Summary 1
In the article, Staninger highlights the fact that Jasmine is a widely adored character only because of her American behavior, personality, and characteristics. Her religion and ethnicity are forgettable due to her lack of accent, euro-centric features, and ideas that represent Western feminism. Staninger then juxtaposes Western feminism and Middle-Eastern feminism, challenging the stereotypes of Middle-Eastern women as submissive and passive. She points out how feminism exists in its own right in the Middle East, in how women take on essential roles in the household and their sons’ lives. Although the position of women in Islam has been distorted by patriarchs as weaker, Staninger points to the calls to go back to the religious texts at their roots and really study them, as Fatima Mernissi does. Staninger also brings up Elizabeth Fernea’s account of rural Iraqi women who were truly happy and content, laughing away with friends and openly discussing their sex lives, an image completely in contrast with how a Western woman or man would imagine Iraqi women, especially forty years ago. The writing challenges our ideas of feminism being centered around the West while undermining other efforts and brings us back to the idea that Jasmine is so likable because of her portrayal as a modern American feminist rather than a Middle-Eastern one. It also contextualizes the release of Aladdin and America’s sociopolitical climate in relation to Iraq, asking powerful questions such as the necessity for a fictional land of Agrabah when the original setting is Baghdad.
Summary 2
The article makes us wonder about Jasmine’s popularity relative to the accuracy of her portrayal and juxtaposes Islamic feminism and Western feminism.
Reflection
I found paraphrasing to be a tad easier then summarization due to mainly two reasons; the word and character limit, and my tendency to analyze rather than summarize. To be honest, I feel much less confident in my abilities to summarize. While paraphrasing challenged my vocabulary and my understanding of the text, summarizing challenged me more as a writer by opposing my usual style.
