The Definition of Freedom

"Freedom...consists in the ability to autonomously "chose" one's desires no matter how illiberal they may be," (Mahmood 12).

Out of the two chapter I read from Politics of Piety by Saba Mahmood this one sentence truly hit home. Today, we live in a world of absolutes when it comes to feminism, christianity and liberalism. Either you are, or you aren't. The gray area which contains the largest portion of people is being squeezed and pushed out of the picture. Even worse is that if you are part of the non-feminist, non-liberal, non-christian group you are immediately wrong in everything you do, everything you say, everything you stand for. That way of thinking is closed minded, almost as closed minded as modern day liberals, feminists, and multiple Christian groups across the United States are to those who do not fit into their ideal world, who do not agree with their way of thinking. This is important to remember as people continue to do ethnographic and anthropological research. One can't let personal thoughts and feelings perforate their observations on the group or groups that they are observing. Wield it is nearly impossible to eliminate the ethnographers voice in their studies and work it can be brought down to a dull hum rather than shouting.

We live in a country whos base is freedom, and as such freedom is the right to chose to do as you please, which is not what most people take the definition of freedom to be. Freedom isn't simply liberal thinking its an individuals thinking. Freedom allows an individual to think how they wish and if they want to think that women should play the subordinate role to men then they should be allowed to do that without judgment or condemnation. 

-Ciara Williams