The topic that I would like to address would be womens suffrage and low position in the Middle East. I saw this as a recurring problem in A Thousand Splendid Suns, and upon disbelief at the degree of cruelty that was discussed in the novel, this topic really became of concern to me. The problem of womens' suffrage became most apparent with the vivid description of beatings between Rasheed and his wives Mariam and Laila. Rasheed had punched, choked, kicked, "raped," starved, hit, slapped, and even locked his wives in rooms for several days. Not only did this brutality persist on a daily basis but he was also extremely condescending and generally rude to Mariam and Laila and deprived them of any freedoms available.
I recognized this problem with National Geographic's green-eyed girl. This was a picture taken by a reporter of a young, fresh, gorgeous Pashtun girl at a refugee camp. The picture captured her piercing green eyes that captivated all of its viewers and also displayed immense fear. About seventeen years or so later after an in-depth search for this same girl, she was found but greatly dulled. Her eyes had dimmed, her chin softened, facial hair increased, and nose sharpened. All of the dramatic changes in her appearance correlated with the malicious and cruel behaviors going on in the middle east. In addition to this, I also related this problem to the movie "Not Without My Daughter," which focused on the hardships of an American woman dealing with a battle against her Iranian husband trying to live a new Iranian life, having to stick to difficult customs. This movie also focused on an abusive and disrespectful controlling husband, very similar to Rasheed, that further showed the pain that women regularly endure in the Middle East. Compared to my life as well as many other women in the United States, behaviors such as these would be punished and greatly looked down upon to say the least and it was very hard to comprehend how these actions were not reprimanded in any manner.
I find that in the Middle East womens primary role is to practically be a slave for their husband. Women are disrespected constantly, never appreciated for their hard work and efforts within their homes. They are not given the same freedom and opportunity as the males in their country, and are thoughtlessly discriminated against. I completely disagree and abhor the way women are treated in this area and I can't stand that these Middle Eastern Countries not only stand for this but promote this. No one should ever have to go through a painful life such as these women do and the fact that it is so common and accepted in the Middle East is very hard to grasp and also makes me extremely frustrated. The way women are viewed is completely illogical, incomprehensible and wicked. Although the chances seem unlikely, I do wish that efforts against this treatment of women increase and that a more logical attitude and respect towards women arises.
