Thoughts about how to build a social marketing strategy to improve health in Afghanistan. What's worked so far?. What hasn't? One person's journal about returning to this country after five years.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
I've Worn Some Crazy Things In My Life ...
August 1, 2009 - KABUL
Oh... I have a Burka now. It's a crazy kind of hat really.
You are right, this takes the cake! This thing eliminates the human form.... so your arm looks rather disembodied. How do women function in this? Are there a lot of broken bones and sprains due to the limited vision in these burkas? Not only to they hide the female form they also make a women look unhuman. If you squint, it looks like an arm holding a camera coming out of the bottom of a blue garbage bag. ~DeeDee
You know, this Burka is actually not too bad. I know it sounds politically incorrect. But honestly, it is much more breathable than the stuff Saudi women wear. Also frankly with all the dust and pollution it keeps people clean. It flows in the back and creates a kind of ventilation system. I can see fine in it - and it makes life easier here. So I guess the question I would ask is this:
If we Westerners are allegedly so open, liberal and tolerant why do we insist that a woman who chooses to wear a Burka is "unhuman?" One of the body guards here is a woman. She is open, talkative, funny and articulate. When she leaves the compound she wears a Burka. I just met with two incredibly nice women from the Ministry of Womens' Affairs. They are educated, strong and articulate. They wear modest suits and silk scarves inside - when they meet guests. When they go outside they wear Burkas. It seemed to me they were doing it because it kept the dust off - and just made things easier.
Don't get me wrong. I could not live in a society where I was ordered to disguise the shape of my body. But on the other hand, when I see American girls in tight, low-cut jeans - with a thong exposed - pierced and tatoo'd I wonder who has more respect for the human form.
No, no, no, I never said that a woman who chooses to wear a burka is "unhuman." Jeez! Where did that come from? I said that a woman wearing it LOOKS unhuman; meaning that the burka makes the human form underneath it disappear. The same can be said for a man who may choose to wear a burka. It's not a political comment. I'm just making an observation on the visual impact of the garment not on the psyche of its wearer. Let's face it, out off all the world-wide garments that cover the body, this is one that doesn't have a hole for the head, nor does it have sleeves. Thusly, you have a strong visual. This isn't a judgement on the garment or it's wearer. I'm not even trying to open a debate on the how societies interpret the human form. I'm more curious about how the garment works and how women function in it. NOT why they wear it. I'm not an intolerant Westerner who labels women in burkas as "unhuman." ~DeeDee
This blog world is new to me. I don't know if anyone is even reading the thing except you and I. But on the off-chance someone has insomnia or might be interested in Afghanistan I am trying to throw out thought-provoking questions. OF COURSE I know you are the most open-minded, thoughtful person on the planet. Duh ... so the above comments weren't for you. By the way, Poya just came to my room and sends his love. You are the best. ~Sue
A few years ago my assistant asked me ".. Why does international social marketing always look like s--t?.." Or, as another colleague once defined it, "...Social Marketing is really, really cutting edge advertising ... from 1967 ..."
So why DOES so much social marketing look like a seventh grade home work assignment? Why isn't the advertising industry brought into the international development arena to tackle the worlds' wicked challenges? Why are issues like HIV, Domestic Violence, Malaria Prevention, Safe Sexual Behavior, Childhood Obesity, Avian Influenza and other issues so common in developing countries out-of-reach for talented advertising and public relations firms?
How can we create campaigns that Inspire and Educate?
Join the discussion!
You are right, this takes the cake! This thing eliminates the human form.... so your arm looks rather disembodied. How do women function in this? Are there a lot of broken bones and sprains due to the limited vision in these burkas? Not only to they hide the female form they also make a women look unhuman. If you squint, it looks like an arm holding a camera coming out of the bottom of a blue garbage bag. ~DeeDee
ReplyDeleteYou know, this Burka is actually not too bad. I know it sounds politically incorrect. But honestly, it is much more breathable than the stuff Saudi women wear. Also frankly with all the dust and pollution it keeps people clean. It flows in the back and creates a kind of ventilation system. I can see fine in it - and it makes life easier here. So I guess the question I would ask is this:
ReplyDeleteIf we Westerners are allegedly so open, liberal and tolerant why do we insist that a woman who chooses to wear a Burka is "unhuman?" One of the body guards here is a woman. She is open, talkative, funny and articulate. When she leaves the compound she wears a Burka. I just met with two incredibly nice women from the Ministry of Womens' Affairs. They are educated, strong and articulate. They wear modest suits and silk scarves inside - when they meet guests. When they go outside they wear Burkas. It seemed to me they were doing it because it kept the dust off - and just made things easier.
Don't get me wrong. I could not live in a society where I was ordered to disguise the shape of my body. But on the other hand, when I see American girls in tight, low-cut jeans - with a thong exposed - pierced and tatoo'd I wonder who has more respect for the human form.
Just something to think about.
~Sue
No, no, no, I never said that a woman who chooses to wear a burka is "unhuman." Jeez! Where did that come from? I said that a woman wearing it LOOKS unhuman; meaning that the burka makes the human form underneath it disappear. The same can be said for a man who may choose to wear a burka. It's not a political comment. I'm just making an observation on the visual impact of the garment not on the psyche of its wearer. Let's face it, out off all the world-wide garments that cover the body, this is one that doesn't have a hole for the head, nor does it have sleeves. Thusly, you have a strong visual. This isn't a judgement on the garment or it's wearer. I'm not even trying to open a debate on the how societies interpret the human form. I'm more curious about how the garment works and how women function in it. NOT why they wear it. I'm not an intolerant Westerner who labels women in burkas as "unhuman." ~DeeDee
ReplyDeleteHey Dee Dee;
ReplyDeleteThis blog world is new to me. I don't know if anyone is even reading the thing except you and I. But on the off-chance someone has insomnia or might be interested in Afghanistan I am trying to throw out thought-provoking questions. OF COURSE I know you are the most open-minded, thoughtful person on the planet. Duh ... so the above comments weren't for you. By the way, Poya just came to my room and sends his love. You are the best. ~Sue