I don’t see what you see May 12, 2008
Posted by jewaira in Kuwait, Life, Women.trackback
The television is big enough to be seen from far away but we are huddled around the screen, sitting back on deck chairs and listening to the interview on one of the local stations between the presenter and two female parliamentary candidates. The sky above us is inky black and the universe appears to be endless. But we sit with eyes stuck to the screen.
One of the candidates is long time radio presenter Aisha Al-Yahya. She comes elegantly dressed, not a hair out of place, her hands perfectly manicured (and I must add a pleasure to look at as she spoke and waved them about elegantly); her voice rose and fell at perfected intonations, pausing for effect, drawing in a slow breath, and stressing her words for effect every now and then - a result of years of practice over the radio. She smiles calmly when the presenter contravenes her or tries to ask her about her feminist role in traditional Kuwaiti society over the years. Aisha maintains that she is Kuwaiti and campaigning for her country and there is no dispute or conflict with the presenter. She has years of feminist and social activism behind her.
However, when the presenter moves to question Taybah Al-Ibrahim, the second candidate, he proceeds to immediately attack her well-known secularist views. The women around me cluck and tut and voice their outrage at seeing her on the TV, for they have heard her views. She is against Islam, they huff and they will not tolerate anyone like that. The slurs begin after that regarding her looks, her hair, her appearance.
All the while Taybah is talking and I am listening. The women next to me quieten down and listen. I think to myself that her ideas are not that outrageous and they make sense. But she is a woman trying to talk sense in a time that is not her own; people do not even listen. They will not listen. She makes them angry.
I watch the screen as Taybah loses patience with trying to explain her viewpoint to the presenter. She does not remain calm. She is frustrated. I am thinking she is not clear in presenting her ideas; does not speak eloquently and desperately tries to communicate her thoughts before being interrupted by the TV presenter. Taybah Al-Ibrahim is a prolific writer and she is the first Kuwait woman to write science fiction novels. She ran for parliament in 2006 but did not win.
I look around me wherever I go and I see people who judge by appearances only, especially initially. The first time Aseel Al-Awadhi spoke in on of the rallies, all around me elderly women repeated “Ya 7elowha! How lovely she is! How sweet she is!” and there were many audible prayers around me asking for Allah to light their paths.
I think of the gamble these pioneering female candidates have taken by running in elections with a small chance of winning. Where are those old time Kuwaiti women activists? Why aren’t they running now? Why didn’t they run in 2006? One of them admitted she was afraid of failure and of the shame she would feel if she did not win.
Hats off to all those eccentric, risk taking Kuwaiti females who are not afraid of failure.
Women are strange creatures.
======================
But you simply adore them, don’t you?
Jewaira
Free-thinking, free-spirited, intellectual Kuwaiti women activists and candidates akin to the likes of Najat Sultan and the ladies of her era will not make it to the Kuwaiti parliament right now (much as I would like to hope and believe they would). A time when most Kuwaiti people would be open to thinking outside the box is not upon us right now. We are in the midst of a clash of radically opposed ideologies and a deterioration of the fabric of our culture and society at the most basic level. We have big fundamental problems in all the different collective types of infrastructure comprising the whole of this country. We need those who will speak to and address the common majority - even if they themselves embody an educated abroad, westernized and elite type of Kuwaiti.
The women who will make it to parliament in my view, are those who will respectfully speak to the level-headed sensibilities, basic concerns and traditions of the average Kuwaiti, no matter what their social status, religious sect, or educational level is. A woman who understands how Kuwaiti society works and its ins and outs and knows how to talk to people will have the upper hand politically this time around. A finger on the pulse of the typical person would be the smartest strategy for a woman running for parliament right now.
It is not a time to talk above Kuwaiti heads. A woman of the people is the one who will make it (God help her).
=====================================
It’s a time for change, MsBaker. Change will surely come.
Jewaira
I don’t like 6aibah Al-Ibrahim but I definitely do not judge her according to her looks.
Jeez! Pease’s book should change to “Why women don’t think, see and drive well”. I am not one who’s against my own sex but you have to admit it is utterly ridiculous if you’re judging candidates according to their looks which makes you wonder whether these women go to rallies looking top notch to better educate themselves with political issues or to be seen & gossip.
==================================
It is interesting to see the different kinds of people (women in particular) at candidates’ rallies. At some rallies we were bothered by disruption of side talk. At others, we were impressed by the attention of the audience and their keen interest.
I am guessing that we will see a good deal of matchmaking after the elections with all the girls wonderfully turned out. That’s alright with me though.
Jewaira
I wouldn’t vote for Aiysha Al-Yahya simply because she obviously spends too much time on her appearance. Nothing wrong with “high maintenance” ladies, but I personally think they’re just not the right people for politics.
I wouldn’t vote Taiba Al-Ibrahim simply because she’s too good for politics. She’s an honest artist with high ethics and passion for social progression.
I wouldn’t vote for Dr. Aseel Al-Awadhi because if you take a close look at her CV, you’ll notice that her political experience doesn’t go beyond memberships in 3 organizations. She’s better off teaching and doing research.
I would vote for Dr. Rola Dashti. She’s by far more qualified than 95% percent of Kuwait’s candidates. She’s pragmatic and has thorough political and economic expereince. She speaks Lebanese??? So does the State of Kuwait’s Ambassador at Washington D.C. (Sho biddak bellahjeeh ya khayee?)
===============================
Hehe thanks for the breakdown on those female candidates
At this time, I am rooting for women. Regardless of whether they have a chance to make it or not (according to polls)
I figure those big strong bellicose men have enough people rooting for them.
Jewaira
I love it that people are talking about the election, talking about the issues - and non-issues. I love it that you are blogging about the elections. You read some blogs and it is like the election doesn’t exist!
================================
I’m afraid IntlXpatr alot of people are being bombarded by the campaigns and the incessant ads and I guess Kuwaitis can only take so much
They get tired of election speak.
The thing is, this is only the second time that we as woman are participants in the election process and so when I do attend rallies, I don’t so much report on ideologies but on things that I see and people’s reactions. It is all very new indeed.
I wonder how we would fair if we had such long campaign periods as they do in the USA?
There is so much I would have liked to have said and so much more that I wanted to see…lets see what happens on election day this coming Saturday
Jewaira
“Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country.”
Go up there. Initiate change. Be relentless. Refuse to conform. Resist.
This is my translation of what your motto should be if you were to stand for elections
. Do you think I’d make a good campaign manager 
?
===========================
Next time Slightly nonRandom I will surely seek your assistance
Jewaira