Bedouin Changes essays

Bedouin Changes essays Bedouins are nomads recognized by their lifestyle, specific dialects, social structure and culture. It is estimated that Bedouins only make up about ten percent of the Middle East population. They are a rural people: they herd sheep, goats, camels and cattle. Another source of their income has to do with handicrafts. In Abu Lughods article Honor and Shame she writes about the Bedouin culture and the new hardships that culture is trying to endure. The new generation of Bedouins is trying to break loose from their old customs in order to become modern like the Egyptians. Abu Lughod an Anthropologist is concerned about the new generation of Bedouins. The new generation is more concerned of being modernized rather than following the traditional way of Bedouin life. Abu Lughod went to Egypt and lived with the Bedouins; she had encountered a bright young Bedouin girl called Kamla she was the daughter of the tribes chieftain. Kamla is a bright young girl who has been educated; it is rare for a Bedouin girl to be educated because it is against their beliefs. According to the Bedouins the woman are there to take care of the children and the house work. Abu Lughod examines Kamla and how she thinks about the Bedouin way of life. Kamla is young a naive according to Abu Lughods study. Kamla does not really enjoy her culture and wants to be more like an Egyptian girl. Abu Lughod states most of the time, though, she says she wants to get out. I worry about Kamlas blithe confidence that life in the city will be so much better... I argue with Kamla that she delib erately ignores the richness of their relationships and the way they have always struggled back (51). Kamla ignores the richness of her own culture and does not see the great bonds that Bedouin women have that Egyptian dont. Abu Lughod hopes Kamla realizes how fragile her culture is and she hopes some day Kamla will realize the great bon...