2.1 Five Shades of Feminism in the Middle East 2.1.1 Historical perspective – period and profile Concerning women from pre-Islamic times we have a scarce documentation few texts had been written before the third century (Islamic century). After the seventh century Islamic conquests reflected amalgams of pre-Islamic Arab and Near Eastern culture, beginning with the fourteenth century, especially legal documents start to discuss the status of women and their socio-economic situation. Must be considered that, during seventh century, had been created separate spheres male-female in occupations, in the formation of the cities and states or near home. It looks obvious that the rise of cities and states increased the separation of the genders and of gender roles, where men monopolized politics and most powerful religious and economic positions, while women remained in the domestic sphere. Legal and hadith documents made possible to understand the lives of women after the first Islamic generation , and their exclusion from the public life. Nowadays it looks hard to understand their clothes, their habits but many answers would come if we analyze Turkish and other cultures impact over time and over this region. Turkish impact seems that had been felt among Turks around the ruling group, where several states with Turkish rulers were created in central and south Asia, most of them became Iranian in culture and used Persian as court language. There are some writers which consider that the founder of the Mamluk dynasty, Queen Shajarat al-Durr, the widow of the last Ayyubid ruler, who took the rirle of sultan in 1250, after her husband and stepson were killed in the Crusade of Louis IX, had a strong impact. After that, many women came or... ... middle of paper ... ...men`s studies programs. Hanan Ashrawi has been a national leader for decades, very prominent for democracy and human rights. The Arab Women`s Federation, in Jordan, was formed in 1954, promoting a better status for all women and legal reforms to ensure that. In 1974, King Hussein, issued a decree giving women the vote. The period 1989-1994 was prominent in political and economical reforms and liberalization, and in 1989 twelve women ran for parliamentary elections and all of them lost. In 1992, Princess Basma Bint Talal, king Hussein`s sister, became head of the Jordanian National Committee for Women, and developed a National Strategy for Women, of which analysis will be discussed in the pages of this thesis, chapter four. Princess Basma and later on, Queen Rania has remained the leading figure representing the royal family`s interest to improve women`s condition.
With such a unanimous resentment, particularly in the dominating religious sect of Iran, it is important to address the ideologies within the religion enforce the country’s patriarchal social structure, i.e. the “form of social organization in which males dominate females” (text 38). Furthermore, with the Islamic Revolution of 1979, these attitudes were the driving force behind many of the discriminatory laws that confined women in Iran to a life defined by its limitations.
The Ottoman Empire was one of the longest running empires in history, spanning 624 years. The women of the Ottoman empire were often limited to the household of their husband’s and held back by Ottoman lawmakers and authorities. The point of view of outsiders varied, but there were both positive and negative views. Women in Ottoman society had extremely restricted roles as shown in documents 2, 3, 4, and 1. Document 2 is a chapter of the Qur’an with regard to women’s rights, behavior, and treatment.
12 Nov. 2013. Tucker, Judith E., and Georgetown University. Arab Women: Old Boundaries, New Frontiers. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1993. eBook Academic Collection (EBSCOhost).
Trofin, Liliana and Madalina Tomescu. “Women’s Rights in the Middle East”. Contemporary Readings in Law and Social Justice Vol. 2(1). 1948-9137 (2010): 152-157.
This reevaluation of traditional views is what created the area of focus for my learning plan while studying in the Middle East. My original idea was to investigate the steps taken by women in the Middle East and in Greece towards their independence and success as individuals and as a group. I wanted to know what types of public and private reforms initiated their freedom. I also wanted to find out if some women still lived according to their traditional history and the reasons behind that. For example, whether or not their personal beliefs, pressure from society and family, etc. . . . contributed to their traditional lifestyle.
Ideas on social and gender hierarchy are evident in this religious text. The Qur’an states that both men and women are spiritually equal and equally rewarded by God. But, as it continues, it goes on to state that, “Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because God has given the one more (strength) than the other, and because they support them from their means.” Men and women are said to be “spiritually equal”, yet men are still seen as stronger and women should be “devoutly obedient” to their husbands. Women subordination during the Middle Ages was shaped mostly by local culture, which varied with time and place. In early communities, women had more liberty, but by the mid 700’s, women began to be subordinated, especially elite women. Though the Qur’an guaranteed woman more rights than the Bible, it also subordinates wives to their husbands, and women’s inheritance to
Toivari-Viitala, J. Women at Deir el-Medina. A Study of the Status and Roles of the Female Inhabitants in the Workmen's Community during the Ramesside Period. Leiden, 2001.
The first religion and its views on women that will be discussed in this essay is Islam. Islam is a religions founded in Saudi Arabia almost two thousand years ago, by the prophet Muhammad. In fact, Muhammad dedicated much attention towards women in the Koran, the holy book of Islam. However, even though much was dedicated to women in the Koran, it was not dedicated to them in the sense of equality. Women in Islamic culture were apparently much lower on the totem pole than men, "The men are made responsible for the women, since God endowed them with certain qualities, and made them the bread earners...If you experience opposition from the women, you shall first talk to them, then [you may use such negative incentives as] deserting them in bed, then you may beat them (129)." Excerpt...
The context of the birth of Islam provides important insight into the position of women in the religion. Pre-Islamic Arabia was largely nomadic and violent. Tribes often raided other tribes, taking with them food, tools, and women. These captu...
To understand the changing role of women starting during the Islamic Revolution, it is important to briefly review the lives of Iranian women and the role of Islam during the final years of the secular regime of the Shah. Mohammad Reza Shah was disliked by the majority of Iranian population, but his secular and prominent Western attitude allowed for some reforms of women’s rights in Iran. For example, in 1963 he created a reform program which would eventually be known as the “White Revolution,” which included suffrage for women (Beck and Nashat 114). This decision led to a violent reaction, especially from strong Islamic leaders such as Ayatollah Khomeini, whom would eventually play a pivotal role in the revolution and women’s rights. Although the Shah allowed for women’s reform, he was popularly known as a dictator and appeared to be in complete favor of maintaining a traditional patriarchal society.
Ibnouf, Fatma Osman. “Women And The Arab Spring.” Women & Environments International Magazine 92/93(2013): 18-21. MasterFILE Elite.Web.31 Mar. 2014.
Nonetheless, women in the Middle East are still subjected to unfair familial laws and are socialized into accepting being a mother and supporting the family by staying home as their ultimate goal. Despite all of this, though, women in the Middle East continue to play a significant role in uprisings across the region with hope that their efforts will ultimately improve their social, political, and economic standings. Furthermore, when examining these countries in a with this perspective it
The Women of the Middle East have played substantial roles for their corresponding countries since the advent of colonialism in the region. Middle Eastern women have worked in all types of fields including medicine, education, agriculture, government, private sector, and even defense. They have kept roofs over their family’s heads while their husbands were away in wars, or even in foreign countries to work in jobs that they could not find in their own countries. The roles of women in the countries of Yemen and Oman are no exception, but while they still find ways to contribute to their country, they care constantly stereotyped, discriminated, and ridiculed by men who are known and unknown to them. This paper will discuss the individual contributions of the women living in Yemen and Oman, and will discuss in further state laws and cultural norms that are affecting the women living in these countries today.
In discussing the role of women in contemporary society there are three main areas that can be addressed. The perceptions of woman within contemporary Muslim societies. The status, position and role of woman in the Qur'an and in early Islam
The role and place of Women in Islam has changed drastically, in a positive way, over the past millennium: the changes can be greatly attributed to the Prophet Muhammad, and the Qur’an. To understand the changes in women’s rights and freedoms, one must understand their role and place before Islam was created, which happened in the Arabia Peninsula, now Saudi Arabia (Angha). Before Islam was formed women lacked many of the basic human rights, and they were treated as more of a burden in their culture then someone who should be respected, but that is not the case today. Though women in Islam have gained many rights, there is still some controversy over whether or not women are still being oppressed and treated like second class citizens compared