The controversial exclusion of women from various settings in Israel because of pressure from ultra-Orthodox Jewish leaders reached a new level this week with a major conference on gynecological advances that is permitting only males to address the audience.
The conference on “Innovations in Gynecology/Obstetrics and Halacha [Jewish law]” is being held by the Puah Institute this Wednesday in Jerusalem. It will include such topics as “ovary implants,” “how to choose a suitable contraceptive pill” and “intimacy during rocket attacks,” in which there are many qualified female professionals, but none will be permitted to speak, at least not from the podium.
Women are allowed in the audience, in a section separate from men.
58 comments
I apologise for the following miss-the-point rant.
I kind of hate it when reporters call things "controversial" without reason. It reflects a lazy attitude to fairness and balance that tries to find a middle ground between two sides, rather than having the courage to evaluate a position with reason and data. Sides are not always equally right.
Ps: Intimacy during rocket attacks? Seriously?
"intimacy during rocket attacks"
ROFL that was so random, I'd be calling this a poe if it wasn't a news article.
"Women are allowed in the audience, in a section seperate from men."
In other words, seperate but equal. I call bullshit.
So you're going to bring sexists in as experts on women but not even allow the real experts on women (surprise, it's women) talk? You know a lot of people like to put a nice, happy smily face on Jews and say "Well their not as bad as Christians". And then you see them pull shit like this.
I'm speculating, but the "intimacy during rocket attacks" issue may refer to first responders encountering victims who may no longer be fully dressed. For instance, whether an Orthodox EMT can treat a women whose clothes have been burned off.
This would be hilarious if it wasn't so serious. Though I suppose the heightened emotional stress during a rocket attack might lead to some hanky panky.
There is another irony here.
The Puah Institute. Now, it may not be named after Puah Rakovsky, but they share the same first name. And... Puah Rakovsky was a radical Jewish Woman concerned quite heavily about woman's rights. And they are holding this farce at an institute that shares her name.
We live in a bad world when 'intimacy during rocket attacks' is a topic that has people with expertise in it :\.
That being said, good old Ultra-Orthodox, making the rest of us Jews look bad since fucking forever.
Edit: Look bad, or look better, depending on how you look at it.
What the fuck? Intimacy during rocket attacks? I'm fortunate to not have lived (yet) the horror of war, but out of all things, I'd never think about sex if there's fucking artillery raining around me.
Yeah, The White Phosphorus shells make me feel soo hot...
If it weren't for the funny costumes they wear, it would be nigh-impossible to distinguish a Fundamentalist Jew from a Fundamentalist Muslim across the border; considering all they have in common, especially opinions on women's rights.
Why can't they get along?
> intimacy during rocket attacks
I wouldn't worry about that. After all, if fundamentalists are to be believed, the only people who care about intimacy during rocket attacks are the gay soldiers.
To be fair (and less funny), I think the intimacy during rocket attacks might refer to what you're supposed to do if a rocket attack starts occurring while you're in the middle of getting your freak on.
Hopefully, the steps would look something like this:
1) Stop being intimate immediately
but maybe that's too sane a way to look at it. The sentence did make me LOL though.
How dare women hear about women's medical issues from women?
Give them a few hundred years and men & women might get to sit together in the audience.
“intimacy during rocket attacks,”
I got your rocket, right here.
People are killing and dying, but we will still find time to fixate on the potential sex lives of others. Specifically, young people in close quarters who might think this could be their last chance. How much evidence do you have to pile up that Fundies of any stripe are sick fucks?
@1366239:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GYa9Z3gveI
@ Brendan Rizzo:
"Reality is defined by the craziest person in the room" - Scott Adams
Whaaat? And here I've been told only Muslims were outrageously sexist! Between this and the "sins of men are partly the sins of women", I just don't know what to think!
I'm being sarcastic, of course.
TO THE HAREDI CROWD:
*HMMPH*! WELL! You want to have your Haredi gynecology meeting? Have your Haredi gynecology meeting! We NORMAL people will have our OWN gynecology meetings, with female doctors speaking & both genders mixed....and talking real science! You widdle babies can have your "Gynecological He-Man Woman-Hater Club" with your funny hats and Vulcan secret handshakes while WE EDUCATED ADULTS OF ALL FAITHS & NO FAITH HAVE A REAL GYNECOLOGICAL CONFERENCE!
....And what kind of a maniac would wanna make whoopie during a horrific missile attack or other bombing raid/invasion-type situation?!!
"Oh Laaaauuuraa! Terrorists have hijacked our plane! Time to join 'The Mile High Club!"
"Oh, Braaaddd....they dropped a nuke! Let's 'Stop The World & Melt With You'!"
When in a life threatening situation the last thing on one's mind is "Doin' The Wild Thaaaannngg!"
Is it just me or is Israel on a fast downward spiral of religious fundamentalism? I mean, true, they have been a theocracy from day one, but this is like turning into a Jewish Saudi Arabia.
An Iranian friend tells me the Ayatollah Khomeini made a proclamation as to what you should do if you are sleeping and there is an earthquake and the floor collapses and you land in bed alongside your sister, as this is partial incest. I'd just be glad if the poor girl is still in one piece after having the ceiling and her bro land on top of her!
If these men would relate how they feel/felt after their first period, or why they sometimes have mood swings due to their hormones, or why (some of them) need to use a contraceptive pill for various health reasons, then they may address the audience. Until then STFU!
Edit. I am not saying men cannot be experts on women's health. After all, there are alot of highly qualified Gynecologists who happen to be male. I'm saying men should not interfere with women's rights. And in this case their health rights.
“intimacy during rocket attacks,”
Reason number 1,634,345 not to live in Israel nor anywhere in the Middle East.
Confused?
So were we! You can find all of this, and more, on Fundies Say the Darndest Things!
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