The Feminist Whisperer - Sunday Rant (on Tuesday)

[Markit]

Help me out here but over half of the population of this wonderful planet are women and let me say at the outset that I love you all because, if for no other reason, you smell good – what I’m trying to understand here is that with that kind of ratio what-the-feck is going on?

I mean, if you look around this beautiful island of the Gods (I’m reliably informed it used to be called “Island of Demons” but the marketing people got their hands on it - as usual….) you will see that the fair sex (can only have to do with hair color!) – women, are doing so much of the shite work here it really is a screaming tragedy.

I employ a construction team and their make up (male/female) is dictated by their boss. He is a very nice and possibly understanding granddad of a little girl that sometimes also works on the site in her school holidays.

Now, even this little girl, just as a reminder – the boss’ granddaughter, does nothing all day but carry stuff – from A to B, up and down, around over and thru. From 8 in the a.m. till 5 in the p.m. just like all the other women employed on my site and probably all of Bali and the rest of the 3rd world (and, to our shame, also some of the 1st) excepting possibly government employ.

My actual point to this rant is coming, keep with me please.

I was raised in the 60s and 70s by a reasonably intelligent English lady from a British working/middle class background in the good old United States of America – just to set the scene – and she (sorry but it was my mum) had a good life in America and enjoyed health care, food (no rationing, anyway) and raised 3 kids in the typical way. She made it clear to all 3 boys that women were easily as good as men, if not better. (think the smell of almonds mixed with marjoram) Sorry but I’m still setting the scene – if you want to go out for a smoke or something, feel free. The point was that we and they are equal and I will believe that till my dying day – as much as I would sometimes like to treat them/you differently, I can’t!

It’s just not possible for me to turn away or cast a blind eye to what goes on – be it here on Bali or anywhere else on the planet.

That is finally my point!

If you look around the Bali expat forums and community outlets (or all other Balinese “News” organs that I know) you will see that soft soup serial articles like “Doris does Denpasar” or some such shite has a following stretching back years! And tips on fashion or local ceremonial traditions are a dime a dozen. And “the girls” get quite exercised about some western man’s way of talking about his (yes HIS) wife or other “female” peeves are aired on a regular basis. Care of school aged children is talked about and “help the poor” and recycling plastics are regular themes. Is this as good as it can get?

If I landed on an island where all the men were treated like second class citizens and basically only good enough to carry heavy things – well, me personally I would start a fecking riot!

What do the women here do? Feck all, nothing….

By all means lets help the poor (mostly women) and do something for the kids too but here on Bali we have masses of unemployed western (rich?) women that want to do GOOD be it Tantric Healing, Yoga, Tai Chi or (snigger) “find” themselves!

Well, why don’t you help WOMEN here on Bali?

Is it me or what? You have female circumcision, complete live mummification called the hijab, yashmak or burka, and here on the Island of the Gods complete female relegation to the outer limits of life and all the girls are suddenly united. And silent.

“You want to chop off my daughter’s clitoris with a rusty can? Hell yes, let me hold her down!”

“You want to consign all the women of this country to menial,low paying and hard jobs and complete social meaninglessness? Why not, I have my Yoga lessons in a minute.”

“Mama I want to dress like my brother does because I’m hot and uncomfortable!” “How dare you even suggest it you shameless 12 year old slut. God hates the sight of your hair and knees.”

But lets save all the stupid, pest ridden, rabid dogs.

Where are the screams of injustice? The calls for change? Dare I suggest it – the NGOs or groups of outraged westerners looking to support or start local attempts at equality or justice?

Silence! Nothing out there…

If it was men getting shat on and abused I guarantee you blood would be flowing. Shame on you girls.

And to a much lesser degree – shame on us men for allowing it.

Markit

[JohnnyCool]

Markit - I hope you haven't mixed your drinks up. You're not drinking anti-termite chemicals, by any chance?

Some of your latest 'Sunday Rant' makes a little sense, but a lot doesn't.

I've never heard of female Balinese circumcision. And if you look closely, you might notice that male Balinese circumcision doesn't exist, either. I think you're confusing Bali (The Island of the Dogs), with islands like Java, heavily populated with Moslems. Even on Java, I'm not sure that female circumcision is all that common, (but I wouldn't be surprised). Banda Aceh, of course, is a totally different ball game, so to speak.

I employ a construction team and their make up (male/female) is dictated by their boss. He is a very nice and possibly understanding granddad of a little girl that sometimes also works on the site in her school holidays.

It's quite possible that your 'construction team' comes from Java, or some other island outside of Bali.

It's very easy in Bali to think that a lot of Balinese men do sweet FA all day. Some of them woke up hours before sunrise, worked in rice fields, etc, and knocked-off. Some chase money from 'tourists', in all kinds of guises (cowboys, gigolos, guides, you name it). Many of the latter are married and have families to support.

Now, even this little girl, just as a reminder – the boss’ granddaughter, does nothing all day but carry stuff – from A to B, up and down, around over and thru. From 8 in the a.m. till 5 in the p.m. just like all the other women employed on my site and probably all of Bali and the rest of the 3rd world (and, to our shame, also some of the 1st) excepting possibly government employ.

The 'little girl' you mention, who only carries stuff in her school holidays for you, might be pushing one of your morality/justice buttons. If that's some kind of a wake-up call, so be it.

The hard part becomes what to really do to make things better?

The 'easier' part is stop drinking too much rocket fuel, especially if it makes you write nonsense.

:roll:

[calitobali]

Yea, not sure where you are getting the whole circumcision thing from. Balinese, neither male or female are generally circumcised. As JC said that happens in Java, the boys are circumcised at age 5 (I can't imagine being old enough to remember my own circumcision), and while it may not be as common of a practice anymore, most adult muslim women from Java that I meet who have spoken on the subject with me say that they are circumcised. These women were all born 18+ years ago, so the situation may be different now, although I can't say, I don't have those sort of talks with any girls under the age of 18.

As far as the way the women are treated in Bali, I think it all boils down to a cultural thing and one of those things best not to try to get yourself in the middle of. Who are we really to tell the Balinese how to live?

My 2 cents.

[JUDY]

Markit:
I agree with your entire rant!~ It was both humorous, truthfull, and sad. Listen people, I believe Markit was referring to circumsion as it relates to Muslim girls; and all of the garb muslim girls and women must wear even though the weather is so darn hot. It infuriates me to see all the crap muslim girls, women wear in the name of Allah. Please!!!! I respect that people have their own cultures; however, if a group of ladies or girls do not adhere to the required dress code pertaining to their religion than.....why don't you all read what takes place in Ache, the West Bank, Afphaganistan, Saudi Arabia, Java, and outer regions of Indonesia. wake up and smell the stench people. Are you all dead and dumb and oblivious as to what goes on.... Brain dead perhaps? So your comments about what Markit said is truly a real eye opener in my eyes. Don't you all read internation press etc....

Markit, your analysis and depiction of young girls and women being used as donkeys and mules in the hot blazing Balinese sun stirs my blood to the boiling point. The individuals who commented previously only say, thats their culture. Dismiss the abuse, look the other way, do nothing, go to yoga, drink a beer, have a massage, find yourself, screw all the women and girls you can either physically, mentally or both. You get the picture people. You guys and gals who think this type of behavior is justified, acceptable, and should continue to go on for centuries, never would have thought a women should vote, own property, go to school, learn to read, pursue a career, choose whom to marry, when to get pregnate, the list goes on and on. Furthermore, slavery fits your just scenario as to countries cultures, rules and acceptable protocal. As in Rome do as the Romans.

Markit, if you truly wrote your rant as how you honestly feel regarding the female race as work horses, and the muslim woman forced to dress with head gear and clothes to boot that could cause some to have heat stroke in the blazing sun...maybe you should start a movement in Bali to do something about the injustices.

[calitobali]

You guys and gals who think this type of behavior is justified, acceptable, and should continue to go on for centuries, never would have thought a women should vote, own property, go to school, learn to read, pursue a career, choose whom to marry, when to get pregnate, the list goes on and on. Furthermore, slavery fits your just scenario as to countries cultures, rules and acceptable protocal. As in Rome do as the Romans.

That is putting words in my mouth, I never said anything like that. Of course I think women should have the right to vote and own property etc. (which they can do all of those things that you said here in Bali). My only point was that the Balinese have a very complicated culture, and one that they believe in strongly. Part of their culture involves the roles of certain people whether that may boil down to age, caste, family status or even sex. I know Bali isn't without it's problems, but some problems are their problems to deal with on their own. How would you feel if a foreigner walked into your country and started telling you the way you and all your friends and family live was wrong and that you should change.

One more thing as well that makes me a bit confused. People talk about equal rights for women, which is a theory that I can agree with fully. The same people advocating equal rights though will often complain when for instance, women have to work in the sun carrying heavy objects. I am sure there are men on the site carrying things as well (Markit can correct me if I'm wrong). In the end equal is equal, and with equal rights comes equal responsibility.

[fordprefect]

Love the screed (as in I agree), M.

However---

Not to make any excuses, but I believe oppression of the fairer sex is institutionalized in Hinduism(is that even a word?). Western-style "progress" and the time-scales associated with that notion may not apply in the way you (and I) might like.

[gilbert de jong]

very well written as always markit...
when I first saw women working/slaving in construction, i too was amazed..
amazed, wondering why the hell are they doing that? now I know, and it's quite simple...no education, cant read or write..that makes it hard to find a job right, it's already hard even with a diploma, let alone if one cant read or write. Hence go into construction, since the job garbage(wo)man is not available.
as for the religious stuff, I cant say if it's right or wrong...ofcourse from a western point of view (mine too) it's strange to 'hide' the natural beauty of a woman, wrapped up in a burka.
ofcourse there are women who are somewhat forced into this, but an equal if not not more part of the women choose for this life..for whatever reason.
the whole circumcizing thing, is in my mind just wrong... I've been told that they do that, because the woman is not allowed to enjoy the sexual intercourse...now a 'funny' explanation can be, that having sex with a circumsized woman who doesn't reach a climax, the man doesn't feel bad about his performance, but it's because the clit has been removed. Don't mean any disrespect to women or the islam man...just trying to find the reason behind the reason, if ya know what I mean?


judy wrote : ""maybe you should start a movement in Bali to do something about the injustices.""

from what I get from your post, is that your feelings about it are even stronger then markits, so maybe you start a movement..being a woman yourself, that would make more sense then a guy jumping the fences, doesn't it?

cali wrote : ""In the end equal is equal, and with equal rights comes equal responsibility.""

very well said, and I agree with that statement a 100%.

[Markit]

Thanks Judy - you understood. Why am I not surprised that a woman would?

My main purpose in writing it was not so much to get it off my chest (that's what a rant is for, or?) but to try and galvanize some of the women who ghost around the forum into doing something.

As Gil wrote, it aint a man's place to go telling women what to do, particularly when it comes to morals and religion.

Probably a hopeless cause... but if I can animate just one western lady away from her NGO into really doing something for the girls here then I will be happy.

I just don't understand why they aren't marching already.... :(

[Jimbo]

Take the tongue out of your cheek :D

[tintin]

Markit wrote,

My actual point to this rant is coming, keep with me please.

Next time, could you also include an Executive Summary? :)