Comments on: Mother Knows Best: CNN's interview with an alleged suicide bomber http://muslimahmediawatch.org/2008/08/mother-knows-best-cnns-interview-with-an-alleged-suicide-bomber/ Looking at Muslim women in the media and pop culture Wed, 08 Sep 2010 11:42:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Rochelle http://muslimahmediawatch.org/2008/08/mother-knows-best-cnns-interview-with-an-alleged-suicide-bomber/comment-page-1/#comment-1808 Rochelle Mon, 01 Sep 2008 17:44:55 +0000 http://muslimahmediawatch.wordpress.com/?p=701#comment-1808 I took a class on suicide terrorism with Bob Pape at the University of Chicago, so this post really interested me. Of course historically, we must realize that 1) most suicide terrorists have not been Muslim 2) Most women suicide terrorists from 'Muslim' communities have been Christian, atheist, or secular. I have to make general statements about women or any group, but I do think women are generally less violent than men. The Media also tends to portray female serial killers with much more coverage, if only because it's unusual. The vast majority of suicide bombers are men, so when women come along, we have to intellectualize it, give them a motive that pertains specifically to their womanhood, in order for the anomaly to make sense. In reality, women suicide bombers do it for the exact same reason as male suicide bombers do. And it has nothing to do with religion or vengeance, and has everything to do with politics. I took a class on suicide terrorism with Bob Pape at the University of Chicago, so this post really interested me. Of course historically, we must realize that 1) most suicide terrorists have not been Muslim 2) Most women suicide terrorists from ‘Muslim’ communities have been Christian, atheist, or secular.

I have to make general statements about women or any group, but I do think women are generally less violent than men. The Media also tends to portray female serial killers with much more coverage, if only because it’s unusual. The vast majority of suicide bombers are men, so when women come along, we have to intellectualize it, give them a motive that pertains specifically to their womanhood, in order for the anomaly to make sense.

In reality, women suicide bombers do it for the exact same reason as male suicide bombers do. And it has nothing to do with religion or vengeance, and has everything to do with politics.

]]> By: krista http://muslimahmediawatch.org/2008/08/mother-knows-best-cnns-interview-with-an-alleged-suicide-bomber/comment-page-1/#comment-1807 krista Wed, 27 Aug 2008 19:18:11 +0000 http://muslimahmediawatch.wordpress.com/?p=701#comment-1807 "It's QUIET TIME!" - too funny. And SO TRUE. Seriously, who does that? At the very least, she could have been sitting in front of them, so that she wasn't talking across their conversation. That is some terrible reporting... “It’s QUIET TIME!” – too funny. And SO TRUE. Seriously, who does that? At the very least, she could have been sitting in front of them, so that she wasn’t talking across their conversation. That is some terrible reporting…

]]> By: Fatemeh http://muslimahmediawatch.org/2008/08/mother-knows-best-cnns-interview-with-an-alleged-suicide-bomber/comment-page-1/#comment-1806 Fatemeh Wed, 27 Aug 2008 02:14:47 +0000 http://muslimahmediawatch.wordpress.com/?p=701#comment-1806 I think Krista makes a great point: "their poverty and loss of family members are being criminalised"--this is exactly what's happening. On another note, I cannot stand Arwa Damon's reporting style. I reviewed her CNN special on Iraqi women a few months ago. The way she overemphasizes certain words drives me up the wall; and what the hell is she doing addressing the camera in the middle of the interview? They're conducting a freaking interview! It's QUIET TIME! I think Krista makes a great point: “their poverty and loss of family members are being criminalised”–this is exactly what’s happening.

On another note, I cannot stand Arwa Damon’s reporting style. I reviewed her CNN special on Iraqi women a few months ago. The way she overemphasizes certain words drives me up the wall; and what the hell is she doing addressing the camera in the middle of the interview? They’re conducting a freaking interview! It’s QUIET TIME!

]]> By: krista http://muslimahmediawatch.org/2008/08/mother-knows-best-cnns-interview-with-an-alleged-suicide-bomber/comment-page-1/#comment-1805 krista Wed, 27 Aug 2008 02:04:01 +0000 http://muslimahmediawatch.wordpress.com/?p=701#comment-1805 Totally agree with you, Fatima... Another thing that I found disturbing was what they described as the "profile" of women who carry out suicide bombings. These are often women who have lost a relative in the fighting, or who "are struggling financially." In other words, many women's lives are being totally torn apart by this war, but then the hardships that they're experiencing become precisely the reason that they're now suspected of being potential suicide bombers. So now their poverty and loss of family members are being criminalised?? The logic behind that is incredibly twisted and disturbing. Totally agree with you, Fatima… Another thing that I found disturbing was what they described as the “profile” of women who carry out suicide bombings. These are often women who have lost a relative in the fighting, or who “are struggling financially.” In other words, many women’s lives are being totally torn apart by this war, but then the hardships that they’re experiencing become precisely the reason that they’re now suspected of being potential suicide bombers. So now their poverty and loss of family members are being criminalised?? The logic behind that is incredibly twisted and disturbing.

]]> By: fatima http://muslimahmediawatch.org/2008/08/mother-knows-best-cnns-interview-with-an-alleged-suicide-bomber/comment-page-1/#comment-1803 fatima Tue, 26 Aug 2008 23:21:19 +0000 http://muslimahmediawatch.wordpress.com/?p=701#comment-1803 I think the difference in the rhetoric around it is that men supposedly do it because of hatred of a certain group of people or to make a political statement. For some reason when women do it, it's because the men they lost would have done the same thing? I think the difference in the rhetoric around it is that men supposedly do it because of hatred of a certain group of people or to make a political statement. For some reason when women do it, it’s because the men they lost would have done the same thing?

]]> By: Jamaesi http://muslimahmediawatch.org/2008/08/mother-knows-best-cnns-interview-with-an-alleged-suicide-bomber/comment-page-1/#comment-1804 Jamaesi Tue, 26 Aug 2008 17:11:10 +0000 http://muslimahmediawatch.wordpress.com/?p=701#comment-1804 "The article said that most women who are suicide bombers are doing so because they have lost their fathers, brothers, and sons, and that they must avenge their deaths. REALLY? Well…then why are the men doing it? Are Muslim women really that daft and weak-minded that they can’t even make the decision to kill themselves on their own - it has to be because of the men in their lives?" That's why the men are doing it, as well, for the most part. One thing that suicide bombers have in common is that they have been personally affected by some conflict (mostly political conflict)- like they've lost a loved one because of it. That seems to be a trigger. “The article said that most women who are suicide bombers are doing so because they have lost their fathers, brothers, and sons, and that they must avenge their deaths. REALLY? Well…then why are the men doing it? Are Muslim women really that daft and weak-minded that they can’t even make the decision to kill themselves on their own – it has to be because of the men in their lives?”

That’s why the men are doing it, as well, for the most part. One thing that suicide bombers have in common is that they have been personally affected by some conflict (mostly political conflict)- like they’ve lost a loved one because of it. That seems to be a trigger.

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