What historical and current-day parallels to bacha posh, pretending to be someone or something else due to segregation or oppression can you think of: real or fictional, in different countries, for different reasons?
What historical and current-day ...
Created: 06/26/15
Replies: 6
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Join Date: 10/15/10
Posts: 3442
What historical and current-day parallels to bacha posh, pretending to be someone or something else due to segregation or oppression can you think of: real or fictional, in different countries, for different reasons?
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Join Date: 02/18/15
Posts: 497
It is known that there were women who dressed as men to serve in the Civil War. Further back in history Joan of Arc dressed in men's clothing to fight for her country and her beliefs. It is believed by some that there was actually a female pope, Pope Joan. She had disguised herself as a male in order to get the same education that her brother was receiving. There have been many examples of people "passing" as white in order to escape slavery and segregation.
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Join Date: 03/11/15
Posts: 120
I think through much of our history women have had to "act" more like men to get ahead in so many areas of life. We've had to act more like men, dress more like men, all in the name of being accepted. And we had to bury the very ideas and actions that might have brought a fresh, new approach to so many aspects of business. And I think that is a real loss for everyone. Maybe especially for men.
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Join Date: 05/12/11
Posts: 228
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Join Date: 08/23/11
Posts: 128
As pointed out, throughout history there have been many women who dressed and behaved as men, especially during wartime when women wanted to serve or march off with or for their men. Deborah Sampson was another one who deserves mention after she fought in the Revolutionary War and French and Indian War as a man and was not discovered until after she was wounded. Even then they gave her an honorable discharge because she had proven herself an excellent soldier serving her country.
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Join Date: 10/15/10
Posts: 3442
Talking of the current day, here are a couple of articles about women/girls in Egypt dressing as men for both safety and income:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/23/abu-daooh-dressed-like-man_n_6925956.html
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jul/12/cairo-streets-where-girls-pretend-to-be-boys
Going back in time, this is an intriguing list of 10 men who were really women - including soldiers, a musician, a doctor, and a monk:
http://listverse.com/2008/09/04/top-10-men-who-were-really-women
As for current day parallels in the USA - we don't have to go far back in US history to have African-Americans passing as whites for the greater opportunities; and homosexuals having to hide their true nature for fear of imprisonment.
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Join Date: 11/18/14
Posts: 70
I agree that there are similar but less extreme examples in Western culture. During the 1980s, as I was graduating from business school, the emphasis was on stripping away our femininity and embracing those traits that would allow us to be perceived as equals to men in the boardroom. Women cut off their hair, suppressed their emotions, and learned to talk differently. We were not disguised as men, per se, but that manly behavior was often rewarded (by men) with promotions and better opportunities. Fortunately, we have now come to our senses and demand equal treatment without making such concessions. We are still working, however, to achieve those results.
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