Ethnocentrism, Oppression of Women, and American Opinion

I've been following the story of the Saudi woman who was beaten and raped by a crowd of angry men for the crime of sitting in a parked car with a man whom she was not related to.

Middle East Guide Pierre Tristam has done an excellent job telling her tale and the repercussions of her legal fight.

I've been hesitant to weigh in with my own thoughts because there's been an intense debate going on in the Women's Issues forum.

Human Rights vs. Letter of the Law

Christina, a forum regular, introduced details of the story to the forum on December 11, citing an article in the New York Times.

She debates her point from a human rights and women's rights perspective, most often going head to head with Fallen 55, who debates from a traditional viewpoint that strictly adheres to the letter of the law in both legal and religious issues.

He agrees the law is "stupid" (his word) but also acknowledges that she broke the law as it is interpreted in Saudi Arabia.

In a way, their heated forum exchanges are a microcosm of the larger debate going on about Western ideas butting up against Islamic traditions.

Pardon Linked to Public Pressure?

Fortunately the Saudi woman was pardoned, to the relief of many around the world.

Was it due to the international attention that this one act engendered? Even within Saudi Arabia, there have been calls to reform the justice system.

Although the Saudi woman did not talk directly to the media, because her lawyer did, his own license to practice was suspended. Appealing to Western media may have changed the outcome in the long-term, but the short-term consequences have been frightening for both the lawyer and his client.

Influence of Culture on Opinion

American opinions of the treatment of women in the Middle East are rarely favorable. Their ways are not our ways, and it's emotionally wrenching for Western women to read about what we see as the extreme oppression women experience in cultures far different from ours.

So how do we avoid the bias of ethnocentrism that has us viewing the world's ills solely through a frame shaped by our own cultural lens? What can we do to reach out with greater support while remaining conscious of jugdmental attitudes?

Or are there some situations so heinous, some laws so outmoded, that worldwide rejection of their implementation can and should override hundreds of years of practice?

The Privilege of Opinion

I wholeheartedly believe that what happened to this woman and this man is inexcusable. (Both, incidentally, were raped, and his situation is equally horrific.)

But I am also conscious of being an educated, middle-class American woman with rights and privileges unheard of in much of the world. What I can freely do here - express my my opinion - is punishable by death in many other countries.

I feel guilty that such inequity exists. I feel guilty that we are not able to influence the fate of these women. Instead, we speak about them here and write about them so others may know their stories.

We weigh in with our opinions. But do they help, harm, or ultimately matter not at all?

Additional articles:

• Rape Prevention Saudi Arabia: Sentence Rape Victim to 90 Lashes
• A Tale of Two Rapes