Ok, so I’ve talked about not liking the shouting version of protesting. I find it counterproductive in most cases. Although not in the case of Afghan women taking to the streets to protest a marriage law, a law that would require them to have sex with their husbands at least 1 day in 4, unless they were ill… allowing their husbands to effectively rape them legally if they were non-consenting.
In thinking about why I found this so incredibly brave and awesome, I think it has something to do with the fact that they protested in a society that doesn’t let them do so. And that despite having rocks thrown at them, and the crowd of anti-protesters being several times larger than their number of 300 and being pelted with stones, they kept going. And speaking up and moving forward in the name of having a safe place to sleep in a country that allows few freedoms (although it’s getting better…slowly) to its women is true, raw bravery. (Photo from article)
Protesting and chanting in our long-defined democracies seems somewhat antiquated in comparison, which is why I think that visual creations in protest help us connect with what’s going on. We are so used to hearing shouting that we slap on headphones, so used to angry faces that we ignore them, so deadened by the familiarity of our rights that we take them for granted. We no longer see the signs or hear the shouts, but we are enlivened and challenged by something handmade for the occasion as it was specially crafted for the event. In other words, it allows us to project a non-jaded eye on old familiars when it comes to protest.
Over in Afghanistan today, 300 women spoke up where protesting is the domain of men and made people listen. In a country where speaking out is not a right, then vocal protest is the most radical of them all. If your voice can be freely heard and exclaimed in your society, that’s when I think other measures need to be adopted to be heard effectively.
My favorite part of the report on this protest? Female police officers (themselves an incredibly brave and new sign of moving forward, a job opportunity barely 4 years old) held hands in a protective barrier around the protesters. Despite all the anger and hate and chaos going on around them, these women moved forward in a ring of women and proved to the world that they, too, are ready to stand up. And they stood together, despite the anger surrounding them, vocalizing their discontent and holding hands, they walk forward.
I agree with you completely. First, those women are the most brave women I have ever seen or heard about. I cannot imagine what they go through every day.
But second, I agree with you about needing to raise our voices in a way that runs against acceptable modes of protest. My own version of social activism comes in the form of my art work. Rather than write a manifesto, I decided to create a pamphlet. But anyone can make a pamphlet on the computer. So, I embroidered mine and distribute reproductions nationally. I also embroider post cards for people to mail to each other. My work centers on being nice and civil to other people. People forget to be considerate, patient and courteous. People forget to reach out. So in my own little way, I try to remind them that in making an effort to be kind, our worlds become generally brighter and better. And in that better and brighter place, we feel more able to accomplish even greater deeds.
Keep up the amazing work!
Your last paragraph is incredibly powerful. Thank you.