Life « Inner Reflections Transcribed

About Women

November 11, 2009 at 3:24 pm | In Gender Issues, Learning, Life, Men, Women | 4 Comments

I loved this comment posted at Sophister’s blog when he asked women what we know about ourselves! A snippet of it is below:

Women want to be understood. So a woman will attempt to comminucate with you and will start by saying what it is that she wants you to understand. If that doesnt work, she will atempt to demonstrate it to you. If that doesnt work, she will call your attention back to it, and demonstrate at the same time. When that doesnt work, she will wait for a better opportunity to demonstrate it to you, and demonstrate it to you then. When that doesnt work, she will become very irritated with you, and everything you say or do will annoy her. During this time, she is likely to lose a lot of respect for you, and that loss of respect will taint your every move and action until everything is a sign of your inability or ignoring of her wish to be understood. On the other hand, if you do manage to listen to her and understand her – she will increase in her love, respect and desire to please you.

Women also need to feel safe. That doesnt mean only safe from you, but safe from everything in this world that is a threat to her body, her mind or her sense of peace. If you support, or show support in anything that causes her to cry, to stress, to worry or to be unsafe in any of these things – she will see you as being against her instead of for her. She will therefore treat you like you are against her, and if you dont do anything to change this opinion, se will continue and increase in this feeling until it is sorted. But if you cant listen to her – it will not get sorted and she will continue on like this. If, on the other hand, you support her need for peace, support her need to feel loved, support her rights (most importantly the right to be heard), then she will increase in her love for you and protect you, fight for you and stand by you until the day she dies – even if you are wrong.

To read it in its entirety

Storytelling via sand art work

October 18, 2009 at 2:26 pm | In Culture, Drama, Learning, Life, Media, Poetry | 2 Comments

This is absolutely wonderful. The artist, Kseniya Simonova, tells a story about war, separation, love and faith all through sand art.

The Glass House: Iranian Doc

October 7, 2009 at 7:30 pm | In Drama, Learning, Life, Media, Men, Society, Television, Women | 3 Comments

Did anyone catch The Glass House on More4 yesterday? I missed it and was hoping to catch it on 4OD but it’s not available to watch

This is what Glass House is about:

No one runs away from happiness” says sixteen year old Mitra. She sits alone on a park bench, struggling with her deep abandonment issues and contemplating running away. Her lonely days consist of cooking and cleaning for her father and brother who both abuse and neglect her. Sussan is 20 years old and she has endured so much physical abuse and head trauma that at times she stutters when she speaks. Years of rampant sexual abuse by her own brothers has culminated into a dangerous drug addiction. At an age where most girls are only concerned with make up and clothes, Samira, 14, has been to rehab for the second time. The local police found her unconscious on the street. Nazila, 19, is a juvenile delinquent turned rapper. Although it is illegal for women in Iran to record songs, she says that rap is “how I express myself”. Her deep and meaningful lyrics tell the painful story of an angry woman who resents the society that has discarded her and made her who she is.

The Glass House by Hamid Rahmanian and Melissa Hibbard takes you deep into the lives of these four girls as they courageously tell their stories while they struggle for their uncertain futures. The Glass House is the untold story of young women who have been cast aside by their society. They have been abandoned, abused and neglected by their country and their families. With no resources, they have no hope of ever improving their lives, until they come to Omid E Mehr. (Source)

Any idea where I can watch it online? Its not on youtube either :p

Eid Festivities

September 19, 2009 at 1:09 pm | In Family, Friends, Islam, Life, Muslims | 9 Comments

Ramadhan is now nearing to an end. And Eid is approaching. Often Eid is anticipated by many with a mixture of sorrow and glad tidings.

New apparrel, such as clothing, jewellery, shoes and gifts for family and friends are often given.

When we were younger we used to look forward to Eid because it meant receiving “eidee” from parents which was in monetary form. And amongst all my Muslim peers, eidee was the norm – you were given eidee from your parents, uncles, aunties. But once I ventured outside of my peer group, I realised people were going the extra hog and buying gifts – including wrapping them with lovely paper, ribbons and bows! I liked that idea and automatically considered it synonymous to Xmas, which I have always found to be a lovely time of the year (moreso than Eid)- less so for the religious value but moreso for the effort that “bling” puts, much to our advantage so we can enjoy beautiful light, glowing cities and towns and see it in a new light.

The only issue with giving gifts is making time during Ramadhan to go shopping. You are usually worn out from tiredness (mentally and physically – moreso mentally if you have had a busy day at work or home) and often day dream about the salivating treats you’ll find for Iftaar – the mere thought of heading to a mall straight after work, trying to figure out what to buy xyz person is as appealling as working a 24 hour shift.

But some us begrudingly eventually get there. Even if it is by chance. And we hope the effort we put into Eid is recriprocated, making it an enjoyable one for us and for the one’s we spend it with.

And may this Eid bring with it in abundance peace, serenity, contentment, good health, patience, tolerance, and blessings in our relationships, our self and for you all.

Eid Mubarak to you all whenever you choose to do it (Sunday 20th Sept or Monday 21st Sept ).

Share how your Eid day is usually spent

Kahani Tawaif Ki Zubani: Tale of a Courtesan (Heera Mandi)

August 14, 2009 at 11:25 pm | In Culture, Gender Issues, History, Learning, Life, Men, Muslims, Patriarchy, Society, Women | 2 Comments

Following from my previous post on the book DAncing Girls of Lahore is this documentary into the lives of prostitutes of Heera Mandi. The documentary goes through the various reasons behind this trade, their own stories, the lives of generations of tawaif’s who are born into the profession, the prized virgnity of young courtesans, the secrets and revelations made by sex workers themselves, their pimps (some whom are the male members of the family) and even the musicians which provide the medium for mujra entertainment.

This is part 1 of 6. The rest is available on youtube