Unequal treatment of women at work, school and homes in the Middle East and its effects on society’s progress
Abstract
The Middle East region has been characterized by subjective treatment of women at work, school and in the home leading to stagnation in societal progress. According to Karshenas, Valentine, and Nadereh, a significant majority of women in the region cannot exercise their liberties as the case of men (21). The situation, is, in turn, stalling social, economic, and political developments of the Middle East (Karam 5). In studying the concern, the paper hypothesized that the exemption of the gender in societal undertaking halts holistic progress. The investigation took the form of a qualitative study that reviewed scholarly sources detailing the trends in the Middle East. The findings from the analysis led to the conclusion that the mistreatment of the gender is responsible for the stalling progress in the social, political and economic sphere in the region.
Introduction
The prevailing trends indicate that women in the Middle East have not attained equality as men. The significant majority of the population struggle to access equal opportunities in the public sphere as men. The representation of the gender in schools in Arab nations is below the recommended threshold. Even though some country scores better in inclusivity, men still constitute the majority of the population working outside the homes. The situation in homes is equally appalling since few women exercise their rights as men. As a result, society is lagging in terms of social, political, and economic development in the global sphere. The restriction imposed on women is denying the gender the privilege of engaging in undertakings that could transform society. The restrictions have forced scholars as Momani, and Karam and Fida to propose a shift in strategy in the approach to dealing with gender issues. As things stand, feminists’ activists have contributed to slight changes in places as Kuwait, where the lobby for recognition of women has resulted in the enactment of inclusive policies that mandate recognition of the gender at the workplace and in educational institutions. It is on this premise that the paper insinuates that fair treatment of the gender is essential for societal progress.
Review of Literature
Scholars who include Kostenko, Pavel, and Eduard in “Attitudes towards gender equality and perception of democracy in the Arab world,” and Rodriguez and Maranda’s “Contextualizing privilege and disadvantage: Lessons from women expatriates in the Middle East,” alludes that the subject of gender equality is not new to the masses in the Middle East. According to Karshenas, Valentine, and Nadereh, the population begun to explore the concern in the mid-20th century post the feminism enlightenment in the west (2). In the Arab world, the period was marred by cases of violation of the rights of women at work and in public places. The conservative nature of society pardoned the practice. The trends defined social relations in the Middle East for the most of the 20th century that witnessed halted developments in the economic, political sphere until the turn of millennia that marked the commencement a surge in the sensitization accompanied by social advances. The women activist inspired by the educated Muslim youths to consider lobbying for the recognition of the rights of the gender. The efforts have progressed for years, but the prevailing scenario indicates that women have not attained equal rights as the case of men (Rodriguez and Maranda 396). The challenges are more manifest at the household level where the men subject women to house chores and duties that limit the contribution of the gender in the society. Sociologists point out the trends as the inhibitor to societal progress. As recounted in the work of Hosseinioun, The Human Rights Turn and the Paradox of Progress in the Middle East, the population should consider according women equal opportunities at work, and the scholars and religious figures should lead the activist in the mission that could benefit the society.
According to Karam and Fida, the recognition of their rights is beneficial to the society emanates from the developments recorded in places where women are granted equal pay as men (500). In MENA, the initiatives led to an improved relationship between the men and the women in the society. The harmony, in turn, inspired the women to engage in activities that culminated in the transformation of the society. Khurshid points out that the rapid transformation that enabled women to participate in economic activities advanced economic progress (44). The same changes were witnessed in the political sphere. Likewise, the nature of relations between the men and the women improved leading to the conclusion that the empowerment of the women is beneficial to society as long as the initiatives recognize the role of men in a harmonized society. The reported positive developments in households in societies where the men acknowledge the rights of women also affirm the need to empower the gender. According to Momani, the actions should begin as the desire to enhance inclusivity at home (1). This is because the initial steps towards societal changes begin at homes. As reiterated in the old adage that ‘charity begins at home,’ the recognition of the liberties of the gender ought to start at home.
Üngör states that inclusivity at work, school, and home initiatives not only spuir progress but the acts align with the religious doctrines that encourage fair treatment of gender (80). Developments in societies where men mistreat women indicate that the initiatives commence at the household level. The relation at the domestic level set the precedence for democratized interaction in the national sphere (Kostenko, Pavel, and Eduard 861). If the husband recognizes the wife as her equal and accords her rights to undertake roles as his, the home benefits because of the unity in championing the interest of the family. The contrary is true in a setting where the men demean the women.
Analysis
The reality in the Middle East affirms that people’s standards of living improve in societies that empower women to participate in work and school as men. According to East, Rodriguez and Maranda, the assignment of equal roles in homes at work and school pose trickle-down effect to the entire community (395). The reflective review that examined the experience of expatriates indicates that the community in the Middle East is bound to benefit from the decision to champion the rights of women. Üngör proves that equal representation ensures that more women participate in work that directly influences the economic undertakings that define the wellness of the population (72). The situation is different from the case in a society that oppresses women.
Additional benefits of according women equal rights as men is that more women will join the political sphere and contribute to decision-making on matters affecting national development. Pakistan is an example of a country witnessing such advances following the decision to sensitize people on the need to treat women as equal to men (43). The academic sphere equally witness an increase in the number of women joining the labour force leading to regional progress. According to Khurshid, where a large number enrol for studies that promote research and innovative endeavors promoting cohesion in the society is easier (43). The collaboration instils in young values that democratize society. If men and women participate in tasks collaboratively, the act is also morally right from a religious perspective. According to the doctrines of the Quran, women deserve equal treatment as men. Even though conservative cite the teaching selectively, the progression of the society morally is promising if the men accord women equal opportunities as men. It is easier encouraging coordination in advances that promote cohesion of the women excise rights to worship and many other liberties as the case of men.
Hosseinioun adds that nations in the Middle East can equally assert influence globally through the enforcement of legislation that recognizes the liberties of women (12). Unlike the case at present where the women in the region are not aggressive in advancing global agenda, the shift of approach could benefit the region. The women will collaborate with men in activities that catapult the region to greater heights of global influence. At present, the influence of men is not enough since other regions as Europe are forging ahead in terms of inclusivity that promote globalization agenda. Despite the viable benefits, the empowerment of the gender has its fair share of risks. One of the challenges includes the aversion of the traditions of the society accustomed to patriarchy. Secondly, the conservative might cite the decision as contradicting religious doctrines. There is also the possibility of the initiative posing a backlash where women will not coordinate with men in domestic endeavours. The approach to decision-making might take longer in the political sphere. Nonetheless, the recognition of the rights of the gender is necessary because of the privileges that benefit from the action. The progression in the social, political, and economic sphere outweigh the challenges hence the reason for the support of the advances. The way for ensuring that the empowerment benefits the society entails sensitization of the masses on a suitable approach to addressing gender concerns. The enactment of legislation that clarify complexity on gender concern is equally necessary. Additionally, the activists should steer the agenda procedurally to limit disruption that arouses fear when championing a noble cause.
Conclusion
Middle East society has not accorded women equal treatment as men leading to regression in economic, political, and social development. Cases of mistreatment of the gender that has a historical connection is common since few participate in work as men. The representation in the education sector, as well as contribution at home, is applauding. The conservative base claims on religious grounds. However, the redress of the situation is necessary to steer progress as recounted in the text selected for the study. The resources indicate that the recognition of the gender benefits households, improve living standards, promote cohesion, and alleviates conflict. The advancement of the influence of the region is equally possible if men treat women as equals. It is on this premise that the article concludes that equal treatment of women in the social sphere is necessary for societal progress. One of the challenges confronted in the research was the confinement of the scope of the investigation. The selection of the sources was equally tricky. In the future, researchers should specify the issue of concern to ease contextualization of the impacts of unfair treatment of women at work and sc
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Work Cited
Üngör, Beraët Zeki. “Women in the Middle East and North Africa and Universal Suffrage.” The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, vol. 375, 1968: 72–81. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/1037891. Accessed 20 May 2020.
Hosseinioun, Mishana. The Human Rights Turn and the Paradox of Progress in the Middle East. Springer, 2017.
Karshenas, Massoud, Valentine M. Moghadam, and Nadereh Chamlou. “Women, work, and welfare in the Middle East and North Africa: introduction and overview.” Women, work and welfare in the Middle East and North Africa: The role of socio-demographics, entrepreneurship and public policies. 2016. 1-30.
Rodriguez, Jenny K., and Maranda Ridgway. “Contextualizing privilege and disadvantage: Lessons from women expatriates in the Middle East.” Organization 26.3 (2019): 391-409.
Khurshid, Ayesha. “Domesticated gender (in) equality: Women’s education & gender relations among rural communities in Pakistan.” International Journal of Educational Development 51 (2016): 43-50.
Kostenko, Veronica V., Pavel A. Kuzmuchev, and Eduard D. Ponarin. “Attitudes towards gender equality and perception of democracy in the Arab world.” Democratization 23.5 (2016): 862-891.
Momani, Bessma. “Equality and the economy: Why the Arab world should employ more women.” (2016).
Karam, Charlotte M., and Fida Afiouni. “Localizing women’s experiences in academia: multilevel factors at play in the Arab Middle East and North Africa.” The International Journal of Human Resource Management 25.4 (2014): 500-538.