CBS female news reporter suffers a brutal and sustained sexual attack in Egypt in Tahrir Square | Page 2 | ExpatWoman.com
 

CBS female news reporter suffers a brutal and sustained sexual attack in Egypt in Tahrir Square

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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 February 2011 - 17:22
WaxMuch - I argue with your points about how rape is used as a weapon, during war and times of conflict, and is often used as an punitive instrument to keep women who "step out of line" in check. I think that you made valid points. I do disagree with you statement that some countries are more sexist than others. What purpose do such comparisons make in women's struggle against patriarchy? How can the determination of degree or severity of sexism be made? Just as some women in Western/First World countries like to believe that they have greater freedom in comparison to women in Third World countries, I have also heard some Muslim women feel pity for Western women who they believe (unlike themselves) are oppressed by being pressured to objectify themselves in terms of revealing clothing, body image issues, etc. Any group of women gloating over their supposed "superiority" over other women does not help women's empowerment. The comparisons are endless and again I go back to my question of what purpose would such comparisons serve? Different forms of oppression and their many manifestations should be examined and combatted within their unique sociopolitical, cultural, economic, and historical contexts.
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 17 February 2011 - 17:02
Acknowledging and taking action against misogynist practices shouldn't involve women resorting to Eurocentric perceptions of some countries/cultures being more sexist than others. The statement made by one forum member about not being shocked about the attack against the CBS reporter as "this is Egypt" is prejudiced and it does a disservice to all those women and men who fight against oppression, including patriarchy, in Egypt. Fair enough. But the assumption that some countries are more sexist than others is a valid one, and not limited to those with 'Eurocentric perceptions'. For my own part, staggered though I was to learn of this horrific incident, I suspect that there is more to this story than the public is being informed by the media. The journalist had been in the thick of it the week before, had gone back to the US to tell her story, had returned to the firing line after reporting what she had seen and after she had been held for two days ... I honestly believe that she was targeted and her assault was NOT simply the actions of an high-spirited mob. Rape is used as a weapon of war, to send a message, to punish, to exercise power, as a warning ... This devastating assault was not because Egypt is more of a 'sexist nation' than any other, or because a woman was in the wrong place at the wrong time, but because a journalist overstepped the mark and simply by virtue of being female, sexual assault was the action taken. I do wonder whether, had the journalist been a male, what the outcome would have been. Sexual assault is also inflicted on men, especially in war-time situations, but it is far more taboo for the victim [regardless of their nationality'> and is still an act of violence rarely publicised. :(
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 February 2011 - 16:44
Why is it surprising that the original post about the terrible assault against the CBS reporter would evolve into an interesting discussion on several other topics related to violence against women and women's empowerment? Most interesting conversations never stay confined to the "germinating" idea or topic, but seem to bring about more ideas and view points as the discussion progresses. Hannadina - no arguing that sexual harassment is a huge problem in Egypt, but is also a huge problem faced by women in many other parts of the world. Talking about more or less of any one kind of sexist practice assumes that there is a set standard against which a comparison should be made. Who sets that standard or yardstick? In the case of sexual harassment in Egypt or elsewhere, what are the means of determining the measure? Would it be sheer volume of sexual harassment incidents? What about cases that go unreported? Should the nature of sexual harassment, its severity and the damage it does to women be considered when stating that one country has more sexual harassment than another? Acknowledging and taking action against misogynist practices shouldn't involve women resorting to Eurocentric perceptions of some countries/cultures being more sexist than others. The statement made by one forum member about not being shocked about the attack against the CBS reporter as "this is Egypt" is prejudiced and it does a disservice to all those women and men who fight against oppression, including patriarchy, in Egypt.
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 17 February 2011 - 16:12
Seriously confused by last few posts. LOL I'm at a loss as to how my original comment seems to have sparked all of this... :\: Becoming a bit of a habit that! LOL
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 17 February 2011 - 16:08
Seriously confused by last few posts. LOL I'm at a loss as to how my original comment seems to have sparked all of this... :\:
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 February 2011 - 16:07
Very shocking! somehow, I am not shocked, this is Egypt and the way I think of it. Sad it happened though, how awful. For a country that allow FGM of their young girls, what message do you think this sends out to the men? Misogyny and violence against women knows no borders. Women are assaulted, abused, and murdered everywhere in the world including the West. I think women do a disservice to one another and to the cause of women's empowerment when we delude ourselves into thinking that one country or culture is more hateful to women than others. For that reason, I am troubled by your statement "I am not shocked, this is Egypt" because it speaks to the false sense of security and a misplaced sense of superiority that some women in the West feel in regards to women in the East or the Third World. Instead of comparing the horror of one form of misogyny (FGM in Egypt) against another (date rape in many Western countries) for the purpose of claiming that some countries treat women better than others, I think is serves women's empowerment better to understand the historical, sociopolitical and cultural contexts within which such misogynistic practices function to oppress women. Well Iman, as much as I love Egypt, and so proud of the revolution, you cannot deny that sexual harrasment is a huge problem in Egypt compared to other countries...
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 17 February 2011 - 15:21
Seriously confused by last few posts.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 February 2011 - 13:17
Iman you do not know me nor my life. A few short sentences I have written do not give you the right to tell me my superiority is misplaced. These horrors cannot be ended. I come from a perfect blend of cultures and have every right to understand it all too well. As long as men are placed in superior roles in the household, then boys will grow up to believe they are better. Izzy, the women commit the crime, to avoid their daughters suffering ill talk later. I don't know you or your life. My statement was not made in reference to that, rather it was directed at a statement you had made. This forum is meant to be a place where women can exchange thoughts and ideas with, I hope, the intend to better and empower ourselves. t I completely disagree with your belief that these horrors cannot be ended -they can and will!! Women fought long and hard to win so many rights that we take for granted (the right to vote, the right to work, the right to an education, etc). And women will continue to fight for their rights and freedoms. Any one woman believing that she is superior to another does not help in women's global empowerment. We can recognize how we are uniquely privileged by various factors (education, wealth, access to political freedoms) but that does not make any one woman better than another.
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 17 February 2011 - 13:11
Izzy, the women commit the crime, to avoid their daughters suffering ill talk later. Yeah - i know the rationale behind it but my point is that it's done by women, women need to take responsibility of their lives.... and doing this to other women, no matter what the reason (especially when done to you) is not empowering to women.... and then turning round and blaming men for their own actions is just hypocritical.....
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 February 2011 - 13:08
Patriarchal systems would not have endured for millenia across the globe if women themselves were not indoctrinated into supporting and upholding those very systems that oppressed them. So no big shock that women are usually the ones who perform FGM. Why not instead examine the historical and sociopolitical roots of FGM? Egypt has a long history of feminism with many strong and brave women tackling misogyny in their culture (eg: Nawal El Sadawi, Hoda Al Sharawi) including FGM. Sponge-monkey: Not sure what you are trying to argue with the statement about William Wilberforce. There have been many brave people, women and men, in the West and the East who have taken a stand against oppression in all its many forms. Not sure about what point you are trying to make.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 February 2011 - 13:04
Iman you do not know me nor my life. A few short sentences I have written do not give you the right to tell me my superiority is misplaced. These horrors cannot be ended. I come from a perfect blend of cultures and have every right to understand it all too well. As long as men are placed in superior roles in the household, then boys will grow up to believe they are better. Izzy, the women commit the crime, to avoid their daughters suffering ill talk later.
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 17 February 2011 - 12:57
Yes, your points are valid, but somehow I cannot compare FGM with date rape. FGM is widespread and an accepted practise within the family unit. Daterape is not something that a few aunties plan for the weekend. I do not think that my sense of womens superiority in the West is misplaced at all. Then don't make the comparison at all because comparisons that come from a place of "oh, how horrible for those poor women. Are I/we lucky that we don't live there" do not contribute to ending patriarchy but serves the deepen divisions between women and all others who are committed to ending sexism. You are entitled to your sense of superiority, I am more interested in how women can put aside their sense of superiority (which is false and unhelpful) to work together to end all the horrors of misogyny, FGM to date rape to workplace harassment to unequal pay, etc, etc, etc. I understood that FGM was usually carried out by woman, and at the insistence of women within the families....
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 17 February 2011 - 12:50
So........."oh how horrible for those poor slaves" said William Wilberforce did not contribute to ending slavery?
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 February 2011 - 12:44
Yes, your points are valid, but somehow I cannot compare FGM with date rape. FGM is widespread and an accepted practise within the family unit. Daterape is not something that a few aunties plan for the weekend. I do not think that my sense of womens superiority in the West is misplaced at all. Then don't make the comparison at all because comparisons that come from a place of "oh, how horrible for those poor women. Are I/we lucky that we don't live there" do not contribute to ending patriarchy but serves the deepen divisions between women and all others who are committed to ending sexism. You are entitled to your sense of superiority, I am more interested in how women can put aside their sense of superiority (which is false and unhelpful) to work together to end all the horrors of misogyny, FGM to date rape to workplace harassment to unequal pay, etc, etc, etc.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 February 2011 - 12:28
Very shocking! somehow, I am not shocked, this is Egypt and the way I think of it. Sad it happened though, how awful. For a country that allow FGM of their young girls, what message do you think this sends out to the men? Misogyny and violence against women knows no borders. Women are assaulted, abused, and murdered everywhere in the world including the West. I think women do a disservice to one another and to the cause of women's empowerment when we delude ourselves into thinking that one country or culture is more hateful to women than others. For that reason, I am troubled by your statement "I am not shocked, this is Egypt" because it speaks to the false sense of security and a misplaced sense of superiority that some women in the West feel in regards to women in the East or the Third World. Instead of comparing the horror of one form of misogyny (FGM in Egypt) against another (date rape in many Western countries) for the purpose of claiming that some countries treat women better than others, I think is serves women's empowerment better to understand the historical, sociopolitical and cultural contexts within which such misogynistic practices function to oppress women. Yes, your points are valid, but somehow I cannot compare FGM with date rape. FGM is widespread and an accepted practise within the family unit. Daterape is not something that a few aunties plan for the weekend. I do not think that my sense of womens superiority in the West is misplaced at all.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 17 February 2011 - 12:26
and that is the sad part- nothing will ever get accomplished unless there is accountability FGM and date rape are 2 different horrors
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 February 2011 - 12:16
Very shocking! somehow, I am not shocked, this is Egypt and the way I think of it. Sad it happened though, how awful. For a country that allow FGM of their young girls, what message do you think this sends out to the men? Misogyny and violence against women knows no borders. Women are assaulted, abused, and murdered everywhere in the world including the West. I think women do a disservice to one another and to the cause of women's empowerment when we delude ourselves into thinking that one country or culture is more hateful to women than others. For that reason, I am troubled by your statement "I am not shocked, this is Egypt" because it speaks to the false sense of security and a misplaced sense of superiority that some women in the West feel in regards to women in the East or the Third World. Instead of comparing the horror of one form of misogyny (FGM in Egypt) against another (date rape in many Western countries) for the purpose of claiming that some countries treat women better than others, I think is serves women's empowerment better to understand the historical, sociopolitical and cultural contexts within which such misogynistic practices function to oppress women.
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 17 February 2011 - 08:23
Shocking. The Poor Love. I hope she has a good support network around her.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 February 2011 - 07:41
it's almost like a 'pack' mentality. Like animals. Disgusting, vile, outrageous, diabolical and very saddening. I hope she gets support back home in USA :(
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 16 February 2011 - 22:59
Ugh, this story gives me rage!! I hate to read stories like this, when will men learn that a woman has the right to say NO! Hands off what is not yours!
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 16 February 2011 - 22:50
Very shocking! somehow, I am not shocked, this is Egypt and the way I think of it. Sad it happened though, how awful. For a country that allow FGM of their young girls, what message do you think this sends out to the men?
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 16 February 2011 - 22:04
2010 prison census 145 journalists jailed worldwide That site is amazing!
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EW GURU
Latest post on 16 February 2011 - 22:03
Whoooa! That's awful & I had no idea ..... I am guilty of sticking my head in the sand re world news although am thankfully beginning to take much more notice now .......... And to think I wanted to be a journo when I was younger .......
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 16 February 2011 - 21:59
72 in 2009!! figures are staggering.
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 16 February 2011 - 21:58
Have you any idea of how many journos were KILLED last year whilst doing their jobs? 44 http://www.cpj.org/killed/2010/ And that's not counting injured or kidnapped.
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 16 February 2011 - 21:54
Have you any idea of how many journos were KILLED last year whilst doing their jobs?
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 16 February 2011 - 21:46
Incredibly sad and shocking that we live in a world where this sort of thing STILL happens. I don't know what it is in men (and some women) that makes them think they're allowed to do whatever they want to women. In discussing this on twitter I had several people threaten me, and specifically one man said "I wouldn't mind if you were raped, you slut dog" I always wonder how their mothers taught them to treat women. My brothers worship the ground their mother/aunties/sister/girlfriends walk on. I am so genuinely upset.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 16 February 2011 - 21:04
Sad sad news -:( She was only trying to do her job ffs!!!!
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 16 February 2011 - 20:53
Very shocking!
 
 

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