IMOW - No Chain Prayer Please

Stories

Themes

Love
Relationships in changing times. See the Stories>>

Money
Working women talk finances. See the Stories>>

Culture and Conflict
Are we destined to disagree? See the Stories>>

The Future
Envisioning the next 30 years. See the Stories>>

Highlights
Highlighted stories in film, art, music and more. See the Stories>>

War & Dialogue
Speaking from war. Advocating peace. See the Stories>>

Young Men
Our generation: young men speak out. See the Stories>>

Motherhood
Women get candid about pregnancy, parenting and choice. See the Stories>>

Image and Identity
Appearances aren't everything, or are they? See the Stories>>

Online Film Festival
31 films from women directors around the world. See the Stories>>

A Generation Defined
Who are young women today? See the Stories>>

Best of Contest
You came, you saw, you voted. Here are the winners. See the Stories>>

Conversations

What Defines Your Generation of Women?

selected theme

Search:

REGISTER \| LOGIN		Change Language» Invite a friend »

STORY OPTIONS

READ STORY IN

SAVE TO YOUR SAVED STORIES

SUBSCRIBE TO STORY

SEND THIS STORY TO A FRIEND

ADD YOUR STORY

TAKE ACTION


•	Help end racism Help the World YWCA in the effort to eliminate racial and ethnic hatred.

•	Mobilize Women to Change their Lives Find out about Women for Women International's work to help women survivors of war become self-sufficient and active participants in their communities.

STATISTICS:


•	More than 5% of all clergy worldwide are women.

•	Islamic practices are defined by the Five Pillars of Islam: faith, prayer, fasting, pilgrimage and alms.

No Chain Prayer Please
Shirin Kouladjie

Iran

GALLERY

CONVERSATION

With this piece, ‘No Chain Prayer Please’ I was reflecting on the fate of women from less developed countries who are not an active part of the society in their homeland and lose their identity when they move to a Western country. Back home they have to rely on the abilities of their husbands, the bread winner in a household for their well being. These women upon immigrating to countries such as Canada bring with themselves the same beliefs, principals, and ways of being. Sometimes they lack the necessary education to be able to function as independent adults or sometimes simply because their ethnic look and upbringing becomes an obstacle for them. It closes all doors and all opportunities to them. Some women find themselves with no place in such a society. So they sit and wait for their husband to find a job, or an apartment or deal with the everyday problems of day to day life. They lose their initial place in the world and become mere shadows of who they once were. They lose their support system which in their old country consisted of the women in the same situation as them and are placed in a hostile environment where even walking in the street causes stares and unwelcome comments. I have seen this in a many immigrant households in Canada. With this complete withdrawal of women from society, they turn to the only refuge they have-- praying and in some cases even chain praying! They use prayer as their only weapon against the world, and the only help and support they can provide for their husbands.

	FLAG THIS STORY FOR REVIEW

COMMENTS ABOUT THIS STORY

Add

Imagining Ourselves Team (United States)
Do you have a support system?

ADDED STORIES (1)

Add

Susannah Dainow
Canada

RELATED ITEMS (9)

Keina Davis Elswick
United States
I describe my work as urban folklore. The images meld...
GO TO STORY »

Achinoam Nini
Israel
Stop. It’s 3:15 You have one minute. Are you ready?
GO TO STORY »

Ayeda Husain Naqvi
Pakistan
Excuse me for not being around the past year. I was...
GO TO STORY »

Melysha Sargis Meraee
Iraq
One evening my family and I arrived home to find our...
GO TO STORY »

/ / /

The content in this exhibit does not necessarily represent the opinions of the International Museum of Women, or its partners or sponsors.