By Kamal Artin
In her article on the abuse of women published in Kurdistan Observer, on June 12, 2007 , Pam Steer intends to steer our society with her critical and courageous words. Interestingly her name fits her objective. To my limited understanding of English words, “Steer” could mean a young ox castrated before sexual maturity, giving an advice, to pursue an action, or to head in a forward direction. Steer’s words reminded me of a journalist I met in a flight who wanted to hear my view on women and their rights. After making sure that my ring was visible, I told her why I am an advocate of gender equality. She was surprised and started to complain about her opposite experience in our society during a six month assignment. Apparently the cheerful and outgoing aspect of her personality and profession had been misunderstood by some of our men that she is in love with them until she had put them in their place with the confident, righteous, and emancipated part of her character that they could not expect in women.