MEDIA ROOTS – Thomas Morton of Vice travelled to the Issyk-Kul region of the Kyrgyz Republic to document bride kidnapping, a practice whereby young men seek marriage through abducting women off the street. Vice acquaints us with this process by documenting a groom, Kubanti, as he kidnaps his teenage girlfriend, Nazgul.
This startling documentary raises many pressing questions. To what extent, if any, can members of one society judge those living half a world away? Why does bride kidnapping occur primarily in rural areas of Kyrgyzstan? Why do female members of the groom’s family aid and abet the kidnappers? And lastly, how can we empower the women of Kyrgyzstan?
Although this type of bride kidnapping is virtually non-existent in the United States, we still suffer from phenomena with parallels to Kyrgyzstan: the banes of patriarchy inundate our political and social milieus; many U.S. citizens twist religious text to suit individual desires; female virginity is often seen as a sign of purity and righteousness; domestic violence ravages families across all U.S. socio-economic strata; and tradition is rarely questioned, no matter how harmful.
Geostrategic concerns loom large behind these social issues. Kyrgyzstan is a key U.S. transit point into the Afghanistan battlefield. Realists argue Washington ignores issues of human rights in exchange for military convenience. Can U.S. assistance to Kyrgyzstan be wielded with greater benevolence in order to promote women’s rights?
Reflection about Kyrgyzstan can engender introspection into issues affecting us all. As this documentary conveys, Vice excels at piquing our curiosities and encouraging us to dig deeper.
Christian Sorensen
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VICE TV on bride kidnappings in Kyrgyzstan
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Photo by flickr user Meredith Farmer
Whoa Joe….easy….deep deep deep breaths. Repeat after me…..Mellow…….Mellow…..Ohhhmmmmmm……Ohhhhmmmm……Mellow…..there ya go…feel better?
You had me UNTIL:
” we still suffer from phenomena with parallels to Kyrgyzstan: the banes of patriarchy inundate our political and social milieus”
First, this is bullshit. And you provide no evidence of such. That virginity is valued by some? That’s evidence of male primacy? So tired, so played. You shouldn’t be allowed to report ANYTHING.
Second, anyone who uses the phrase, “social miliues,” cannot be trusted. This is how stupid people write who wish to appear “smart.” Good lord!
PC nonsense. This kind of silliness does NOT help the women of the middle east. It makes simpletons more confused.