Enloe & Kogacioglu readings

In Cynthia Enloe’s piece “Updating Gendered Empire” she discusses the dynamics of an empire and how it is strongly influenced by gender which favors men. She explains the  history of the Iraq invasion in order to put her main points into play. In 2003 the Bush administration invaded Iraq and had a very strong presence. Enloe focuses on subjects like security, danger and combat and invites us to think who gets to define these terms and well as how is masculinity affecting these terms. Throughout the reading it’s made clear that women’s best interest and rights weren’t on the agenda. Although, it’s made to seem the military was there for the freedom of women this dynamic was only to deepen the military regimes sense of masculine control. Enloe explains, “When U.S policy-makers in Washington selected Ismail Khan and his fellow Northern Alliance anti-modernist regional commanders as their most promising allies, they did not employ “the empowerment of Afghan women” a their chief criterion”(282). In the reading women’s lack of liberation was evident as well as the need for male leaders to control every aspects of women’s life in order to feel like they’re sustaining power.

In Dicle Kogacioglu essay “The Tradition Effect: Framing Honor Crimes in Turkey” she discusses how the women are viewed in society, the pressure of honor for these women and how certain institutions view these honor crimes as well as how they handle them. An honor crime is the murder of a woman because she has brought shame onto her family because of sexual actions. Third world feminist believe the main issue is being ignored and instead people are connecting these killings to tradition. These feminist believe power structures and gender inequality are to blame. Another critical aspect is the family rubric and its great importance in Turkey which highlighted throughout the reading. In Kogacioglu’s piece she discusses the way women’s individuality is connected to the family. Reason is the woman is seen as the educator for the family, therefore is the mobilizer for a greater society. This means women lack individuality and instead are connected to the family, their worth is family worth. She also discusses Turkey in regards to to the E.U and how honor crimes are seen. Honor crimes are in the category of mid-range issues. The reading addresses the numerous amounts of committees that work for women’s right in particular honor crimes, but emphasizes the lack of urgent care as explained, “ Yet, to this day, the Parliamentary Commission has not prepared a report or a resolution on honor crimes. Without such a resolution, the issue gets less attention in the European Commission”(135). This shows the awareness of the parliament but also highlights the lack of importance given to these honor crimes and instead pinning this social issue as a Turkish political issue.

Overall, in both readings the writer’s explained the masculine agenda as well as how its practiced and it’s effects in society particularly with women. Enloe gives us a look into the politics of the Bush administration and its lack of effort to empower women because of its masculine military regime. She  also, gave us an example of a beauty salon being a place of political forum for these women. The symbolism of the salon is important  because it’s a place where these women can communicate and spread knowledge for empowerment. Kogacioglu piece focuses on Turkey and its honor crimes particularly on the lack of government support on women’s issue. Both readings highlight the lack of importance for women in order to mobilize a power structure of military regime.