Western Civilization and Sexism

According to some recent theories, racism, sexism and other forms of oppression are an artifact of the Western civilization and reflect the hegemony by the white man. Anyone with real knowledge of history knows this to be wrong.

Sexism and racism exist in all sorts of places that aren't the Western civilization. Afghanistan is far more patriarchial than America or Western Europe, and the lives of women there are far worse than are the lives of women in the West. A woman who really cares about women's rights will recognize that and be respectful of covenants that protect women's rights while confronting rightfully the covenants that don't.

I bought into the anti-Western stance during my learning stages, and I regret having taken it. I have since then acquired a much more patriotic – if not necessarily jingoistic – perspective. There is much more being done in the West to improve things for women, black people and cultural minorities than there is in the Middle East. And a person who truly seeks this well-being will put things into perspective.

No, the West is not perfect; but it is better than ISIS and it is better than the Taliban. And it is these entities that threaten social liberties the most. Even the most misogynistic Westerner would not throw sulfuric acid into a girl's face for going to school. There are problems here; there are worse problems elsewhere.

My suggestion to feminists is to work with the Western system to implement rightful change and take a strong stance against entities outside the West that seek the West's destruction. The white man does not own misogyny or racism; these take far worse forms outside the West. A person truly interested in the well-being of women, or in social freedom, will confront these entities. In doing so they will earn their right to see themselves as defenders of liberty and no longer be seen as traitors.