Iraqi Policewoman - An Oxymoron

The most telling thing about the photo is not its novelty -- visual evidence of Iraq's last policewomen (at least those allowed to carry a gun).  No, the most significant element is the hierarchy, three women officers subordinate to these male authority figures, even if they're only on a poster.

And then, with all our leverage, it seems we can do nothing about it.

(image: AP via latimes.com)

Comments

[Nina Berman]

The point of view is an interesting choice. A faceless person being held at gunpoint. We are made to assume the same position as viewers and this creates a sense of uneasiness, making the female officers feel more threatening.

[gasho]

Nina - I agree. Not only are we in the "line of fire" in this exercise, but the burkha (sp?) on the woman with the gun is extremely scary. Can you imagine being questioned by a cop with a covered face? S C A R Y

I support the women of Iraq and their rights to be whatever profession they want, but I have to say, until the culture looses the whole burkha thing, some less-than-favorable dynamics are guaranteed.

Something that caught my eye in the linked article - "The move is a sign of the religious and cultural conservatism that has taken hold.." sounds like we are being primed to accept an Iraq that is governed by religious fundamentalists. No doubt, if this is the outcome of Georgie's war, then it will be painted as the will of the Iraqi people and a victory for Democracy--democracy, fairness, safety, the rule of law and individual's rights not withstanding.

Tiptoe quietly away from the shattered Pottery Barn display case...

[MonsieurGonzo]

ref : “...women are told to surrender their weapons”

there was a time, early on when i hoped for a kind of Lincolnesque moment : “In 1861–1862, [2002-2002], the President made it clear that the North was fighting the war to preserve the Union, not to abolish slavery [of women and children under religious fundamentalism]. Freeing the slaves became, in late 1862, [2002] a [practical] war measure to weaken the [fundamentalist] rebellion by destroying the economic base of its leadership class.”

i was surprised when a gaggle of grrrls hanging around MadameGonzo's place in Paris shot back that i was "suffering from that [classic, Western] male fantasy of saving the women from their own, brown-skinned men." That Western women, forced to compete in a consumption society were as shackled by their requirement to project sexuality as a gender marker as much as any woman forced to [suppress their sexuality as gender marker] wear the Chador.

with my tail between my legs, (i was born that way :) i beat a hasty retreat, down to the café vieux colombier for a cheap shot of Calvados : “n'oubliez jamais les femmes!” i shouted, “aux femmes!” they roared back; after all, we're just ordinary men.

otoh, if Huckabee gets elected, should i send Madame a Remington 870 Pump for Christmas?

[MadameGonzo]

Sex Is Not The Enemy : but we got ammo, chers Messieurs.

Send me an angel to love (I need to feel a little piece of heaven)