Gender seems at first just like other demographic descriptors, such as ethnicity, class, or sect, in analyzing the politics of the Middle East. However, the politics of gender plays a critical role in the interaction between men and women not just in the political space, but in social sphere as well. What remains somewhat unique about the Middle East is that women political figures, especially in top positions, remain rare. Israel had a notable female leader, Golda Meir, though the characteristics of Israel in many ways does not make it a representative sample of the countries of the region. Pakistan, whose majority shares the same religion as most of the nations of the Middle East, had a female leader with Benazir Bhutto, showing that being
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In fact, some traditions that favor male superiority over women date back to the pre-Islamic era. Strong patriarchal family and tribal systems have long been imbued in the culture of the Middle East, prior to the founding of Islam. These systems have favored control over the behavior of women: while the women had some freedoms, they were punished harshly for actions considered unacceptable or unauthorized, especially sexual behavior (Keddie 167-168). The legacy of these traditions continues to live on to today, putting women at a disadvantage for advancement compared to women of other …show more content…
These traditions couple with state cooption of women’s movements, which seek to make women as a symbol for the state while not furthering women’s causes to the extent the original women’s movements may have desired. In the case of Saudi Arabia, women are completely segregated from men, and though they may have freedom within the female sphere the state has effectively carved for them, they have little liberty in the broad sphere of the state. However, movements continue to exist that seek greater women participation in the politics and society at-large. In addition, certain events can lead to women moving into roles they otherwise would not have filled, such as occurred for Iranian women during the Iran-Iraq War. While the future for women’s rights in the Middle East remains far from full equality under the law, small aspects of change do exist, and women may one day acquire many of the same freedoms as many women around the world currently enjoy, and a strong female political leader may emerge to head the government of a Middle Eastern
In fact, some traditions that favor male superiority over women date back to the pre-Islamic era. Strong patriarchal family and tribal systems have long been imbued in the culture of the Middle East, prior to the founding of Islam. These systems have favored control over the behavior of women: while the women had some freedoms, they were punished harshly for actions considered unacceptable or unauthorized, especially sexual behavior (Keddie 167-168). The legacy of these traditions continues to live on to today, putting women at a disadvantage for advancement compared to women of other …show more content…
These traditions couple with state cooption of women’s movements, which seek to make women as a symbol for the state while not furthering women’s causes to the extent the original women’s movements may have desired. In the case of Saudi Arabia, women are completely segregated from men, and though they may have freedom within the female sphere the state has effectively carved for them, they have little liberty in the broad sphere of the state. However, movements continue to exist that seek greater women participation in the politics and society at-large. In addition, certain events can lead to women moving into roles they otherwise would not have filled, such as occurred for Iranian women during the Iran-Iraq War. While the future for women’s rights in the Middle East remains far from full equality under the law, small aspects of change do exist, and women may one day acquire many of the same freedoms as many women around the world currently enjoy, and a strong female political leader may emerge to head the government of a Middle Eastern