this, that, and the other

the "other".
Bhabha and Said, both philosophers or sociologists have studied this phenomenon of stereotyping. Stereotyping is something everyone does. It's a mechanism of defense for those who approach an alien land to think what they had better and dismiss the cultures of others. It's also a mechanism of defense for the natives towards those new because their cultures and ideals are new. There is so much fear for the unknown that we create assumptions and build on it and stick to it.

In one of my art history classes my teacher clarified a commonly misconceived notion towards the veils of middle eastern women. We, Americans, the free willed see it as a form of restriction and unfair treatment of personal rights. But as a matter of fact, it's a form of self preservation, it's a way to shield yourself from the wandering and judging eyes of men. It's a way to appreciate yourself fully without the shallowness that clouds the world today. Learning of this with more depth really gave a me a new found respect for those who chose to dress this way. It makes me think how brave they are to follow this belief and how confident one must be to carry out a tradition as such.