Western Culture has Reached the Middle East

Justin Timberlake goes to the Middle East to perform a concert last year, in December 2007, at a hotel in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Most would assume that he is going to support the American troops, but this was just another concert for his Sexy Back tour. Christina Aguilera performed just two months ago, in the same arena with the same popular reaction that Timberlake received. The fans loved them so much in fact the only complaint was the show being to short. Bahrain is even hosting concerts for Columbian pop star Shakira, who has gained notoriety for her lewd belly dancing. America’s popular influences are now spreading to the Middle East, and it’s not just popular singers and celebrities.


For the actual website go to: http://www.missarabworld-eg.com/

Miss Arab World started in 2006, and is very similar to Miss American pageant, where they judge women solely on physical beauty. However this pageant which consisted of seventeen women from fifteen different Middle Eastern countries is extremely conservative. Unlike the Miss American pageant their pageant did not include a swimsuit event. For example the 2007 winner, Wafaa Ganahi, a 23 year old teacher from Bahrain University is wearing a veil, but her face was exposed. The veil indicated that she did not have to reveal every aspect of her physical body, and could still win. Even though these women were in full attire some of their homeland countries, such as Saudi Arabia, may not condone this behavior. Some countries have harsh punishment for not wearing a veil in public. The event has created the illusion that these women have power, when in reality; this is just another exploitation of their roles as women. In fact this is more of an American exploitation then a Middle Eastern exploitation, such as suicide bombing. Even their own countries have not transgressed into a modern generation where this is acceptable, and having these women parade in a public event where they show their faces and skin, may cause a violent reaction towards them in their own countries.


Wafaa Ganahi receiving her crown in Miss Arab World 2007.