 What are some aspects of western culture? Think: clothing, laws, music, rights

 Complete the t-chart on your worksheet

PROS (good)CONS (bad) Some people like the clothing style, food, movies, music, and books of western culture Westernization encourages women to fight for equality Advanced technologies improve education, buildings, engineering Encourages more democratic forms of government – more rights for everyone People lose traditions and their old way of life, and they like their culture – this is a big one especially about food, clothes, music - if everyone adopts western culture, then there is no longer such a thing as Middle Eastern culture, and that is scary and sad for a lot of people Western culture insults some aspects of strict religious law (Sharia Law)

 So where’s the conflict? › Some groups agree with the pro column, and some groups agree with the con column

 Sunni vs. Shi’ite › Sunni governments often oppress the Shi’ite minority › Shi’ite governments often oppress the Sunni minority

 Some Middle Eastern countries imprison and/or punish (sometimes with lashings) › journalists who speak out against the government › Or women who ask for equal rights › Or people who make fun of the leaders

 Sharia law – varying levels of interpretation of Sharia law call for very specific rules for women to follow › Not all Muslims interpret Sharia law the same and not all countries punish violations of Sharia law to the same extent

 What exactly is it? What exactly is it?  Sharia is a set of laws based on the Quran and the example set by Muhammad  Sharia has five main branches: › Behavior/morals and manners › ritual worship › Beliefs › transactions and contracts › Punishments  There can be loose interpretations or literal interpretations

 Under interpretations of Sharia law, some women… › Cannot drive a car › Need permission from a man to travel or have a job › Cannot divorce their husbands, but their husbands can divorce them › Can only have one husband, while husband can have multiple wives › Can be hit by their husbands for disobeying

 Women often dress very conservative – › Not all women think this is a bad thing though › also, again - not all interpretations call for the same kind of clothes  Kuwait, there is no dress code, and most women dress in “western” clothes. They may also choose from an array of various traditional and modest dress, along with a variety of head coverings.  In Tunisia, women are expected to wear modest dress, but they are not required to wear a hijāb (headscarf).  In places like Iran, must meet government dress requirements for modest dress by wearing a combination of a hijāb (headscarf) and a long overcoat which conceals the arms and legs

 Complete the map using the information on the worksheet

 Malala – a young girl in Pakistan who was shot by the Taliban for speaking out against oppression of women. She fought for all girls to be able to go to school › 6LzcU 6LzcU

 Aesha, from Afghanistan, had her nose and ears cut off by the Taliban because she left her husband’s family, who was abusing her. › YXU4c YXU4c