With the horrifying stories of women being raped in the streets of Egypt, it’s only natural to question how the very powerful religious culture plays a role. Author Joyce Carol Oates dared to venture into that territory today:
Something dispiriting about "Brotherhood" political parties–wonder what it is.
— Joyce Carol Oates (@JoyceCarolOates) July 5, 2013
Where 99.3% of women report having been sexually harassed & rape is epidemic–Egypt–natural to inquire: what's the predominant religion?
— Joyce Carol Oates (@JoyceCarolOates) July 5, 2013
In a survey of Egyptian women by the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, 99.3 percent of respondents claimed that they had been subjected to some form of sexual harassment.
If 99.3% of women reported being treated equitably, fairly, generously–it would be natural to ask: what's the predominant religion?
— Joyce Carol Oates (@JoyceCarolOates) July 5, 2013
Trying to imagine a society (not prison) where 99.3% of men report being sexually harassed & (male) rape is epidemic….
— Joyce Carol Oates (@JoyceCarolOates) July 5, 2013
"Rape culture" has no relationship to any "religious culture"–how can this be? Religion has no effect on behavior at all? How possible?
— Joyce Carol Oates (@JoyceCarolOates) July 5, 2013
She’s not exclusively impugning Islam with regard to rape, but rather suggesting that Islamic fundamentalism — the Muslim Brotherhood, in this case — might contribute to violence against women.
In fact, she is apparently not a fan of religion in general:
@AnitaFelicelli Yes. There is a Christian Crusade culture. All religions are "militant." Secular law needed to restrain them.
— Joyce Carol Oates (@JoyceCarolOates) July 5, 2013
"Yours is the true God. Mine is a silly fantasy."
— Joyce Carol Oates (@JoyceCarolOates) July 5, 2013
It is true that I'm skeptical of "religion." Where it's bound up with race, language, tribal & cultural identity, too volatile.
— Joyce Carol Oates (@JoyceCarolOates) July 5, 2013
But the fact remains that in a theocratic society, religion has a dominant influence.
No one wants to acknowledge that religion has any effect upon behavior–good, bad? This is hard to comprehend. To what purpose, then?
— Joyce Carol Oates (@JoyceCarolOates) July 5, 2013
it is interesting that (some) people actually believe that religion has no effect upon behavior, including sexual abuse of women….or men.
— Joyce Carol Oates (@JoyceCarolOates) July 5, 2013
Oates’ musings didn’t sit well with the P.C. crowd, who lashed out:
https://twitter.com/scATX/status/353225256053391360
This was uncalled for, @JoyceCarolOates. Rape culture isn't particular to Islam, or about which god you pray to. http://t.co/GXxWkndOEg
— Jamil Smith (@JamilSmith) July 5, 2013
So, just discovered that @JoyceCarolOates is a bigot. very disappointing. :-/
— sammiejoe (@sammiejoe) July 5, 2013
https://twitter.com/Kimberly124/status/353225569162366976
Disappointing. MT @JoyceCarolOates Where 99.3% women report being sexually harassed-Egypt-natural to inquire: what's the dominant religion?
— Ellen Knickmeyer (@EllenKnickmeyer) July 5, 2013
Wow, pretty shocked by @JoyceCarolOates insinuation that Islam is the direct cause for sexual assault and rape.
— Dr. Alex Hanna / Kate Silver (@alexhanna) July 5, 2013
One less person following Joyce Carol Oates. #noroomforracists
— Kim Wilson (@phillyprof03) July 5, 2013
https://twitter.com/OwenRBroadhurst/status/353227868790206464
Author @JoyceCarolOates tweets Islamophobic ponderings on the violence in Egypt http://t.co/MVBlupGGpj
— Salon (@Salon) July 5, 2013
Wow, I didn't know @JoyceCarolOates was such a bigot toward Muslims https://t.co/Kvy9HUQcYg
— Sarah Kendzior (@sarahkendzior) July 5, 2013
this is islamophobia embodied. islam doesn't encourage rape or sexual assault. you know what does? PATRIARCHY. https://t.co/17KxO0tjrA
— Lauren Rankin (@laurenarankin) July 5, 2013
Another day, another white woman #islamophobe. Today, @JoyceCarolOates is doing the 'Muslims are rapists' trolling.
— Lucy Homan, ANTIFA terrorist (apparently) (@lucypaw) July 5, 2013
@JoyceCarolOates utterly disappointed and disgusted by your hateful tweet.
— Zara (@zaraofhaq) July 5, 2013
Racism & Islamophobia. @JoyceCarolOates: "religious beliefs contribute to the prevalence of rape in Egypt". Sooooo deeper analysis.
— Xarabic. (@xarabic) July 5, 2013
https://twitter.com/zayfarer/status/353227609947119617
https://twitter.com/AgitPropPraxis/status/353235214656487424
Radical Islamist parties like the Muslim Brotherhood seek to govern through a theocracy. Oates may be wrong about a lot of things, but she’s on-target in suggesting that intertwining politics with religion can be dangerous — particularly if thuggish, misogynistic radicals are calling the shots.
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Update:
Iowahawk notes the double standards of those denouncing Oates:
Rules for lefties: saying the US military foster rape gets you tenure, saying Islam fosters rape gets you shunned http://t.co/msDwSU0riG
— David Burge (@iowahawkblog) July 5, 2013
Salon, today: how dare Joyce Carol Oates mention rape in Islam https://t.co/uMkHBOQINZ Salon, 8 days ago: http://t.co/sO1ZPczYv7
— David Burge (@iowahawkblog) July 5, 2013
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Do tell: Self-appointed MSM defenders of women forget about sharia
Irony: Ahmadinejad speaks out for women’s rights at UN General Assembly
#Harass_female_cashiers: Saudi writer reportedly calls on followers to sexually molest working women
Tunisian Islamists demand Sharia and Islamic law because it’s “good for women”
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