The recent events surrounding FEMEN protests, in particular that of 'Amina' in Tunisia, a small country in North Africa- went worldwide after she was thrown in a psych ward and is receiving threats of stoning from her own government for posting feminist pictures on Facebook.
The writing on her chest says: 'My body is my own and not the source of anyone's honor'
The story of Amina caused a huge uproar- many woman in middle eastern and North African countries showing their support by posting topless pictures with phrases such as "free Amina" written on them.
The support directly attacks the form of oppression that they are subject to- The misogynistic themes within Islam.
The idea of gender within society is very interesting to look at. in the above example, the woman are expressing the need for freedom through a specific type of protest. the woman are protesting against a uneven social justice. a refered to by Gewirtz, when looking at issues of complex social justice, we must map the territory.
He outlines two dimensions of justice:
The first being Distributive justice- Equality of opportunity, outcome and condition.
The second being Relational justice- Justice and mutuality and Justice as recognition.
Justice as a freedom from oppression- The five faces of oppression being: Exploitation, Marginalisation, powerlessness, cultural imperialism and violence. The Story of Amina can be understood through the five faces of oppression. Amina was opposing the oppressive nature of her religious government who is now threatening her with violence.
References:
- http://tundratabloids.com/2013/03/tunisian-feminist-thrown-into-psych-asylum-for-nude-fb-pictures.html
- Gewirtz, S. (1998). Conceptualizing social justice in education: mapping the territory. journal of education policy, 13 (4), 469-484.
- http://jadehawks.wordpress.com/2013/04/18/intersectional-look-at-some-of-the-free-amina-protests/
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