What does self-sacrifice mean to the average middle-class American woman?
For many of us, it means putting our families first. Working long hours, stretching a paycheck, caring for aging parents, raising children, and occasionally giving up something we want because someone we love needs something more.
It means doing what needs to be done, even when we’re exhausted.
Sometimes, it means sacrificing our last quiet hour of the day for someone who needs us — or making homemade bread for your only daughter. 😉 (thanks, Momma!)
Now consider Iran…
It’s been reported that women are participating in military training under a program called Jan-Fada, meaning “self-sacrifice.” They’re learning to handle weapons and prepare for the possibility of war with the United States.
That’s quite a contrast.
Here in America, we generally have the freedom to decide what we’re willing to sacrifice, whom we’re willing to sacrifice for, and whether we agree with the government asking us to do it.
Iranian women live under a government that places significant restrictions on their personal freedoms. Some undoubtedly believe deeply in defending their country. Others may have very different feelings about the government they would be defending.
I suspect American and Iranian women have more in common than their governments might lead us to believe. We love our families. We worry about our children. We want security, dignity, and a future worth looking forward to.
Perhaps the real difference isn’t how much we’re willing to sacrifice.
It’s how much freedom we have to decide what that sacrifice should be. 🇺🇸
Now you know: The Persian term Jan-Fada roughly translates to “one who sacrifices their life” or “devoted to the point of self-sacrifice.”
