Shatha Alwan - Baghdad
In a society still wracked by the war, many of its women live between the hammer of fear and threat on the one hand and the enslavement of customs and traditions on the other, but some have decided to move to new ways of life, in an attempt to revitalize themselves and disown the power of tradition.
After many changes in Iraqi society in recent years, many areas in Baghdad have witnessed the opening of cafes and restaurants for women in a new experiment on an eastern society classified within conservative societies.
Girls described the phenomenon as positive, hoping to expand and spread to all areas of Baghdad, because many women and girls are considered to be their only breathing, which enables them to spend quiet times with friends and peers.
Rana Youssef, one of the women's "Viola" cafes, says that Iraqi women, who suffer from many hardships and hardships, need to be given a dose of freedom, even a "minimum", to feel free from the constraints of society and to chase the masculine looks they pursue everywhere.
She adds to Al Jazeera Net that meeting girlfriends and getting time for a meeting of female activists and women, and setting up parties, birthdays and special women's events, will restore the confidence of women in themselves and in society as well.
Her colleague, Noha Mohammed, considered the move as a simple achievement for her, allowing her to spend a few hours every week away from the house noise and the clamor of children, in a place where she felt she was not "just a machine."
| The women's cafe is considered by the apostates as a place to exercise part of their rights and privacy away from the eyes of the society (the island) |
Concerns and reservations
Although the fear was the master of the situation at the outset of this experience, the remarkable turnout of these cafes was a state of satisfaction for many, as the Iraqi woman can exercise some of their rights and privacy daily in a safe place out of sight the society.
While these places may be dangerous, the feeling of comfort and tranquility given the influx of many has made it seem like an enjoyable experience for many customers.
These cafes are popular and popular among girls and women, some of whom come to smoke arkilah and spend time talking and talking. Some even describe it as "the big house" that houses them.
However, it is not without fear and opposition on the other hand, where social researchers see the difficulty of accepting the Iraqi street for such experiments, especially in light of the unstable security situation, and may pose a "threat to the social fabric of the local," as they put it.
According to social researcher Ahmed Mahoudar, this phenomenon is "strange and alien" to the Iraqi society of conservative nature, and the so-called traditions determined by social systems and contexts, so they face opposition and rejection of the broad spectrum and not accept many in society.
He added that Iraq remains an "uncontrolled" tribal society, which could endanger the lives of women workers in these places and the risk of harassment and targeting of armed groups deployed in the country.
| Women's cafes are held in prestigious neighborhoods inhabited by the middle or wealthy (Al Jazeera) |
Suggested alternatives
The owners of these cafes often choose to open in high-class, wealthy neighborhoods, while popular areas are almost devoid of similar projects, perhaps because they are less receptive to them.
"The alternative to such cafes is the opening of cultural or literary forums," said sociologist Shaza Qassem. "Part of it can be for women at least as a cafe or a corner, so the society can accept these ideas" little by little. "
According to the researcher, it may take several years for these cafes to become natural and not surprising, and does not arouse some of the groups of traditional trends in society.
But some of the workers in these cafes say that it is not faced with such sharpness of the street as portrayed in the media, and confirms the Virgin Abdul Amir, cafe owner, "Lavim" women in Baghdad, the island Net there is a sense of comfort and reassurance of customers, and did not face any objections to the community even right Now.
She added that they have not received any threats from clan or armed parties so far. On the contrary, the demand for these cafes is increasing, especially after the visitor can exercise in this place activities such as reading and developing hobbies, in addition to the presence of cultural evenings.
Therefore, there is a keenness to choose the workers strictly and according to special criteria, most of them have university degrees and leaders of the environment of the province, and defined with a special fashion "decent and elegant," according to the owner of the cafe.
The news of the death of Iraqi beauty expert Rasha al-Hassan, the owner of a women's cafe, has angered these places, creating a shock among them and creating fears that these gatherings may be targeted in the future in an attempt to close them.