If women’s roles change for the better in middle east
Outline
If women roles change for the better
State of affairs
Changing roles
Improvement in standards of living
Quality of education standards
Relations at the household and society
Recognition of the rights of all
The review of the studies examining the experience of women in the Middle East indicates that the society treats the gender differently, leading to disfranchisement in various spheres of life. Unlike men, the gender is disadvantaged when it comes to accessing education, and participation in work as well as family roles. The developments are influenced by the patriarchal nature of the society in the middle east. The norm indicates that the men infer to religious doctrines selectively in subjecting the woman to abuse. As a result, the contribution of the women is confined to household levels; thus, limiting their potential in society. Despite the effects of the feminist who have helped uplift the standards of life of the women, the progression of the gender is not at par with men. The situation has influence scholars to recommend a shift in ideology to encourage role change for societal progress. In line with the prevailing view among scholars, the paper insinuates that according women equal rights as men will result in the transformation of the society for the benefit of all.
The first reason for the belief that role change could translate to societal progress emanates from the observation of the advances in the past where section of the society allowed women to participate in activism. Hatem indicates that the recognition of the strong women in social sphere who fought for equality on behalf of the weak ones helped steer political transformation in the society in the past. After attaining some of the rights, the text “In the Shadow of the State: Changing Definitions of Arab Women’s ‘Developmental’ Citizenship Rights” indicates that sense of equality enabled the women to participate in social and economic endeavours that improved the overall standards of living in the society. The review of the development in the middle east in the era of transformation proves that role change is beneficial. Unlike the case before the recognition of the gender, few participated in family and societal activities that improve the overall life of humanity. Even though the society has not ascertained equality as expected, the progression is feasible if the men support the women. Kuwait managed to improve relations at the household level.
Consequently, the feminist action in Kuwait that inspired transformation in other part of middle east proved that women could have increased productivity in household however the group was did not attain equal rights as men. The patriarchal structures had disadvantaged the change but things changed with the rise in feminist movement. The sensitization sought to defy the traditional practices that demeaned the gender. The group enlightened the likeminded in the neighbouring countries leading to reformation in the society. The researcher implies that conservatives should consider emulating similar tactics in addressing concerns affecting the women in the society. The text that relied on an interview with Lulwa Almulla proved that women can attain victory in various spheres of life as long as the men accord the gender respect. Almulla and Zosia’s article “Victory for Women’s Rights in Kuwait Reawakens Hope” article indicates that the idea commenced as sensitization before lobbying for legislative adjustments. The realization that role change was necessary for the progress of the community triggered the activism. the authors view implies the feminist movement in Kuwait inspired the quest for liberty in other parts of middle east. The initiative led to the progression in ascertaining of equal rights in various spheres of the society.
The consideration of religious implication is equally necessary in the step towards role change. This is because sections of men in the society infer to Islamic doctrines in demeaning the gender. Makar cites cases of abuse where the perpetrator of the action cited the Quran as the justification for their action. According to Makar (15), the practice is wrong. The men should instead collaborate with champions of equality in recognizing the rights of the women. The expectation from the action is that equal treatment of the gender at the family levels paves the way for recognition of women in various sphere of life. Such has been the case in nations characterized by activism. In Kuwait, feminist managed to champion the interest of the gender courtesy of the efforts of the activist initiating the idea at the grassroots level. The empowerment of the women at the home benefitted the society.
Additional implication of changing the role of the women for the better is the improvement in standards of living in the society. The prevailing situation in the middle east indicates that the participation of women in the workplace is limited. The same applies to social undertakings as parenting that improve the relations of the genders in the society. in the society. Üngör Beraët Zeki in the text “Women in the Middle East and North Africa and Universal Suffrage” addressed the subject of women rights by claiming that changing the role of the women for the better will improve education standards in the region. The writer cites the gender helps educate the young ones but the condition of the gender as appalling thus the need for a solution to the matter. According to the empirical study published on ‘The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science,’ the accomplishment of women in the middle east is not at par with the progression of the gender in other parts of the globe. The gender is disadvantaged economically because of the patriarchal nature of the Islamic society. At present, few engages in labour and other endeavours that improve the income of the household because of the constriction of the role of the gender. However, the improvement of the roles that leads to the education of the gender is advisable to encourages inclusivity in the society.
The change of the women’s role will equally enhance equality in addition to minimizing conflicts that characterize relations between men and activists. Those championing the interest of the gender tends to conflict with leaders in various power position and the majority of conservative men in the society. However, in a context where the men are empowered, such cases will cease. The women will no longer focus on lobbying for recognition as equal to men but will instead focus on issues that transform society as research and other social endeavours. The advancement will also encourage objectivity in the interpretation of religious text. The act in the long-term is beneficial to religiosity. Makar’s text “New Voices for Women in the Middle East” infers to other scholar’s ideas in narrating the plight of the women in the middle east to prove that some cases of mistreatment of the gender is attributable to the misinterpretation of the holy Quran. According to Makar, chauvinist men infer to the Quran in championing bigotry. As opposed to reading the text inclusively, the gender violates cite the book selectively in justifying action that encourages abuse of women. The source relies on ideas from scholars outside the middle east in through accounts of the stories in the region. Their view helps explicate the universal perception of gender issues.
Lastly, the recognition of the role of women such as the right to socialize freely and exercise liberties enjoyed by women in other part of the globe is beneficial in promoting cohesion. The case of Palestine captured in Huntington, Ray et al. research that focused on the concerns affecting women in Palestine is an example. The research titled “Family Roles of Contemporary Palestinian Women,” explored the model of families that define progression of the gender in the society leading to the conclusion that societal unity depends on fairness in treatment of all genders. In the case of Palestine, the scholar addressed concerns on education, and employment while evaluating religious impact on the activities. The review indicates that family roles shape advances of women in the society. For that reason, the initiative towards empowering women should commence at the family level. Afterward, the transformation takes place at the communal level then lastly progression is globally. The changes will then help improve the relation of the countries in the middle east with populations in other sections of the globe.
The society in the middle east should consider changing the role of the women for the better to promote inclusivity, improved living standards, education and participation in work. At present, the research on the state of affair in the region indicates that women are not accorded fair treatment as men. The gender is disadvantaged because of male chauvinism. The violation of the rights of the gender commences at the family level whereby the conservative males infer to religious doctrines as the basis for mistreating the gender. However, the development of the past such as activism indicates that the reformation of the society is beneficial to all. During the process, the engagement of the men is necessary because the outcome of the action benefits all as highlighted in the studies on the subject. It is on this premise that the text indicates that changing role of the women for the betters is necessary for the improvement of the standards of living for bother genders in the middle east.
Works Cited
Almulla, Lulwa, and Zosia Kmietowicz. “Victory for Women’s Rights in Kuwait Reawakens Hope.” BMJ: British Medical Journal, vol. 333, no. 7573, 2006: 826–826. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40700425. Accessed 18 May 2020.
Hatem, Mervat F. “In the Shadow of the State: Changing Definitions of Arab Women’s ‘Developmental’ Citizenship Rights.” Journal of Middle East Women Studies, vol. 1, no. 3, 2005: 20–45. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40326870. Accessed 18 May 2020.
Huntington, Ray L., et al. “Family Roles of Contemporary Palestinian Women.” Journal of Comparative Family Studies, vol. 32, no. 1, 2001: 1–19. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/41603726. Accessed 18 May 2020.
Makar, Ragai N. “New Voices for Women in the Middle East.” MELA Notes, no. 65/66, 1997: 14–60. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/29785672. Accessed 18 May 2020.
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 18 May 2020.