How are we indifferent to the suffering of the 'other' in Kuwait? Imagine your self in the position of an opressed "other" in Kuwait and consider what treatment this group would give to your actual social class or category if power differentials should change. Explain why, and indicate the steps to improve that relationship.
What lessons do we learn from the Rwanda genocide and other cases of political violence discussed in class? How would you apply those lessons to preventing conflicts and violence from erupting in Kuwait?
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ReplyDeleteIn the case of Asian expats ( Indians, Philippines, Sri Lankans etc. ) I believe that the treatment that would be done to Kuwaitis if power differentials would change is a negative and hostile one , to understand why exactly I believe this we should look at how Kuwaitis treated the Asian expats in a historical context. The expats have been always looked down upon by the Kuwaitis due to them working in very low paying jobs as well as jobs that are seen in a very negative fashion in the Kuwaiti society such as working as drivers, maids, garbage men etc. even though that these jobs are of extreme importance in the Kuwaitis everyday life which they rely on. As a result of the Asian expats working in such Jobs the Kuwaitis have treated them with extreme disrespect as if they are second class humans or subhuman creatures who should not be taken seriously and not treated similar to how Kuwaitis treat each other or even how they treat other expats such as western or Arab expats who even though are somehow also looked down upon but not to the extent as the Asian expats. The expats have been discriminated, insulted ( by verbally attacking their country through jokes or even using their nationality as an insult for example if one wants to insult a person who he sees as stupid he would call him a Hindi or Indian ! ) , dehumanized ( through bad treatment and being called names such as Donkey or Dog ! similar to what happened in Rwanda with the Tutsis) and even tortured by some Kuwaitis through extreme beating which are sometimes recorded by the Kuwaitis for fun and to watch later, they have no one presenting them and defending their rights in time of need, all of these points would be very motivating to the Asian expats if they gain power in Kuwait to Attack the Kuwaitis and make them taste their own medicine. If the expats gain military power I believe that they will commit crimes and a large amount of blood will be shed as a backlash to these years of ill treatment by Kuwaitis mentioned earlier which is very similar to what happened in Rwanda where the Hutus were treated and seen as inferior by the Tutsis during their political control of Rwanda especially which caused a backlash of mass killings to the Tutsis when Hutus came to power. To prevent such things happening the Kuwaitis must from now on improve their relationship with the expats by first treating them with respect and dignity and start seeing them not as Indians or Philipinos but as humans first, the notion of brotherhood and that we are all brothers in humanity must spread in Kuwait to stop this ill treatment of the expats and all non-Kuwaitis this notion of brotherhood will make Kuwaitis treat the Asian expats as Humans who have rights, not as subhuman who can be treated in a badly fashion, when we make this humanly connection with the expats the Kuwaitis feeling of indifference to them will diminish because they will be seeing them not as Indians or Sri lankans who they have no cultural or blood relations with but they will see them as their brothers in humanity . To make sure that the expats are being treated in a good humanly way there must be a human rights institution which will make sure that the expats are getting their rights and not be mistreated
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Of all discriminated victim groups in Kuwait, none are more openly abused and mistreated than expatriate laborers. Ranging mainly from countries sandwiched between South Asia and Southeast Asia, expatriate laborers have sought domestic work in Kuwait from as early as the mid 20th century. Their subordination is undoubtedly a result of nearly a century of servitude to Kuwaitis while also supplemented by their desperation for minimal skill jobs. Generation upon generation, expatriate laborers are continually degraded and dehumanized in the Kuwaiti imagination and increasingly subjected upon with demands conventional to the Kuwaiti culture alone.
ReplyDeleteWith domestic workers as a particular consideration, we see a distinct division of status even within the same household. Most caretakers are subjected to wear uniforms and refer to house members as either sir or ma’am, further solidifying the house ranking. Passport confiscation, endless working hours, and undetermined leave days stage a prison like environment for many laborers, especially when in sharp contrast to the luxurious life of their employers. But what if these “minorities”, who are in fact the majority of the Kuwaiti population, somehow manage to unite against the injustice of present circumstances and collectively stand in the face of prejudice? The situation would be nothing short of catastrophic.
As an expatriate laborer seeking equality in Kuwait, I would imagine we first work on the notion that Kuwaitis are “in need” of our presence and labor. Their dependence on us would be a key influence in issuing us rights and privileges previously outlawed or ambiguously mentioned in the constitution. This would ultimately call for political recognition to the ever-growing number of expats in Kuwait, with perhaps a classified ministry to carry out the administration of expatriate affairs. The diffusion of resources will be one of many demands made by expats. The Kuwaiti and expat relations will have its tensions no doubt when we expect to carry a new elevated status amongst the population. Demands for equality will call on better working conditions, higher wages, and better living environments, much of which will be at the expense of the Kuwaiti government or Kuwaiti owned private companies to provide. This will surely give rise to the issue of lack of employees for low-end jobs, in which Kuwaitis are left with the ultimatum of either performing the jobs themselves or further hiring non-Kuwaitis to attend to the tasks for them, and consequently further stretching their resources.
With regards to violence, not much may be expected from us expatriates, aside from protesting and fierce rioting. We believe that the strength in our numbers and our appeal to strike fear in the Kuwaiti population will serve us enough to gain entitlements of compensation. We expect little bystander activism from international organizations as violence erupts between expats and Kuwaitis, most likely due to a prolonged delay in their efforts to identify us, the multinational perpetrators.
As expatriates, we will continue to hold Kuwaitis collectively responsible for our abuse and toleration of our mistreatment; but regardless to our antagonist relationship, we are both inseparable as we are bound by economic interests. Thus, it is crucial for our relationship that we stay committed to one another with intent to both understand each other as well as being prepared to carry out certain obligations and conditions to maintain the stability of the country.
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The group of the oppressed that I'll be disclosing about it the labor expats of Kuwait primarily from the region of south east Asia. The ways that Kuwaitis are indifferent to the suffering of the other is by: firstly, the statues that Kuwaitis up hold in which they feel superior to the other group. Secondly, the expectations from the Kuwaitis on the roles that each the expats should play. Thirdly, the stereotype that is given by Kuwaitis to expats because of their labor labeling them "uneducated, poor, dirty". Fourthly is the judgment that is made verbally by Kuwaitis to the group or amongst each other. First and foremost the oppressed group in this case the expats deem to have equal rights in the work labor force. Therefore if power differentials were to occur the first thing they would enforce is better working conditions, higher pay, as well as better living conditions.
ReplyDeleteIf violence was put in the equation I think expats would form an little reform of rebels and work together to be heard for what they want but the extend of this would not necessarily be murder but more extreme violence. Reasons would go beyond from ill treatment, to unfair hours of work and pay.
As expats I believe that they will prolong and have that sense of blame towards Kuwaitis in general for the way that they have been dealt with. Though the relationship between these two groups will remain throughout time because they both use the other from gains such as interests economically. It is important to acknowledge the fact of both these groups are interconnected and play a major role in each other's lives/ society. For they have to better understand each other to be able to live peacefully among each other.
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If I were to imagine myself from the position of an oppressed “Other” in Kuwait, I would imagine myself as a domestic worker. As a hypothetical member of this group, the treatment I would give to the group I ‘really’ belong to – the employer – would entail several reactions on my part if thee triggering event would be my arrival to my new ‘workplace’, where not only am I expected to abide by a new set of culturally-defined rules, but I am also given a new identity. I am expected to wear a hideous uniform that all the other ‘maids’ have to wear, to distinguish us from everyone else, so that even strangers can know what our role is just by looking at us and can treat and speak to us accordingly. I had packed my own clothes with me, but it appears that I will not be needing them; my jeans, my nice blouses, my sweaters. My long, Asian hair must now be concealed; I am told to be grateful that my employer is ‘only’ asking me to keep my hair tied at all times, that other employers have their maids wear a Hijab – irrelevant of whether or not she is of Muslim faith.
ReplyDeleteI am expected to refer to my employer as ‘Madam’ – another maid in the house, a co-worker I suppose, is older than our employer and is still expected to call her Madam. I don’t see the logic in this. I am even expected to call her teenage daughter ‘Madam’, and her thirteen-year-old son ‘Sir’. I can call the younger children by their first names, but the younger children view themselves as my superiors anyway. Based on what grounds, I am not sure.
I feel stripped of my individuality, as if my employer is trying to assert my new job as a new identity, which I am expected to adapt during the term of my contract.
These small oppressive acts of personal restriction escalate. The matter is soon complicated to another level when my employer decides I may not leave the house anymore. It was bad enough being told I may not socialize; I may not go to the cinema, I may not have an off ‘day’ – I get a few hours in the morning on Friday when their family sleeps in, but that’s considered generous of her. She soon cancels this altogether, and tells me that I can simply write down whatever I need and she can buy it along with the rest of the groceries. “You know, shampoo, soap.”
“What about Church?”
“Oh,” she pauses. “You can worship here.”
My breath turns to ice. Sundays are the only escape I have from this woman’s constant dehumanization and reign over me. It is the only time I don’t feel so isolated, when I don’t feel like an unwanted outsider. At this woman’s home, no one says good morning to me – they divert their eyes whenever our gazes accidentally meet. At Church, everyone is welcoming. We all share something. We may not all be of the same nationality, or the same socioeconomic status, but we are all of the same faith, and we are all there for the same purpose – to worship. To take time off from our lives to humble ourselves before the divinity of God.
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I expect that she will be reasonable once I explain the significance of this as a group practice, as an activity that, once a week, permits me to feel like a member of a community who is welcomed and accepted. I am surprised to learn that she shows zero sympathy and unswaying judgment. I infer that she is morally insensitive, and that it is a result of her status. It has turned her detached and cold.
ReplyDeleteIf the power differentials were to change, I would strip her of her identity. Take away her ‘right’ to daily shopping. Deprive her of her daily ritual of painting her face with make up that deceives ‘Sir’ into thinking she is beautiful, and her daily trip to the salon that tames her wild, unbrushable hair. I would make her wear a uniform. I would choose her hygienic products for her – no more fancy Bath and Body Works shower gels. No more ‘unnecessary’ socializing. I would see how she likes feels invisible – people who live with her in the same house and walk past her every morning without so much as a smile.
Perhaps this is necessary. Perhaps she needs to literally be in my shoes - and uniform, and isolated and tiny, uncomfortable bed - to treat me more humanely. Perhaps experiencing dehumanization is the only way to put an end to it.
S00025767 (part 2)
The oppressed group would be the expat such as Indonesian,Indians,Egyptians..etc . Due to our nationality we are treated unfairly , such as we can’t incorporate with any polticial issues ( no voting) , we are not allowed to own a house only rent. Public schools are only allowed for kuwaitie citizen same goes with scholarships. In addition , because people from diverse background work in Kuwait as housemaid,drivers,security guards,waitress,etc many of the low status of workfield and Kuwaitis workers work in a high position of jobs because of that it create classification between them which lead to discrimination and racism among the target group and the result of that ,some of kuwaities citizen would dehumanize the other group by treating them bitterly such as the police officers would find a way to deport these expats easily , they would purposely fail an expats in their driving test and would only pass if they have “wasta”. Some kuwaities citizen would severly harass the expats due to their nationalities. The relationship between the expats and kuwaities would be different if the expats have their rights in the state of Kuwait and how the groups should treat each other fairly such as allow them to attend public school ,get scloraship, own a house , and increase their salary . The equality treatment between these two group will help to decrease the discrimination and the classification between the kuwaities and the expats.
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ReplyDeleteOf all the minorities present in Kuwait, I believe domestic workers are the most mistreated and abused. If I were to place myself in the position of an oppressed 'Other' in Kuwait, I would assume the identity of a domestic worker. Our jobs as domestic workers are physically draining; we start working the minute any household member wakes up and we do not stop until everybody is asleep. There are normally no breaks during the day nor on weekends or holidays; we are constantly expected to perform each and every task demanded from us, whether it is demanded by the "master" of the house or by a 10 year old child. Not only is the job highly demanding on the physical level, the emotional and psychological abuse we are subjected to is even more damaging. Some of us are forced to conform to the religious beliefs of the household, disregarding our own beliefs in the process. We are treated as property, not as human beings. Our needs, emotions and feeling are all subordinate to the members of the household, or even nonexistent. In spite of the essential role we play in the lives of Kuwaitis, we are considered expendable and the extent of our expendability is a lingering threat. However, some of us are luckier than others; some domestic workers are exposed to physical acts of violence by family members whereas other are exposed to verbal abuse. For all the reasons mentioned, I believe that if the roles were reversed we, as domestic workers, would treat Kuwaitis in the same manner they treated us. All of the suffering we went through would only be retaliated through similar treatment. In order to improve the relationship between Kuwaitis and domestic workers, the first course of action would be to provide better living and working conditions in order to prevent the formation of any antagonistic feelings towards Kuwaitis. The fact of the matter is that Kuwaitis depend on domestic workers; therefore, they should show respect and recognize the value of domestic workers. S00028051
ReplyDeleteIf power differentials should change, assuming that I am a domestic laborer, I would first try to put my actual social class in a position where they would feel weak and vulnerable; the same position I was put in when I made the difficult choice of leaving my family behind to help or solely aid them financially. I would want them to understand how hard it is to be a long distance from home and how difficult it is to adjust to being subordinate, so I would take him or her back to my country to work for my family. I would take away their mobile phones and their laptops. The only form of communication with their families would be through the house phone, with my permission. I would withhold their passports. Also, weekly outings with family and friends (if they have any in my country) would not be an option because work is the priority; I can make an exception for eid. Eid clothes would be picked according to what I think would be appropriate. After my family and I have eaten lunch, and after washing the dishes, he or she could eat their lunch in a separate area. The Kuwaiti would also help me in looking after my children. If he or she had a difficult name to pronounce, I would choose a new name for them or abbreviate it. If any item is lost, he or she would be the first suspect. He or she would have a couple of hours to rest during the day. I would order them to sleep early so that they could start working early the next day.
ReplyDeleteIn order to improve this relationship, first, the person in the higher position must treat the subordinated person as an equal human being, who like them, needs rest, privacy, and entertainment.
If I was to be the “other” I would take people of Asian nationalities workers for example. They are often mistreated amongst the people and are not treated equally before the law because they are seen inferior to the “Kuwaiti”, I firmly believe that they already have power because they are the working labor, they are the ones who manage and build this country. If they were to start a strike against their employees and the country itself by refusing to work, the choice of deporting or eliminating more than two million people from the three million people currently living in Kuwait would be too costly. Now the country can always deport a small amount of people at a time, but if word spreads amongst the whole working class, it would defiantly spread to the next batch of cheap labor from Asia. Slowly but surely the working class would achieve a better lifestyle from Kuwait, but it would be costly to both the Asian labor and the country itself. If the country would provide better pay, education for their kids, job opportunities etc… both the labor and the country would improve economically, the labor would be to provide for themselves and their families back home and Kuwait will GDP will grow.
ReplyDeleteI believe bedoons are one of the most oppressed groups present in Kuwait and people have shown great indifference towards them and towards the mistreatment, prejudice and discrimination they constantly face and have been facing. Bedoons are not allowed the same education as Kuwaitis, they are not allowed to travel, they’re relocated to far away poor areas in order to keep away from Kuwaitis. They are seen and occasionally referred to as “uncivilized animals” that pretty much have very little or almost no rights. They face huge discrimination that leads to very rare good marriage opportunities and are pretty much deprived of any sense of nationalism or belonging.
ReplyDeleteIf power differentials should change, Kuwaitis would have below minimum wage dehumanizing jobs if not completely deprived from making a living, they would have their fancy houses and cars taken away and replaced with primitive homes and bicycles. Kuwaitis wouldn’t be allowed to go on their luxury travels or any travel for that matter and wouldn’t have the chance to obtain scholarships, their medical care would be extremely bad and wouldn’t even be able to seek medical attention outside of the country. Wasta would be used to imprison them and frame them. The education they would receive would be very primitive and discriminative, they would have no passports, no sense of belonging or identity and would have a very hard time getting married, therefore, procedures to improve relationships between Kuwaitis and bedoons should be taken to insure such things don’t happen if the power differentials were to change; this can be achieved very simply, beautifully and easily. All that it requires is for bedoons to be treated as equal fellow human beings, which they are.
If the power were to switch it would be negative, as the oppressed group have been put through a lot. In my case I believe that the oppressed group or also known as the others in Kuwait would be the domestic workers mostly from South East Asia. They are not allowed to vote they don’t have many of the rights that the Kuwaitis have. They are seen as people of a lower class and are here to do the job that the Kuwaitis wont do. They cant attend public schools which would be so much cheaper for them, they also can not own land which means their salary goes on paying rent. In addition, their life style of living is not a good one. Furthermore, the others are discriminated for their nationality; when in reality they cant help where someone comes from or the class they are put in. If I were to improve the problem I would try to treat the people like humans, as they have feelings and are also humans. The Kuwaitis and expats should be similar to some extent as we all know that Kuwaitis want to be unique and want something different than everyone else. If discrimination and racism would stop between everyone no one would have a problem and that would stop some of the problems that are occurring between the expats and the Kuwaitis. Lastly, I believe if they were allowed to own a house, attend cheaper schools, and have a tiny voice things would be better. The world would be a better place if we were all given rights to living a better life.
ReplyDeleteApathy exists because people fail to relate to each other. Humanity is at risk because people alienate other people. For an opressed group (Asian foreigners) to emphasise humanity and equality others and kuwaiti velvet class have to be in an opressed position to taste their own medicine... kuwaitis for a change would suffer poor health care, get denied education, occupy minimum wage jobs and have insults and disrespect as a cherry on top. Other than the feeling of being expandable and always being at fault. Constantly living in fear of being threatened and deported by people who achieved nothing but were lucky enought to be born within certain circumstances.law and social views are so intricately interconnected that a change in one of them demands the change in the other. That is how the relationship would be improved.
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I believe that the oppressed group is the bedoon. If power differential would change they will give Kuwaiti people the same indecent place in the society, they will not respect or give any right to Kuwaiti. That’s because how Kuwaiti mistreats them and do not respect Bedoon. They don’t have the rights to have descent education; passports, civil ids, political rights and they are jobless. They referred them as stateless. They are dehumanized by not counting them under any group for the country population, not giving them birth and death certificates. Even if they manage to get good education they cannot get decent jobs. Kuwaiti is counting them as a jock they are calling each other bedoons just to make fun. The steps that can be taken to improve the relationship is by giving the bedoon their rights by providing them good jobs, houses, health care and good education. Kuwaiti should think about them as human that have feeling more than people who do not have civil ids.
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One of the most mistreated ‘others’ in Kuwait are domestic workers. If I were to imagine myself as a domestic worker in Kuwait, I would feel frustrated and inferior to everyone else. The amount of work that I am subjected to and the restriction of movement that I suffer is not something that anyone should face. The many unjust treatments I face and the lack of rights I possess leads to a strong feeling of oppression and resentment. If the roles were reversed, I would eliminate the Kafala system and give everyone the freedom of mobility and autonomy. I would also give Kuwaitis the jobs that they deem inferior, for example, cleaning the streets of their own country, serving in restaurants, etc. I would do this to make them go through the suffering that we faced. I want them to see the injustice and mistreatment that I went through. To improve this relationship, I would as I previously stated, change the Kafala system, give rights such as agency, freedom of movement, restrict working hours and regulate vacations. Another thing that should be done is to infiltrate the education system by teaching children about equality and that diversity is something to be celebrated. Another thing Kuwaitis need to understand is the value of migrant workers to the economy of their country and their everyday lives. Also, these domestic workers leave behind in their countries families and children and spouses which needs to be recognized by us.
ReplyDeleteFirst things first, we should understand how the oppression of various groups play into the basic development of the Kuwaiti hierarchical society, and further acknowledge our roles as direct beneficiaries of this oppression. Indifference towards the Other, in my opinion, boils down to our failure to recognize oppression as a pervasive system intended specifically to privilege one group of people at the expense of the marginalization of another group of people. Instead, we identify oppression as isolated events which only occur every now and then. Oppression of groups is not so much about hatred, as many of us would like to believe that being nicer to members of disadvantaged groups immediately makes us "one of the good ones" and outs us from a system we maintain in place merely through living by and adhering to its laws. Rather, oppression is about constructing a network of structures that prioritizes and protects the interests and values of the dominant party. Oppression is upheld through interrelated institutions governing media, education, religion, healthcare, banks, employment, police, court, etcetera. Oppression, for many Kuwaitis, seems to begin only when that Kuwaiti woman threatens to deport her maid or when a peaceful protest led by Bedoons is met with police brutality.
ReplyDeleteThe group I imagine myself apart of from the position of the oppressed “Other” in Kuwait is Domestic workers. As a domestic worker in Kuwait I go through many hardships, I come to this country to support my family financially by sending money home, but upon my arrival I am shocked by the bad conditions I’m expected to live in. In the agency, I am crammed with many other domestic workers in one room that had fewer beds than workers. After a certain process of selecting a domestic worker, which in itself degrading, I am picked up by my employers to finally live in their home. I worked a full day, from the second I woke up till the time I slept. Also, I was always treated as an inferior; I felt like a slave, I wasn’t permitted any free time. My passport was confiscated so I do not decide to leave. My employer’s children had so much authority over me stripping away my humanity. I was being verbally abused, and at times even physically. If roles were reversed and the employers were the oppressed I would make them go through everything they put me through and the long working hours as well as take away their social life because domestic workers are not allowed to meet other people men or women which puts them through depression. I would do all this to make them understand and feel why domestic workers are speaking up and accusing their employers to be enslavers. One thing that could be done to change the relationship drastically would be changing the kafala system whereby they have full control of their passports and themselves so that they could leave their employers if they don’t get along with them. Furthermore, better conditions should be provided in their agencies, and they should have regulated rules in their contracts that state: working conditions, working hours, and what is expected of them.
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ReplyDeleteOur indifference towards the domestic workers in Kuwait is exemplified in an array of colors. To mention a few, firstly, people constantly overwork their maids, without even asking if the workers have had their meals. Months pass by, and the employers don't even think about giving their maids a day off. Oversized clothes, and cheap slippers are forced onto the workers, regardless of the season. They get yelled at if they display signs of homesickness. During a meal, everyone would use as much cutlery and dishes as they want. No one thinks about the poor hands that are going to have to wash the family's mess. Same with the laundry... Same with the bedroom, and the rest of the house.
Indifference runs deep within the Kuwaiti society when it comes to domestic workers. Paradoxically, it is the "madam" that feels burdened because of her helping hand. Due to the kafala system, and the amounts of money to be paid, a dull resentment exists from the employer to the employee. It's as if people want to squeeze out every dinar they had to pay to get their domestic worker. It is as if domestic workers came from a different planet, and are merely a replaceable thing. A thing that isn't allowed to get tired, a thing that can be kicked out, beaten, starved, and overworked.
Despite the fact that Kuwaities probably "need" their workers just as much as the workers need to be paid, there is a clear imbalance of power. Domestic workers have no say in anything. They're thrown into a world they have no control over. A world where sometimes they're not even allowed to have a phone, let alone a phone call, to the outside world.. Because that might make them homesick, and they're not allowed to be..
If power differential were reversed, it means that the Kuwaiti family would have to succumb to the notion that they need their domestic workers more desperately than the domestic workers needs them. At this point, the Kuwaiti family would be the easily disposable and replaceable variable.
I honestly don't think that the domestic workers would abuse that power, or atleast the simple right of having a choice about how their lives would be for the next couple of years. Most of them came here for honest work. All they want is to finish their contract and leave. Kuwait, to them, is just a phase in their life.
Just like anything else in life, too much of anything creates disharmony. Domestic workers barely have any power, and the employers have way too much. In order to mend the relationship between domestic worker and employer, one must fix the power equation, and balance it out.
Firstly, a step in that direction is to breakaway the shackles of the infamous kafala system. The "agency" basements and apartments in hawalli and other places around Kuwait should be abolished. I've seen agencies mistreat nannies. They don't protect them. Secondly, contracts should be made between the worker and employer with a third party present. This contract should contain things like, working hours, salary, days off, etc. Failure to comply with the contract should allow the domestic worker to find a better home. Thirdly, there needs to be a body created that seeks to protect the foreign domestic workers. This body can also provide housing and transportation for the domestic workers. They don't need to be living in their madam's house. Being a maid, doesn't mean being a slave. It should be seen as a job, just like any other. One that begins at a certain time, and ends at a certain time.
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DeleteThe group i imagine myself from the position of an oppressed "other" is foreign domestic workers.
ReplyDeleteForeign domestic workers play an essential role in nearly every Kuwaiti household. More than foreign domestic workers from Asia and Africa, the majority of whom are women, work for Kuwait’s citizens, as well as for foreign residents living in the country. While some employers develop an affectionate and caring bond with the women who care for their children, cook their meals, and clean their homes, others take advantage of weak legal protections and an isolated home environment that shields human rights abuses from outside scrutiny.
domestic workers face many problems about nonpayment of wages, excessively long working hours without rest, and physical, sexual, and psychological abuse.
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ReplyDeleteBy studying cases of genocide in Rwanda and in other spots of the world, it comes as a shock how massive killings of so brutal nature can be launched between citizens of the same country. However, understanding the conditions that have led to each case of genocide, gives us significant insights about how to prevent the repetition of such inhuman incidents. For example, from the case of Rwanda, it's noticeable how absence of mutual respect between ethnic groups, and legal preservation of rights of minorities have eventually led to developing a sense of inferiority towards the minorities which can be a continuous trigger for acts of violence against them.
ReplyDeleteCases of genocide and political violence discussed in class have also contributed in raising our awareness towards the value of democracy, equality and preservation of human rights. Usually, in societies which resents democracy; which don't treat citizens on equal terms; and which don't offer sufficient legal bases for protection of human rights, there is a high potential of indulgence into political violence. An incident like hitting the plan of the Rwandan President in 1994, may easily trigger a violent conflict, that in light of loose ruling regime can indulge into acts of killing between citizens of the same country.
To prevent incidence of political violence in any country, it's important to set a tight political and legal system that organizes relationships between citizens under the broad rules of equality and respect of human rights. It is also equally important to raise awareness to citizens of the same country to the value of coexistence between different ethnic identities, and to assert the concept that living together in a just community, ruled by laws, governed by equality, and giving sufficient space for democracy and freedoms, constitute the golden formula for protecting our community from any forms of political violence.
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Nourah Adwani