| Many advances have been made in protecting women from control and abuse by men, but not nearly enough. Under Italian law, until 1981, it was possible to plead "attenuating circumstances" to be let off lightly for a "crime of passion," which usually involved an "honor killing" of a "wayward" woman, a wife, a sister, a daughter. The Middle East society is still plauged by these archaic mores. Men need to prove their superiority over women. One reason is that since the Palestinian men are oppressed so fiercely by the occupation that their sole means of exercising control is by lording it over the women. A state of equality for all, a good economy which will allow men to support their families, more contact with the positive aspects of modernity are just a few means to achieve a world where both men and women live proudly as equals. Shame on the rotters who keep abusing women, wherever they may be. |
|
