Visiting guest lecturer Nadje al-Ali offered her stance on the reality of post-occupation Iraq with her presentation, “Iraqi Women Under Dictatorship and Occupation” Wednesday.
A roomful of students listened as al-Ali, hailing from the University of London, spoke on Iraq’s detailed history and how, often without recognition, women have played influential roles behind the scenes.
During the hour-long lecture and subsequent question and answer session, al-Ali gave insight into Iraq’s history as far back as the 1960s , and coupled it with the country’s future goals and long-term realities.
Al-Ali said Iraq in the 1970s was undoubtedly different than now. In the late 70s the Iraqi government enacted a literacy program to further educate its citizens, including women. During that time, al-Ali said women were educated and working members of society who also carried much of the family responsibilities.
Throughout the course of the 80s and 90s however, she said Iraq underwent political changes that shifted power to the Sanctions Regime and influenced oppression. And, al-Ali said, a demographic imbalance and economic crisis heightened the oppression.
“In the past there had been the freedom of mobility. In the 90s, that changed a lot,” al-Ali said.
Though not downplaying the significance of past turmoil and violent history, al-Ali said it is imperative to consider the effects the 2003 U.S . invasion and occupation of Iraq had on the citizens and functionality of daily life.
Al-Ali also said a solution to a major world problem, like that in Iraq, is not as simple as stepping back and turning away. Not only are soldiers, fighters and insurgents affected by the occupation, but widowers, young women and children as well.
“They say ‘Mission Accomplished?’ I don’t think so. Mission is not accomplished,” al-Ali said.
Amanda Eads , senior in English and interdisciplinary middle east studies, said she thinks the U.S . should play a more humanitarian role in post-occupation Iraq. She said although the troops are being withdrawn, the job is not over.
“It’s definitely not the end,” Eads said, “They are not incapable of cleaning up the mess but we should be setting the wheels in motion for them.”
While showing a slideshow of landscapes and photographs from Iraq, al-Ali said the state of the country remains in disorder and, though much has been done, there’s still more to do. She said the 2005 elections were a positive step forward but didn’t follow through.
“I don’t think you can equate elections with democracy. It’s [still] very hard to find hope in Iraq today. It’s not a thriving democracy,” al-Ali said.
Deeming them Post-2003 Phenomena, al-Ali said the lives, actions and behaviors of Iraqi women were affected by the U.S . invasion and the use of military force.
“Women very actively and creatively tried to keep things running [for everyone],” al-Ali said.
Because Iraqi women had great responsibility, she said, they thrust themselves into action and became more politically involved.
“[They] started to develop their own political voices and visions,” al-Ali said.
Evan Garris , a senior in philosophy, said he enjoyed hearing al-Ali speak and is curious about the future of liberation in Iraq. Garris said he thinks the worldwide economy plays a bigger role in shaping beliefs, like those in Iraq.
“I’m interested in the role of the global economy in shaping group identities in Iraq,” Garris said.
Al-Ali didn’t weigh heavily on the role of the global economy, but nonetheless gave an informative lecture on the history of women under dictatorship and occupation in Iraq, and what the future holds for the country and its citizens.