http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-715831.mp3
Albany, NY – Early in her career as a young producer at BBC television in London, Allegra Stratton developed a fascination with youth culture in the Middle East. She constantly researched stories about military and political turmoil in the region, but found less information about the large young adult population in that part of the world. The numbers are impressive - about 2-thirds of the population in Mideast countries are under the age of 25.
So, the intrepid journalist took it upon herself to travel around Mideast countries. She interviewed young women about reconciling their increasingly traditional religious beliefs with their consumption and imitation of pop culture.
Stratton came across many young women known as Muhajababes. They choose to wear veils, symbols of piety and modesty. At the same time, these young women wear makeup and dress promiscuously. Stratton did her best to capture their spirit and the odd mashup of tradition and Western pop culture in her book, Muhajababes.
Critics have called it the Archie Bunker syndrome - many male figures on family sitcoms these days play the no-good buffoon whose capable wife gets everything done for the family.
Columnist and author Kathleen Parker uses that as one example in her book Save the Males. She says that society has gone too far in striving for gender equality. Only daughter of a single father and mother to a son and two step-sons, Parker says she's perfectly equipped to argue men's case. She thinks we women are too quick to chuck tradition. I asked her why she thinks that.
Sewing, quilting, knitting - all of these activities sound like throwbacks. But they're back with a vengeance, called DIY for do-it-yourself. As 51%'s Jen Nathan discovered, young women are keeping DIY current - giving these traditions makeover in some circles.