Final Reflection

Through the blogging assignment for this class I managed to find, and explore, a topic that I had very little previous knowledge of. Before exploring the nuanced issues that surround women’s rights in Arabic countries, I had a somewhat skewed version of what it meant to be a woman in the Arab world, and going further, of what it meant to be a Muslim woman in the Western world. The media represents these countries and their traditions as an overarching oppressor of all women, alluding to Islam as the culprit for the treatment of women. By completing this project, I was able to overcome the media bias, and explore the real root cause for the marginalization of women across the Arab world. My research pointed me towards not religion, but the autocratic governments that have risen to power in Arabic countries over the last one hundred years or so, and how they have taken women in society and used them as a way to gain political advantage.

To begin with, I attempted to put together a brief overview of women’s rights in Arabic Countries, and focused specifically on the United Arab Emirates for the strides that they have made towards equality. Among the Arabic countries of the Middle East, there are significant differences among the rights and privileges afforded to the women that reside in these various countries. The United Arab Emirates is the most socially liberal of the Gulf states, and has made significant strides to promote equality within not only UAE society, but also in the government, promoting women to prominent positions. On the other side of the spectrum lie the Palestinian Territories (land now under the control of Israel), where violence against women is an ingrained and accepted part of every day life, with no steps to equality being taken. Ranked as a leader of gender equality in the region, the UAE has shifted to prioritize equality between the sexes. In 2015, the country established the Gender Balance Council, which is a federal entity that focuses on strengthening the role and prevalence of women in government positions. In addition to furthering gender equality in the political arena, equal access to education has become a priority for the country. In 2014 the UAE opened the region’s first military college for women, Khawla Bint Al Azwar Military School. The school focuses on training, both physical and mental, and also puts an emphasis on empowering women and encouraging them to take on leadership roles in every aspect of their life. At this stage in the project, I noted that extended periods of civil unrest and economic downturn exacerbated violence against women, which ended up being what I found to be most relevant when exploring this issue. As far as the United Arab Emirates are concerned, the answer to the equality question became clear in my second post; Since it’s founding in 1971, the United Arab Emirates has made significant strides in empowering women and improving their quality of life. There has been a push for equal education, and that is obvious with the literacy rate; in 1971, the literacy rate was 89.8%, in stark contrast with the 2015 rate of 7.3%. The struggle that the UAE faces now, is not only integrating their own women into the workforce, but also integrating expatriate women into society and the economy of the country. It seems that the UAE has been fortunate in that they were afforded a fresh start when they became a nation. They were able to reflect and learn from past mistakes made by independent nations, and were able to proceed with caution.

The next post focused on the women of Tunisia. The case of Tunisia was interesting to me at the time, because the differences in the laws regarding women were in such stark contrast to the everyday treatment of women in the country. After the Tunisian Revolution of 2011, part of the larger Arab Spring movement, the progressive laws enacted by the new government led Tunisian society to believe that they were making strides towards a more equal balance between men and women. However, six years after the revolution, it seems that women have been left behind in this progressive wave. Although on paper, Tunisia is the most forward thinking Arabic country when it comes to equality, issues with long standing patriarchal values still stand. In 2016, The Tunisian Association of Democratic Women came out with the statistic that nearly 70% of Tunisian women are still victims of domestic abuse. Women continue to feel oppressed and without a voice, many suffering in silence, or anonymously. When first confronted with these statistics, I looked closely at the teachings of Islam, trying to make some sort of connection. Examining the gender gap in Arabic countries, religion is the first thing that comes to mind in regards to the reason for such inequality. However, that does not seem to be the root cause for the mistreatment of women. The archaic laws and practices regarding women in Islamic countries, (male ownership, genital mutilation, early marriage, education restrictions,) are actually in opposition to the teachings of Islam. By just scratching the surface of this issue, it immediately became clear to me that Islam had nothing to do with the treatment of women in Arabic countries.

For the next post, I expanded on that idea quite a bit, and also how the West generalizes Islam and skews what, if any, implications Islam has on the role of women. When Western cultures think of Islam in relation to women’s rights and the treatment of women in Muslim countries, there is generally a consensus that Islam is the root cause for the oppression and mistreatment of women in these countries. However, upon looking closer at the religion, it is clear that Islam cannot be held responsible for the divide between the sexes. In Islam, women and men are seen as moral equals in the eyes of God; in fact, Islam actually improved the standing of women in Arabic societies by prohibiting female infanticide and recognizing women as autonomous and valued. History shows that Muhammad consulted and confided in women, even appointing them to the position of imam (the person who leads prayer) within their households. Women in the pre-modern Arabic world held great power, both politically and in the home. The best-known women rulers in the premodern era include Khayzuran, who governed the Muslim Empire under three Abbasid caliphs in the eighth century; Malika Asma bint Shihab al-Sulayhiyya and Malika Arwa bint Ahmad al-Sulayhiyya, who both held power in Yemen in the eleventh century; Sitt al-Mulk, a Fatimid queen of Egypt in the eleventh century; the Berber queen Zaynab al-Nafzawiyah (r. 1061 – 1107 ); two thirteenth-century Mamluk queens, Shajar al-Durr in Cairo and Radiyyah in Delhi; six Mongol queens, including Kutlugh Khatun (thirteenth century) and her daughter Padishah Khatun of the Kutlugh-Khanid dynasty; the fifteenth-century Andalusian queen Aishah al-Hurra, known by the Spaniards as Sultana Madre de Boabdil; Sayyida al-Hurra , governor of Tetouán in Morocco (r. 1510 – 1542 ); and four seventeenth-century Indonesian queens. This post gave me definitive proof that Islam has no hand in the mistreatment of women. It did open up a handful of new questions, especially in regards to the Islam tradition of the Hijab.

Recently, the Hijab has become a topic of interest for people all across the Western world. It is seen as unfair, and cruel, a depravation of rights for women and something that they are forced to do because of their culture and religion. Where does the hijab come from? What exactly are the social implications of this traditional garb, and how do modern Muslim women interpret and feel about this seemingly antiquated tradition? In one of my posts for the blog, I laid out all aspects of the hijab, and exactly what it means to women that wear them. In the Western world, the hijab is seen as a mode of oppression, but it is actually a sign of devotion. I went on to investigate the headscarf ban in Europe, and the legality of it; In March of 2017, the EU’s highest ranking court ruled that companies had the right to ban religious symbols from the workplace, a ruling that was targeted specifically at the hijab and it’s many variations. Businesses claim that projecting an image of religious and political neutrality is what they are trying to accomplish through the ban, but many see the ban for what it is; thinly veiled religious discrimination.

In the last two blog posts, I finally found what I believe is the cause for the mistreatment of women in the Arab world. I looked specifically at the events of the Arab Spring in Egypt, and the subsequent abuses that occurred in Tahrir Square. Looking back at the Arab Spring of 2011, it seemed like a moment in which women would be able to finally garner the equality they so deserved. In Tahrir Square women and men protested side by side, until things took a change for the worse. Increased political participation and public visibility by the women in Tahrir Square incited rage and violence among their male counterparts, and where at one point they were all fighting for a better and more fair country, women were now being beaten and stripped, harassed by the crowds. Some experts argue that this kind of treatment of women stems from the authoritarian governments that came into power after the fall of colonialism in the Arab world. Top-down state feminism was adopted by countries like Tunisia and Egypt. In this post, I also returned to Tunisia, understanding now that the reason for the contrast between laws and actions actually stems from top-down state feminism, and was used as a cover for human rights violations being committed by Ben Ali.

This issue could be examined from a variety of different perspectives, but I do believe that they would all come to a similar conclusion; authoritarian governments in the region have taken advantage of the women’s rights struggle and attempted to monopolize it for personal and state gain.

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Blog Post #8

Egyptian Parliament

Progress in Egypt?

In Egypt’s most recent parliamentary elections, women won a groundbreaking 87 seats, making up fifteen percent of the total parliament. Women’s rights groups celebrated the victory, but the media was quick to point out that without the quotas for women participation set by the government in 2014, women would only make up for about four percent of the parliament, instead of the fifteen percent they won under the current laws. Some politicians argue that the quotas are necessary, at least temporarily, in order to break down the barrier between women and politics in Egypt, however, on the other side, women are concerned over the efficacy of such measures. Specialists in the world of politics and gender say that quotas are more of a token gesture than the sign of a deep commitment to gender equality: They allow elite political actors to appear concerned about the plight of gender inequality while ignoring deeper issues related to the rights and mobility of women in society. Going further down that vein, women put into parliament by use of these quotas can be led to believe that they are meant to serve only the women, not the population as a whole, leading to yet another “glass ceiling.”

Enforcing these quotas is not enough on it’s own. These integration efforts need to be paired with efforts to resolve other factors that often hold back women’s participation like family role expectations, gender stereotypes, and educational and professional gaps. Going back to the Arab Spring, in 2011 the quotas were removed for the 2012 election, which dropped women’s political participation to almost zero. It seems that the quota is yet another way for Egypt to project an idea of equality to the world, while still limiting women’s role in society.

Reflection

The issue of women’s rights across the Arab world is so incredibly complex. Through this blog, I do have a better understanding of where it comes from, and how difficult it was, and will be, to reverse. It is exciting to consider women coming into some sort of political power in these countries, but it isn’t that simple. Societal issues remain, and seem to be the lingering root cause for injustice.

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Blog Post #7

Women’s Day Protest in Tahrir Square

Gender and Politics in the Arab World

While it seems that there is not necessarily just one root cause for the treatment of women in Islamic nations, I have gathered that the teachings of Islam have little to nothing to do with the marginalization of women in Arabic nations. Looking back at the Arab Spring of 2011, it seemed like a moment in which women would be able to finally garner the equality they so deserved. In Tahrir Square women and men protested side by side, until things took a change for the worse. Increased political participation and public visibility by the women in Tahrir Square incited rage and violence among their male counterparts, and where at one point they were all fighting for a better and more fair country, women were now being beaten and stripped, harassed by the crowds. Some experts argue that this kind of treatment of women stems from the authoritarian governments that came into power after the fall of colonialism in the Arab world. Top-down state feminism was adopted by countries like Tunisia and Egypt.

After it’s liberation from France sixty years ago, Tunisia adopted the most progressive women’s rights legislation in the Arab world. The Tunisian Personal Status Code was introduced by the late President Habib Bourguiba in 1956, giving women the right to vote and be elected to parliament, equal pay and equal rights to employment as men, the right to divorce, abolishing polygamy, requiring a woman’s consent for marriage, fixing the minimum age for marriage at 18, and in 1961 abortion became legal in Tunisia. These advances in women’s rights were taken and twisted by the regime of Ben Ali, who used them as a cover for the human rights injustices he committed in his country. The rights of women became a political maneuver, and were controlled completely by the state, which was run almost entirely by men. This false liberation of women has created a backlash among societies that have removed themselves from the power of authoritarian regimes; women’s rights has become something that is associated with the old regimes, creating a connection between women and the repressive regimes of the past.

Following the ousting of Mubarak, politicians have called for repealing laws passed under the Mubarak regime that advanced women’s rights in Egypt (also known as ‘Suzanne’s laws’), such as decriminalizing FGM, disallowing women to divorce husbands, and take child custody rights from mothers. The Islamist parties proposed lowering marriage age for females to 9 and claimed that policies to eradicate violence against women and FGM clash with Islamic law.

Reflection

This discovery has been by far the most interesting and disheartening one that I have read about during this few weeks of blogging. On the one hand, this idea is interesting, and the fact that it leaves Islam out of the equation is refreshing, and I believe accurate, but on the other hand, it seems that women’s exclusion from the political world in these countries for so many years has ingrained these traditional ideas into the minds of the people that surround them, leading to tragedy and repression.

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Blog Post #6

Recently, the Hijab has become a topic of interest for people all across the Western world. It is seen as unfair, and cruel, a depravation of rights for women and something that they are forced to do because of their culture and religion. Where does the hijab come from? What exactly are the social implications of this traditional garb, and how do modern Muslim women interpret and feel about this seemingly antiquated tradition?

Understanding the Hijab

The hijab came to be when Islam was born in the seventh century, in the Arabian Peninsula. Hijab literally translated means “curtain.” Before the birth of Islam, scarves and veils were common in other religions, including Catholicism and Judaism. While critics of Islam argue that the hijab is something forced upon women in the Islamic world, many immigrants and daughters of Islam around the world see it as a choice that symbolizes devotion and piety.

Different Types of Headscarves:

The hijab is the most popular veil in the West. It covers the head and neck, and is worn by many Muslim women in the Arab world and elsewhere.

The niqab covers the entire body, leaving an opening for only the eyes. These veils are less common outside of the Muslim world, and are most prevalent in the Gulf States. These veils in particular have become a point of contention politically, with some politicians seeking to ban them entirely.

The chador  is a full length shawl that covers the entire body of the wearer, leaving the entire face visible. This type of veil is entirely black, and is seen mostly in Iran.

The burqa is a full body veil that covers the entire body and face as well. There is a mesh screen over the eyes, and it is commonly worn in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Under the Taliban regime from 1996-2001, the burqa was required by law.

The Qur’an is not clear on the requirement of veiling. While the teachings of the Qur’an do call for modesty, wearing a veil is not specified as necessary. Statements in the Qur’an refer to the wives of Mohammed veiling, but it is unclear whether this just applied to the prophet’s wives or to all Muslim women. The veil was a way to “control male sexual desire,” and men were also encouraged to be modest in dress, by covering themselves to the knees. The veil itself predates Islam entirely, and was utilized by women in various religions. It was seen as a symbol of class, with women of the upper class being able to afford to veil their entire body, and those of the lower classes only being able to cover their heads and necks or nothing at all.

The Headscarf Ban in Europe

In March of 2017, the EU’s highest ranking court ruled that companies had the right to ban religious symbols from the workplace, a ruling that was targeted specifically at the hijab and it’s many variations. Businesses claim that projecting an image of religious and political neutrality is what they are trying to accomplish through the ban, but many see the ban for what it is; thinly veiled religious discrimination.

Reflection

The controversy surrounding the hijab is confusing to say the least. Whereas it can be seen as a way to oppress women, there are many women around the world who wear it by choice, who do not feel forced to wear it, but choose to. After reading about the law passed in the EU regarding “religious symbols,” I do feel that is the wrong way to approach this religious custom. It is religious discrimination to tell someone that they cannot wear something central to their personal faith, and will lead to disproportionate discrimination against Muslim women. I wonder, are these companies telling their Christian employees to take off their cross necklaces?

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Blog Post #5

Al-Khayzuran, one of the women leaders of the pre-modern Islamic era.

Exploring Women’s Role in Islam

When Western cultures think of Islam in relation to women’s rights and the treatment of women in Muslim countries, there is generally a consensus that Islam is the root cause for the oppression and mistreatment of women in these countries. However, upon looking closer at the religion, it is clear that Islam cannot be held responsible for the divide between the sexes. In Islam, women and men are seen as moral equals in the eyes of God; in fact, Islam actually improved the standing of women in Arabic societies by prohibiting female infanticide and recognizing women as autonomous and valued. History shows that Muhammad consulted and confided in women, even appointing them to the position of imam (the person who leads prayer) within their households. Women in the pre-modern Arabic world held great power, both politically and in the home. The best-known women rulers in the premodern era include Khayzuran, who governed the Muslim Empire under three Abbasid caliphs in the eighth century; Malika Asma bint Shihab al-Sulayhiyya and Malika Arwa bint Ahmad al-Sulayhiyya, who both held power in Yemen in the eleventh century; Sitt al-Mulk, a Fatimid queen of Egypt in the eleventh century; the Berber queen Zaynab al-Nafzawiyah (r. 1061 – 1107 ); two thirteenth-century Mamluk queens, Shajar al-Durr in Cairo and Radiyyah in Delhi; six Mongol queens, including Kutlugh Khatun (thirteenth century) and her daughter Padishah Khatun of the Kutlugh-Khanid dynasty; the fifteenth-century Andalusian queen Aishah al-Hurra, known by the Spaniards as Sultana Madre de Boabdil; Sayyida al-Hurra , governor of Tetouán in Morocco (r. 1510 – 1542 ); and four seventeenth-century Indonesian queens. If the teachings of the Qur’an are not responsible for the treatment and oppression of women in Arabic countries, then what is? What changed between premodern Islam and modern, reformist Islam?

Reflection

With each post, I keep coming back to the same question; where did this marginalization of women in Arabic countries originate from? Islam, at least premodern Islam, is not to blame. What changed in the modern era that twisted the word of God in such a way to change the position of women in Islamic societies so drastically?

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Blog Post #3

International Women’s day in Tunisia.

The Unique Case of Women in Tunisia

After the Tunisian Revolution of 2011, part of the larger Arab Spring movement, the progressive laws enacted by the new government led Tunisian society to believe that they were making strides towards a more equal balance between men and women. However, six years after the revolution, it seems that women have been left behind in this progressive wave. Although on paper, Tunisia is the most forward thinking Arabic country when it comes to equality, issues with long standing patriarchal values still stand. In 2016, The Tunisian Association of Democratic Women came out with the statistic that nearly 70% of Tunisian women are still victims of domestic abuse. Women continue to feel oppressed and without a voice, many suffering in silence, or anonymously. In 2014, Tunisia passed a constitution that guaranteed full gender equality, but it has become obvious that enacting these laws and provisions has no bearing on what has been ingrained into society for so many hundreds of years. These cultural norms go both ways; with men being taught that they are superior, and women being taught that they have less value than their male counterparts, or that they are worthless without a husband. How can Arabic countries move away from these deeply ingrained ideals, and where exactly do they come from?

Investigating the Root of the Problem

Examining the gender gap in Arabic countries, religion is the first thing that comes to mind in regards to the reason for such inequality. However, that does not seem to be the root cause for the mistreatment of women. The archaic laws and practices regarding women in Islamic countries, (male ownership, genital mutilation, early marriage, education restrictions,) are actually in opposition to the teachings of Islam. The focus for promoting gender equality needs to be on education; without which women cannot advance economically. We are seeing that reflected in Arab countries, where high rates of gender inequality coincide with a lack of economic opportunities among women. The share of women in GDP in the Arab region is only about 29 percent, against 50 percent in all developing countries. And the poverty rate is 31.6 percent among women, but 19 percent among men. Without economic freedom, women become stuck in a cycle of relying on men, furthering the gender gap, and enlarging the problem of women’s rights in Arabic countries.

Reflection

This issue is so complicated and vast, without a clear beginning. It seems that the actual religious texts of Islam do not promote inequality; they actually foster the idea that women and men are equal in spirituality, and serve to support each other in life. I am curious to find out where exactly these ideas became so distorted, and how Arabic countries have found themselves in this position.

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Blog Post #2

History of the UAE

To begin, the United Arab Emirates is a federation of seven emirates that lie along the eastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula. The seven emirates are Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Fujairah, Sharjah, Dubai, Ras al-Khaimah and Umm al-Qaiwain, with Abu Dhabi being the largest, occupying more than three fourths of the total land area. In the 18th century, Portugal and the Netherlands held territory where the modern day UAE stands, until it was taken over in the 19th century by British rule. The states did not gain autonomy until after World War II, when Bahrain and Qatar declared statehood. The rest were formally instated in 1971, with Abu Dhabi as the capital.

Moves Towards Equality in the UAE

Since it’s founding in 1971, the United Arab Emirates has made significant strides in empowering women and improving their quality of life. There has been a push for equal education, and that is obvious with the literacy rate; in 1971, the literacy rate was 89.8%, in stark contrast with the 2015 rate of 7.3%. The struggle that the UAE faces now, is not only integrating their own women into the workforce, but also integrating expatriate women into society and the economy of the country.

Reflection

After reading more about the UAE, I can’t help but wonder if their large strides in gender equality stem from the fact that they are a very young nation; yes, it is an emirate composed of older nations and traditions, however the UAE itself was not formed until the 1970s. It will be interesting to compare women’s rights in this country with a more “traditional” country, such as Iraq, and then to even take it a step further and compare with a western nation. 

 

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Blog Post #1

A Brief Overview of Women’s Rights in Arab Countries

Among the Arabic countries of the Middle East, there are significant differences among the rights and privileges afforded to the women that reside in these various countries. The United Arab Emirates is the most socially liberal of the Gulf states, and has made significant strides to promote equality within not only UAE society, but also in the government, promoting women to prominent positions. On the other side of the spectrum lie the Palestinian Territories (land now under the control of Israel), where violence against women is an ingrained and accepted part of every day life, with no steps to equality being taken.

Focusing on the UAE

Ranked as a leader of gender equality in the region, the UAE has shifted to prioritize equality between the sexes. In 2015, the country established the Gender Balance Council, which is a federal entity that focuses on strengthening the role and prevalence of women in government positions. In addition to furthering gender equality in the political arena, equal access to education has become a priority for the country. In 2014 the UAE opened the region’s first military college for women, Khawla Bint Al Azwar Military School. The school focuses on training, both physical and mental, and also puts an emphasis on empowering women and encouraging them to take on leadership roles in every aspect of their life.

Reflection

The issue of gender equality in the Middle East is a complex and many-headed beast. Each country presents it’s own issues, obstacles, and long history of repressing women in one way or another, all of which have been exacerbated by extended periods of civil unrest and economic downturn. It will be interesting to further explore the success of the UAE, it seems to be an outlier, and I do wonder what the circumstances were historically to pave the way for such a push for equality.

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