimwear.

[|http://www.journeywoman.com/traveltales/dresses_smart.html] Current news on iranian women attire  "Journeywoman - She Dresses Smart in Iran." Journeywoman, travel magazine for women. Web. 17 Feb. 2010. [|2010.][|http://www.parstimes.com/women/violence_culture.html].

[|http://www.uri.edu/artsci/wms/hughes/mhviran.htm] the law over abuse  "Iranian Women and Girls - Victims of Exploitation and Violence, Making the HarmVisible, Global Sexual Exploitation of Women and Girls, Speaking Out and ProvidingServices." The University of Rhode Island. Web. 17 Feb. 2010. [|"Anchor" id="wikitext@@anchor@@htmldiff12" title="Anchor: htmldiff12"/>Iranian.com | Nothing is Sacred][|. Web. 17 Feb. 2010.]  [|<][|get around the laws. Under islamic religious law it is illegal to execute virgins so they rape them them kill them.][|http://payvand.com/news/09/feb/1110.html] iranian women at wok. what they can and connot do.  "Where Are Iran's Working Women?" Payvand, Iran News, Directory and Bazar. Web. 17 Feb. 2010. [|31randemocracy/iran_alavi_4406.jsp" rel="nofollow">http://www.opendemocracy.net/democracy-irandemocracy/iran_alavi_4406.jsp]

2/11/10 [|http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1899763,00.html] parliment and government rights for women. 42 women considered as candidates for the presidential election among the 475 people who ran.  "A Woman as President: Iran's Impossible Dream? - TIME." Breaking News, Analysis, Politics, Blogs, News Photos, Video, Tech Reviews - TIME.com. Web. 17 Feb. 2010. [|;. Web. 17 Feb. 2010.][|or: htmldiff34"/>Revolution #193, February 21, 2010][|. Web. 17 Feb. 2010.] [|f="http://www.fis-iran.org/en/women/organization/introduction" rel="nofollow">http://www.fis-iran.org/en/women/organization/introduction]>.

2/17/10 Iran under the Pahlavis //. Stanford, Calif: Hoover Institution, 1978. Print.


 * #_19_ Name: Mahina Handley Date1/29 __/ 2010__ **

**In the United States we don’t have underground train station vendors and if we did people would probably view them differently. Here in America we are putting out women into the world as professionals. There is a lack of education for women in Iran and a big inflation in the cost of living. The result of their economic hardships is train station vendors. It’s becoming more and more acceptable for these Middle Eastern women to be working under such conditions.**
 * HOW does this article relate to your group research question? This article relates to the group research question because it covers economical aspects concerning women’s rights in Iran. Looking into the difficulties that our Middle East sisters go through gives us a compare and contrast of how fortunate we are in the United States.
 * __ W ork Cited-__ **
 * "Iran | Economy." Global News | International News from Around the World . Web. 31 Jan. 2010. < [|http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/asia/091012/iran-economy-tehran-subway?page=0,1]>. **
 * __ P araphrasing/summary-__ **
 * Women in Iran go as far as working in subways as vendors during rough economic times. It’s a place free from preying men and the harsh environments outside. The ages of this all women wagon vendor crowd rage from young to old, wives to widows, or simply students trying to pay their tuition, Tehran’s 7-Tir station has a sign posted out in the front that says women’s only. Men aren't able to go on the train and stop them, and there aren't many female police. **
 * It’s true that what they are doing is illegal as it would be in America. Just as women in Iran are doing illegal things to held aid in supporting their families so are women in the United States. During these rough economic times women everywhere have been selling their bodies, stealing, selling drugs, ect. It just opens our eyes to one more thing that women everywhere have been doing. **

**__ S ignificant__ quotes-“** **On the window, a sign in bold letters reads “Women Only,” as though anyone needs to be told in this strictly segregated society.” ( [|http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/asia/091012/iran-economy-tehran-subway?page=0,0]).**


 * __ R eflection__ **
 * Women everywhere are going out and working. Some jobs are more practical while other are more innovative. Nowadays people are getting really desperate to make money that they are willing to do almost anything. It’s strange how women have to ask their husbands to work yet they hid in train all day making money. **

__H **elpful information-**__ wp#2
 * Women in Iran have to ask their husbands permission before they work yet they hid themselves in women only zones so that they are hidden from all preying men including their husbands. **


 * # __19 Name: Mahina Handley Date January 29th,__ 2010 **

W ork Cited- P araphrasing/summary- S ignificant ** __quotes-__ ** R eflection H **elpful information-** __** ( [|http://www.prb.org/Articles/2009/iranyouth.aspx] ) **__//
 * HOW does this article relate to your group research question? This article relates to my group research question because it has a wide range of information about how women in Iran are becoming more liberated. It’s more positive then negative, but doesn’t skim over the smaller details.
 * "Youth, Women's Rights, and Political Change in Iran - Population Reference Bureau." Home - Population Reference Bureau . Web. 30 Jan. 2010. < [|http://www.prb.org/Articles/2009/iranyouth.aspx]>. **
 * This article gave information about how fertility has decrease dramatically for women in Iran. From 1977 to 2006 alone there was a 2/3 decline in fertility in Iran. The most noticeably significant decline was in the rural areas. Women went from having 8 babies to have only two ( [|http://www.prb.org/Articles/2009/iranyouth.aspx]). The reason for this rapid decline in female reproduction is better family planning methods.**
 * Women in Iran still struggle but things have been improving. Women still aren’t allowed to participate in aspects of politics but are able to go to universities. In current times there are more women attending the Iranian universities then men. This is a huge improvement because if more women are educated then they are more likely going to be able to escape the confines they are currently barred with. Women are learning about how to be more sexually reserved to the wants of men so that they can stay in school longer. **
 * “In fact, there are more women than men in Iranian universities.” ( [|http://www.prb.org/Articles/2009/iranyouth.aspx] ) **
 * One of the main things that can keep any women away from school is the fact that she is pregnant and expecting. When a woman has a baby she begins to slow down a bit and focuses more on her child than anything else. It’s smart of the Iranian women to become more sexually aware because if they can stay in school longer they will become more educated. The key to success in any society is education. If you can think of a way out of a problem using education and proper ethics as your foundation you can conquer almost anything. **


 * |||||||| ** Births per woman ** ||
 * ^  || ** 1977 ** || ** 1996 ** || ** 2000 ** || ** 2006 ** ||
 * Urban || 4.5 || 2.2 || 1.8 || 1.8 ||
 * Rural || 8.1 || 3.5 || 2.4 || 2.1 ||
 * Total || 6.6 || 2.8 || 2.0 || 1.9 ||

2/9/10 **__ W ork Cited-__** ** "Violence Against Women -- In Iran, Abuse Is Part Of The Culture (Part 2)." Bienvenue! - Welcome! to Pars Times //. Web. 09 Feb. 2010. [|http://www.parstimes.com/women/violence_culture.html].//**
 * # **__19__ Name: Mahina Handley Date2/8/ __2010__
 * HOW does this article relate to your group research question? This article relates to my research question because it talks about the struggle of abuse that Iranian women are submitted to and how over time it has developed.
 * P araphrasing/summary- This article is about many aspects of abuse that Iranian women are submitted to. It contains some actual encounters of women who have been abused by their husband. This article focuses on marital abuse. There are no laws that prevent abuse between spouses in Iran. In fact it’s often encouraged to keep the lines of dominance very clear between males and females. The court system also abuses Iranian women because their trial is only worth up to half of what a man’s trial is worth. **
 * Women have reported being beaten by their husband and the police have not done a thing about it. Men can use their right of keeping their wives inline by beating them. Marital rape is legal if a wife does not submit to the sexual demands of her husband. If a woman chooses to leave her husband she will face a long trial. If the couple has children she has very little chance of her gaining custody of the children. The state has also been an issue with women’s rights because they too are responsible for some of the damage being done. A woman must cover herself in public. In earlier times they would incarcerate her if she was not cover, insult her worth, and beat her. In current times they are just bringing them before a judge who will either give them a jail sentence or give her a fine. **
 * __ S ignificant__ quotes- **
 * "Women should sacrifice themselves and tolerate." ( [|http://www.parstimes.com/women/violence_culture.html]) **
 * __ R eflection-__ Here in the United States marital abuse is illegal and punishable under court of law. A woman in the United States is not forced by law to take the abuse that her husband is giving her. A police would intervene if he knew that there was a woman who was being beaten. There are laws that protect spouses from being abused. **
 * __Helpful information-__ The number of suicides of women in Iran is on the rise. The only possible explanation is that they are getting tired of all the laws that they must conform to and, are using suicide as an escape of what they have to go through. Also the numbers of girls who are running away from home are exponentially on the rise ( [|http://www.parstimes.com/women/violence_culture.html] ). Most of the men in Iran are not sensitive to the needs of women, but there are a select few educated men who are fighting for women’s rights and doing research for it. **

2/6/10 mahina hey guys this is my page on the universal decalratin of human rights Human rights are what we as humans are entitled to at birth. They are not to be taken away or compromised by anyone or anything. Human rights are what separate us from animals. Animals are ravage creatures who don’t distinguish right from wrong. Humans have the ability to know better from worst and should have guidelines to follow to ensure that these rights are protected. Freedom, justice, and peace are the base for what human rights should revolve around. It is in freedom and rights that we find we can all cohabitate peacefully. Everyone should have access to all the articles in the universal declaration of human rights. In some countries it’s something that has been swept under the rug for decades because the government has become so powerful. While everyone should know that these articles exist many do not. It’s a sad thing when people in high positions of power feel like they can trample over someone else’s rights because they are not knowledgeable that they exist. It should not matter what country an individual lives in because these rights are universal. This means that unless you come from another planet everyone should abide by the articles listed in the declaration of human rights. All governments should be required to follow the universal declaration of human rights. Regardless of where or how someone lives all governments should know their limitations of their power. Governments should find a good foundation that will promote peace between citizens. Some governments have become so obsessed with running their country in the form of fear and this is not right or fair. Officials should not abuse their power and replace it with omnipotence. A fair government is based off of democracy because the common people are the ones that are affected by it the most. In countries around the world some people are looked at as second class citizens, but the fact of the matter is that we are all humans. In the Middle East, women are these citizens that are pushed around by men, and the government sees it as something that is alright to do. Their excuse for this intolerable behavior is that they base their government around their religion. It should not matter what religion anyone practices because we are all humans and we should all have the same demands to be treated equally. Many rights of Middle Eastern women are being impeached upon. Some women are still being forced into marriage with partners they did not choose. These women still have to ask their husbands if it is alright for them to work or not. Even if they did choose to work some employers pay them less because they are women. In article one and two it states that everyone is born free and should have equal rights, but the fact of the matter is that its just not happening for them.

Jenn: Awesome Mahina, you really nailed it on the dot there. That could be a really good introduction for you. Human rights are Women's Rights. And therefore, the abuses to the women of our countries are violations of this declaration--and as a consequence the violators should be punished. However, it is more than difficult to punish the violators when they are the ones in charge. Fundamentalists who have their hand in control of government are usually the ones who "turn their heads" when something despicable is done against a women. In my country (Turkey) women are actually given the right to vote. Yet, about 80% of those who do vote are under the influences of their husbands. This is an example of contradictions between what is written on paper and what is actually put into practice. I've searched a lot, and I do mean A LOT of books and internet sources and I have seen that authors can easily generalize the women situation so that it seems harmless, or can go into detail of the situation and present all facts so that you are not fooled.

More on Turkey: Women are given rights such as voting, equality, equal pay for equal work, but it is the treatment and cruelty of them that withhold their free practice. The most disturbing information I have uncovered is that of "honor killings." If a girl brings shame to her family, a family member is selected to be her executioner. Examples of "shame" can range from being raped or wearing clothes that are tight. Yeah, can you believe that? I would've been killed a long time ago--by tight clothes I mean. And if you're wondering why the girl that is raped is the one being killed, this is their justification: the girl shouldn't have been around a man that wasn't her family or husband; with her virginity gone, no man will want her and she is thus, shameful and useless. You know, if we did honor killings for men, there'd be a lot less cheating going around.

 Time. Time//. Yahoo, 25 Nov. 2001. Web. 30 Jan. 2010. < http://www.time.com/time/ world/article/0,8599,185651, 00.html >
 * Afghanistan**

Time magazine tells us, now that the Taliban rule is not in power we see women’s faces around Afghanistan. Many worried about the Taliban rule taking over power because they almost succeed, and if they did women wouldn’t be here. After the Taliban fled many women are leaving their homes, returning to their jobs, and also a women announcer on tv. Even though women’s rights are slowly getting better it’s not bringing peace to Afghanistan government. Many rural women are still choosing to wear the burka especially infront of their husbands. But the style of the burka is changing, women are adding lace or shinning gems. The burka can cause serious pain to women, like claustrophobia and headaches. Time magazine talked to women from Afghanstan and what women are like underneath the burka. They said women are fierce and alive. Many women are wearing bright colored clothing. These women rather not wear the burka because they are afraid of being harassed. In 1964, women’s rights were developing. They were allowed to vote, and enter profession jobs. In 1979, the soviet invasion became a disaster, especially for Afghanistan women. Under the Russians, women’s rights were protected. Women’s rights became worse in 1989. Warlords came to Afghanistan, many women was raped by undisciplined fighters.

Jenn 2/15/10 Hey guys, here's something interesting I found for both of your countries: [|http://www.wwhr.org/files/GenderSexualityandCriminalLaws.pdf]

This derives directly from ‘urf. Such laws do not exhibit any kind of
** reformulation, or attention to the principles of equality that we may note in other **

** areas of Islamic law. **** 19 **

(Great job guys. The research is starting to hit home and we're really off to a good start. Remember, this project is a definite "CAN DO." All that has to be done, is the work itself. GO GROUP 18!)

were number one! were number one! go us.