RASHA BARRAGE
Freedom, defined
CAVEAT
No words herein can adequately describe a female condition that is commonly known and rarely experienced as: “freedom”.
“Bikini”: to be free to expose what you wish, to feel the sun’s rays and a cool breeze on your skin. Free of body hair, cellulite, fat, scars, veins, sagging, grey hair, wrinkles, birth marks, excess muscles, dry skin, spots, or embellishments. The rational solution to 30-degree heat.
“Bottom”: to be free to grow or shrink as you please. Does it look big, or big enough? To be free from the incessant questions of no consequence.
“Exercise”: to be free to run, swim, move without the stabbings of eyes unseen. No comments or suggestions, assessments of measurements, no unwanted invitations. To be free to rearrange and experience your body, your grace, your strength. Where, when and how you please.
“Experience”: to be free to make mistakes, to try different ways of life, to seek adventure, new locations and friends. To create your own timeline, rules, boundaries and failures.
“Hijab”: to be free of lustful eyes, desire, and distraction. To express your modesty, faith, and humility. The male solution to symbolise virtue, hatred and desire of the female form. Miraculous power and resolve of women to survive daily life under the most extreme heat.
“Make up”: to be free to accentuate, beautify, highlight. To paint one’s face in the colours of youth, vitality, fertility. To paint, for the joy of painting, of seeing a face in its glory.
“Perfume”: to be free to capture the scent of a soul. To leave a trace of your energy. Vibrant, bold, delicate, subtle, pungent. Personal to you, the fingerprints of a moment passing.
“Question”: to be free to challenge (or not), to try (or not), to live (or not), to choose (or not), to breathe (or not), to run (or not), to read (or not), to escape (or not), to say “Fuck You”, without repercussion or apologies.
“Read”: to be free to read what you wish, in any language you please, in any genre, subject, or format. To interpret as you wish, without dictation or obligation.
“See / Smell / Taste / Touch”: to be free to let your eyes, nose, mouth and skin experience existence, the world outside and within.
Rasha Barrage is a former lawyer with a particular interest in social justice issues. Barrage is the author of non-fiction books for Summersdale Publishers including Say No to Racism and The Little Book of Anthropology. She was born in Baghdad, grew up in Merseyside and now lives in London. You can find her on https://twitter.com/rashabarrage