Islam and Feminism

Is the concept of Islamic Feminism an oxymoron? 

How can Muslim women support a religion that seems to leave no room for female leadership?  Appearances are apparently deceiving, as Muslim women are emerging more and more--perhaps in response to the Arab Spring--as political and religious leaders, while remaining faithful to their religion.  It brings to mind the Palin-style of feminism that seemed at odds with feminism's liberal underpinnings and yet which seemed at the same time to embody it's fundamental objectives. 

So maybe a conundrum instead of an oxymoron.

Peaceful Pakistanis

The Pakistani Minister for Foreign Affairs is 34-year old Hina Rabbani Khar, a mother of two and the youngest and first female foreign minister of her country.  In her free time she is also an entrepreneur, with co-ownership of a polo lounge—not surprising since she received her MS in Hospitality Management from UMass in Amherst.  What remains to be seen is how well a degree in hospitality translates to a friendlier Pakistan.

Ruling with an iron fist

The trailer for the forthcoming biopic about Maggie Thatcher has the best closing line ever.

There were some great films in the 80's that were critical of Thatcher--"Sammie and Rosie Get Laid" among others--so it will be interesting to watch her get her own screen time. 

Dames on top of the world

Forbes list of the World’s 100 most powerful women includes some familiar names—Hillary Clinton, Angela Merkel—some not so familiar: Georgina Rinehart, a mining millionaire from Australia—and some names that should be more familiar:  Dilma Rousseff, President of Brazil, Christine Lagarde, first female to run the IMF, and Anne Sweeney who, in her role as Co-chair of Disney Media, controls a lot of media that we consume.  The list includes a number of journalists, a couple of media personalities, and a surprising number of CEO’s at major corporations.

Captains and Queens

The passage of the bill in British Parliament last week, to allow a woman to inherit the crown, brings to mind Queen Mathilda, who in 1120 was the first woman to be named as legitimate successor to the king.

Mathilda was the daughter of Henri 1^st  and the granddaughter of William the Conqueror, who invaded England in 1066. When her brother died in a channel crossing from Normandy to England, Mathilda who was then married to another Henri, the Holy Roman Emperor, was named by her father as his legitimate successor.  Her father went as far as to have his nobles swear fealty to her (twice), to ensure their acceptance of Mathilda as the next monarch.

When the king eventually died in 1135, Mathilda was pregnant and in France with her new husband, Geoffrey of Anjou.  Her cousin Stephen of Blois took advantage of her inability to travel quickly and sailed for England, claiming the throne as his own. Mathilda eventually raised an army on her own and invaded England, setting off a civil war that lasted for years.  At one point, in 1141, Mathilda’s army briefly captured Stephen and held him prisoner. The conflict ended when Stephen, without heirs, named Mathilda’s son Henry as his successor. 

When Henry assumed the throne in 1154, he took the name Henry Fitzempress—son of the empress—to honor his mother.

The Best Defense

Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Michele Flournoy helps decide the context for what wars the US engages in.  She is also the mother of 3 children under the age of 14, and lived her own childhood in Beverly Hills. Can mothers who have sons send their own sons into battle?  The idea flies in the face of most Hollywood narratives--but it makes a great story.

Yulia, We hardly Knew Ya

Yulia Tymoshenko, the former Ukrainian PM who stood out from the crowd with her crown of blond braids, is now serving jail time on trumped up charges.  Simultaneously, Putin announced he is running for President again.