I would like to share an essay I wrote describing the true meaning of a picture of two girls form different cultures questioning each other
This picture is a visual representation of how woman are constantly worried and focused on their looks, thanks to the strict and demanding society we live in. A society that tells us to be ourselves, but never truly allows us to. A society where a piece of clothing gives more value to a person than its intellectual capacity. A society where everyone gets targeted or judged by others, and where woman are the most repressed and affected ones.
In this illustration, we have two women from different cultures, who are impressed by each other’s clothes. They both mention how cruel males can be by forcing or pressuring woman into what to wear or do. On our right, we have a girl wearing a bikini and a pair of sunglasses, which allows us to see almost her full body but hides her eyes. She seems like the perfect stereotype of a woman in Western society. On our left, we have another woman wearing a Burka, which is a veil that covers up the entire body and face, with just a little gap in the eyes that allows them to see through. Islamic woman wear this as a “religious obligation” which represents how Eastern society tends to be more reserved and strict with woman.
Even though these two women do not share the same beliefs and values, they do share the same idea of how males dominate and ran the world. Throughout history, we have seen woman as objects. From old religion to modern-day society we keep representing women as delicate and weak individuals who are most of the time not capable of filling in the roles of man. But why? Why do women have to either always be seen as sexual objects or ultra-orthodox religious individuals? It seems like men always have a say in what do women wear, think, or act. Even though is not always directly like In western society, where Women dress up for men’s or even other woman’s compliments and attention. Where we have strong beauty requirements that make us slaves of the trends and consumerism to fulfill men’s expectations.
Meanwhile, Islamic woman dress up to please a repressed society ruled by a religion that has taught them that is the right thing to do. It seems like woman have become accessories in which man from different cultures tells them what to do, and even how to dress. They teach woman to stay quiet and be reserved to give strong opinions of political or cultural issues, just like this one. Women have strong voices men tend to shot down every time they try to rase them. Men see woman so small and irrelevant most of the time, they feel to have the power to judge their capacity and worth by a piece of clothing.
I respect all cultures and beliefs this is only my point of view and I don't expect all people to agree