Women’s power has hit a new high – or a new low, depending on your view of global politics. Recently, a conservative Iranian cleric pronounced that women’s immodest clothing choices spur adultery and therefore increase the risk of devastating earthquakes. I didn’t pay much attention to this ridiculous, fear-based statement, but I am fascinated by the action it’s sparked, by women from the east and the west. Here’s a great summary of one prominent response. Go #brainquake!
From Persian Letters-Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty:
<<A new campaign, titled “Brainquake,” has been launched on Facebook, calling on women to show off their résumés, CVs, honors, prizes, and accomplishments. The goal is to get conservative Iranian leaders quaking with fear at “women’s abilities to push for change and to thrive despite gender apartheid.”
The campaign is a reaction to “Boobquake,” an initiative by a U.S. student, Jen McCreight, calling on women to test the claim by Iranian cleric Hojatoleslam Kazem Sedighi that women who dress immodestly promote adultery and thus increase the risk of earthquakes.
The creators of “Brainquake” say on their Facebook page that they’re saddened that the creator of “Boobquake” and thousands of other women have responded to Sedighi’s claim by resolving to show some cleavage on April 26.
“Brainquake’s” creators say Sedighi’s comment was no news to Iranian women, nor was it funny. They note that for the past 30 years, the Islamic Republic has violated women’s rights with what they describe as repressive policies.
Iranian women make up more than 60 percent of university entrants. Women were at the forefront of the protests against the disputed reelection of Iran’s President Mahmud Ahmadinejad. And a number of women’s rights activists were detained and sentenced to prison in the postelection crackdown, including Shiva Nazar Ahari and student leader Bahareh Hedayat, who both remain in jail.
Both “Boobquake” and “Brainquake” are taking place on Monday, April 26.
article by Golnaz Esfandiari>>