Research « Inner Reflections Transcribed

Dancing Girls of Lahore by Louise Brown

August 12, 2009 at 10:09 pm | In Culture, Discursive, Gender Issues, Learning, Life, Literature, Men, Muslims, Patriarchy, Research, Society, Women | 4 Comments

Dancing Girls of Lahore by Louise Brown

This semi academic book documents the lives of women of Lahore’s notorious Heera Mandi - a colony infamous for its brothels and adult entertainment, spanning across centuries.

Louise spends around 5 years in Heera Mandi – spanning the various seasons of the year and followed one family over this period of time. Maha, a daughter of a prostitute and being in the business herself and her children, 4 girls and a boy portray a tiny glimmer of life in the brothel colony where relationships and love are framed in the context of sex and money and ultimately the powerful control these facets exert on the lives of the women.

I found the encompassing manner of including the many faces, personalities and dynamics which exist in Heera Mandi to be meticulously detailed. Glimpsing into the lives of the staggering and often stoned heroin addicts, the pimps openly conducting business transactions, in the streets, kusray, their communities, circumstances and the bittersweet relationships they have with one another, themselves and larger society to various Heera Mandi prostitutes – the old tawaifs from the era of the British Raj and nawab sahibs, to those girls fleeing destitution and poverty in villages, towns and cities in the hope of re-hashing a life rather than a mere existence provided Heera Mandi – the “Diamond Market”- a portrayal which reflected the many layers in which a society as fragmented as this was in many ways also cohesive. It’s people and the social norms and rules which regulate their existence being at odds with the larger convservative society, respect, honour and family being the cornerstone of a decent life, in loggerheads with an identity heavily loaded with stigma and a forever permeating presence of Heera Mandi in the lives of those tainted by it – regardless of how far they flee, and how long the exile lasts. Once a prostitute, always a prostitute – especially if you’re from Heera Mandi

The striking contrast played against the backdrop of a conservative Pakistani society – which almost ironically mirrors the location of Heera Mandi within Lahore nestled between the infamous Badshai Masjid, Roshnai Gate and Hazur Baagh is discreetly described through the relative secrecy in which the workers at Heera Mandi operate.

From wealthly clients such as Sheikhs from the Gulf, to politicians, members of the cabinet and entrepeneurs it takes little to realise the very sustenance of the women in Heera Mandi is dependent on the rich and affluent who can afford to purchase sex from quality women with the power dynamics often being skewed in favour of them.

However, there is much bartering and emphasise on the quality of goods – such as the age of the girl (the younger the better), her beauty (skin colour, features, attractive assets), her reputation (good dancer and sex worker) with the sale of a virgin girl being much prized, the relative desperation in terms of poverty of the family and the extent to which thise could be exploitated -these all form a part in the agreed fee for their services, be it sexual or entertainment (mujra ) in the form of dance. Many clients may come and go, but the girls live in the hope of snaring a wealthy client who’s interest remains sustained enough to lead the girl and her family a comfortable life.

At what cost to their own chances of leading a life away from the brothels, to have a relationship based on love and affection as opposed to sex and financial gain is an underlying theme throughout the part academic/part biographical accounts of the women of Heera Mandi.

I’d recommend this great read. Another more detailed review can be found here.

Touring the City:Covent Garden

April 18, 2009 at 4:02 pm | In Just for Fun, Learning, Research | 12 Comments

Popped by Covent Gardens a few months ago, but am now just putting up the pictures! Been far too busy these days.

Covent Garden’s market is quite famous. Although when you hear of “market” you expect a line of stalls under the sky but some stalls are housed in what used to be the market area for stall holders quite a few years ago. Now you have stores and a few stalls mixed together.

This area shows the open stall area.

This is the walkway with shops off on the right and left hand side

In the lower ground floor are more shops, specialising in all things kitsch; cute little gifts that make you go “aww” and feel all girly. Most men look bored but thats what they always look like when shopping with the women. There are also some restaurants. One time there was a young chap bellowing out an Italian opera tune. It was fantastic and there was quite a crowd. He was quite the eye candy I might add

Outside the CG Market from the front is a lovely white sandstone building which I think houses the Royal Opera.

On the backside is a church. The walking pedestrianised area is all cobbled, which gives it an endearing touch despite being a pain to walk on in heels.

And the exit/entrance depending on which direction you come to Covent Garden market. The writing above the building reads “Punch and Judy” which is what the traditional puppet play was referred to before other forms of entertainment took over. I’m not quite sure why its there. Any one with insight on this?

Next in the installment of Touring the City: Tower Bridge and Tower of London

Full Right To Divorce?

January 2, 2008 at 2:27 pm | In Gender Issues, Islam, Learning, Men, Muslims, Research, Society, Women | 18 Comments

Following on from Organic’s topic of divorce where recommendations for compiling a pre-nup is being encouraged a set of issues have also arisen. Pre nups are definitely good – they are a means of noting down expectations and general agreements/disagreements which are best being stated and argued over at the beginning than ending up with nasty surprises later down the line.

One issue being discussed is for the woman to stipulate her full right to divorce herself from her husband. Which means without 3rd party intervention (through a judge/qadi), without asking him for divorce or initiating it via someone else (where her father/brother states it). I’ve read about this a lot over the past year, but there are some aspects of it which I find confusing. They are as follows:

If a woman stipulates this condition of divorce then does that mean she strips the man of it? Or does she gain the same right as he does (divorcing her w/o going through a 3rd person). I was under the assumption only one person has the full and complete right
Would she also do it in the same manner as him – as in uttering it thrice. Or would she just state it once and it’d be implemented? Or does it simply mean she can begin divorce proceedings without gaining approval from a 3rd person?
A woman cannot divorce her husband, but can divorce herself from him. Whats the difference? Is there a difference between the two? Because they seem similar to me.
I personally have only come across the deference of right when conditions/promises are broken – such as if the man stated from the outset he would not take on another wife, or he would not emigrate from the city for example, then she has the right to divorce him on that basis. This is known as “tafweed” (I think – correct me if im wrong please).
She can nominate the right to divorce herself from the husband to another agent (usually her brother/father or uncle)
This full right to divorce is termed “mashiat” Info on the above two last points can be read about here

I can’t find any link, article or source that addresses the above issue. I can’t find something that addresses this issue of the woman’s full right to divorce at all – so expecting articles addressing all the above points is pushing it I suppose! None of the Q/A sites address this full right either – they only ever speak about tafweed.

Does anyone have any further into on this? With proper references to texts etc.

Survey on Resisting and Tackling Religious Fundamentalism

August 24, 2007 at 3:49 pm | In Culture, Future, Gender Issues, Learning, Life, Patriarchy, Politics, Research, Society, Women | 9 Comments

Research into religious fundamentalism is taking place by Association for Women’s Rights in Development -AWID

Here is some background information about the research

Religious fundamentalisms are gaining strength in many countries, manifesting themselves in control over women’s sexuality, bodies, family relationships, movement, dress codes, and participation in public, etc. Religious fundamentalist forces are gaining undue influence in setting social norms and architecture; dominating everyday facets of life; defining laws in particular family laws which most impact women; controlling the media; influencing national policy-makers and international institutions; undermining human rights institutions and norms; putting religion at the center of state business; increasing the dominance of religion in public life; and undermining spaces for plurality and dissent.

Women’s rights advocates have done considerable work detailing how religious fundamentalisms impact on women’s rights, such as the demand for regressive reform of family law in Muslim contexts or the rise of the Christian evangelical movement in the United States. There has also been some documentation of strategies to resist and challenge religious fundamentalisms. However, there has yet to be feminist research which synthesizes the broad trends of the impact of religious fundamentalisms on women’s rights and lives, that is cross-comparative across religions and regions which is credible, accessible and widely shared. We also need a greater in-depth and cross-comparative documentation of concrete examples of strategies being used by women to resist and challenge religious fundamentalisms (Source)

The survey can be found here. Closing date is the 9th of September 2007.

Fill it out if you wish! I think its a very interesting piece of research and should no doubt yield some intriguing results.