This blog has in the past mentioned the Lesbian and sex positive commentator Arielle Scarcella, mostly in connection to the journey that she has made from being part of the Left to becoming more a part of the Libertarian Right. This crossing of the Rubicon from the Left, where people can hide behind slogans and received ideas and not have to think, to a Right where people have to think for themselves and make decisions for themselves, is often a difficult journey. However it is one that many others in recent years, including myself have made.
In the video below Ms Scarcella looks into the issue of ‘Muslim feminism’ something that the mainstream media claims exists but is difficult to comprehend existing when one considers the nature of Islam and Islamic culture. She gives the example of how the MSM have pushed the idea of Muslim feminism and that Muslim women do not follow the stereotype of an abused and chained woman. Of course I would be one of the first to agree that not all Muslim women are abused. There are strong, powerful Muslim women out there who speak up for themselves and for other Muslim women, but they are all too often, with a few exceptions, to be found in the West and not in Islamic countries which are often profoundly misogynistic in their cultures and laws.
Ms Scarcella interviews several people including the excellent Yasmine Mohammed an ex-Muslim from Canada whose contribution was sobering to say the least. She said that the best that those leaving Islam can expect is to be disowned by their families and many others who leave Islam face far far worse than that.
Another thing that Ms Scarcella brought up and which is worth thinking about is how some women in the Islamic world and Islamic community collude in their own oppression and take on board the idea that they are second class citizens and accept it. It’s a difficult idea to get your head around but I’ve met enough Muslim women over the years to see that internalised Islamic misogyny created and backed up by years of being told by relatives that they will go to hell if they step out of line, does indeed exist.
Please give this short video a watch. Even if you don’t like Ms Scarcella’s other content, she approaches this issue of ‘Muslim feminism’ in a very thoughtful way.
