Politics

Armed with critical opinions on the United Arab Emirates’ Yearbook Chapter on ‘Women’, I learn what women of the UAE really feel about this chapter dedicated to them. On the United Arab Emirates main news website for tourists and non-residents, uaeinteract.com, there are annual e-books explaining various aspects of the country. In the most recent 2010 version, the Table of Contents lists chapters on everything from Humanitarian Aid (Chapter 5) to The Economy (Chapter 6) to Electricity & Water (Chapter 10) to, more surprisingly, Women (Chapter 17).

Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s Oscar Academy Award win for Pakistan last Sunday, a first for the country, is a bittersweet victory. While the country rejoices in the worldwide recognition of an Oscar for Saving Face as a Documentary Short, the topic of the film — women who are the victims of acid burning — highlights a dark problem in the struggle for female emancipation in Pakistan.

Maureen Dowd’s portrayal of Callista Gingrich brings to light the role of the politician’s wife as a glamorous nurturer and admirer of her strong husband — someone who is an agent for his success. This shiny surface reflects the deeply rooted values we hold about strong couples and leaders, which is perhaps why when the reality starts showing in the cracks it all seems so grotesque.

Last Sunday evening, the nation gathered together to watch the New England Patriots and the New York Giants compete in Super Bowl XLVI. As expected, the game was fantastic, and to top it all off Madonna, Nicki Minaj, M.I.A. and Cee-Lo redeemed the halftime show. There was a slight mishap during the thirteen minute musical performance however, and both NBC and the NFL quickly issued contrite statements.

Morning show host Maya Khan was severely criticized, and ultimately fired, for leading a “moral raid” on couples sitting in a public park in Karachi. While the Pakistani media’s reaction to this event is seen as a victory for Pakistani liberals, the attitude embodied by the vigilantes is something to remain wary of, for this is just one example of how cultural norms can use shaming to dictate ownership of women’s bodies and limit their agencies.

Iran has a long-standing history of artistic expression, with its unparalleled contributions in a myriad of art forms: from calligraphy to architecture, music to literature and cinema to tile work. Within this context, it’s preposterous (almost blasphemous!) to even mention the uproar and applause that the nude posing of Iranian actress and pianist Golshifteh Farahani has brought about.