Raz Jabbin: Jordan, the 21st century Emmeline Pankhurst? No thanks
My life as a British Muslim - 07/05/08
Published Date:
07 May 2008
On my first day off work in ages, I thought I'd kick back and relax to some brain numbing daytime telly.
After having to listen to (oh my God I hate that man so much) Jeremy Kyle, I found myself falling a sleep on the sofa, only then to be disturbed by a statement being read out by some loose women (no pun intended.)
Apparently, she said, "Jordan is the icon of feminism", (I know, I know) I waited for them to join me in the stomach stitching laughter I was rolling on the floor with but, oh no, they actually went onto have a serious discussion about it.
Sorry to break the news to you girls, but feminism is not about the size of your breasts, bad hair extensions or the Beckhams.
It's actually all about the ballots, and women went on hunger strikes not so they could reach size zero but so we could vote, and it's a shame because nowadays young women are more likely to know what size "enlargements" they want than what party to vote for.
Also, I have always understood feminism as being an idea of woman being regarded as equal to men which, is very different from being a man, and I feel this confusion is detrimental but promoted both by Jordan's behaviour and the support given to her by young women today.
That's why, at times, I wonder whether
women who are further from the west have a
better vision of feminism than the ones from the west.
They fight for their roles to be recognised, appreciated and to be able to contribute equally to society not for them to be diminished by adopting tomboy behaviour, wanting to drink men under the table or wearing boxer shorts on display.
Being part of a culture where women are constantly treated as second class citizens all around the world while onlookers plead for
liberation on their behalf, one wonders whether what is known of feminist liberation, to date, is worth boasting about either.
Personally, if Jordan is the 21st century Emmeline Pankhurst, then I say no thanks.
Don't get me wrong, I don't doubt Katie Price is a clever women, but I think her route to recognition was one of the easier ones.
Nonetheless we all have our own ideas of what feminism is but I'm pretty sure bras weren't burnt for the Page 3 spread.
The full article contains 412 words and appears in Peterborough ET newspaper.
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Last Updated:
09 May 2008 11:03 AM
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Source:
Peterborough ET
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Location:
Peterborough