Blog #5

Detta Regan of Berkshire, England created a women made up bike tour called “Follow the Women” in which kicked off in Beirut on May 4th going through, Turkey, Iran, Europe, and the U.S. This bike tour takes the women through 30 countries in which more than half of the countries they cycle through are stereotyped with intercultural conflict because of actions/cultures in which are perceived to be viscous and war infested. The tour is not a race and is not so much about the bike ride itself but about the “intercultural dialogue” and what life is actually like in the Middle East. Not only does the tour bring attention to the intercultural conflict, but also to the conflict in which cultural women have with each other. Because women are already apart of the major identity of prejudice, we as women often are more prejudice toward each other rather than to men/race/cultures in general. I think that it is because women treatment/roles vary so much from culture to culture that it is hard for us to adapt or understand. Wiaam Youssef from Syria takes a stand for peace between cultures and is a three year veteran who is proud of her Arab heritage and is found “wearing long sleeves and a head scarf” in 75-degree weather. (215)

"A Mideast bike tour leaves stereotypes behind"
By Iman Azzi
Seattle Times
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travel/2004408308_webmideastbike12.html