Women & Politics and Gender in the Middle East

1. Women & Politics and Gender in the Middle East

2. Religious Women’s Attires Niqab—Saudi Arabia, Yemen, elsewhere Hijab--Rest of MENA Chador—Iran & some other Shi`a communities Burqa--Afghanistan

3. Interpretations of the Veil • Restrictive device so men can control (dominant Orientalist notion) • Indicative of class, age, ethnicity, or region (Yemen reading) • Veil as a tool of control by the state to advertise power of their belief systems (Tunisia restrictions, Kuwait (10/09) requires it… being challenged) • Expression of opposition to reduce the leverage of the occupier (ex: Algeria) • Protection from harassment and interference by others. Statement not to be objectified. No object for consumerism. • Statement of identity, especially where Muslims are minority • Social empowerment – control over oneself. Choice. Huda Sha’arawi

4. Patriarchy • a system that privileges males and elders and justifies this privilege in kinship terms. This gives males legal and economic power over family members. • Extension of male dominance over women in society in general. • Represents a gender and age hierarchy based on the household as a productive unit, has been seriously challenged in recent decades by social transformations • Androcentrism – an ontology in which ‘the masculine’ is at the center and ‘the feminine’ is peripheral. • Males are the focus of one’s world view and understanding of culture and history, while women are understood in relation to males. • Patrilineality, Patrilocality, Endogamy

5. Patriarchal system • Public: • Public office • Court testimony • Dress codes • Segregated work spaces • Legal limitations on movement • Private (mostly personal status): • Child custody • Divorce/marriage laws • Inheritance • Freedom of movement & employment • Honor killings

6. Factors that Erode Patriarchy • Wage labor opportunities outside household • Breakup of extended family (patrilocality) • Increasing age of marriage • Inter-marriage (vs. endogamy) • Rise in education levels • Rural to urban migration • Quotas in legislatures

7. Women in Islam • Adam & Eve created together (Eve not sole receiver of blame) • Female infanticide prohibited by Islam • Limits marriage to four women by men – if treated equally • Women negotiate contract of marriage (legal contract vs. sacrament) • Marriage gift goes to wife, not family (mahr) • Women’s right to refuse prospective husband • Women have right to own and inherit property • Women can not lead prayer • Women’s restrictions on divorce (justified to Qadi) • Women worth half of a witness in court

8. How are women involved in political processes in MENA? • Symbols of national honor • Often mothers creating power in numbers • Fighters supporting national liberation & revolutionary movements • Women’s branches of political parties • Members of political parties & Groups • Women’s organizations created in state institutions • Participation in independent organizations (charitable societies and NGOs)

9. Islamic and Secular Feminisms • Key Question: what are the best approaches to bring about policies of equal rights for women in Islamic states and other Muslim communities? • The Activist’s Paradox (apologetic/complacent vs. Arab-bashing ‘self-hatred’) • Secular Feminism: • Authentic as indigenous, but often seen as imposed • Some conflict w/ Islamic feminism • Claim of Superiority – “culture of misery” in discourse rejects Agency • Passive, docile, victim • Ex: N.O.W. during Gulf War • “Excessive covering” vs. Material Exploitation • Is one more repulsive or unforgivable than the other?

10. Islamic and Secular Feminisms (cont.) • Key Question: what are the best approaches to bring about policies of equal rights for women in Islamic states and other Muslim communities? • Islamic Feminism: • Movement aimed at equal rights and legal protection of women rooted in Islamic discourse • Emphasize teachings of equality in Qu’ran, Hadith • Engagement with Islam is necessary in societies where many laws on personal status are based on religion (shari’a) • Mostly educated, professional women & therefore cannot be easily dismissed as irrelevant by secular feminists • Increasing visibility in mass media (previously domain of secular, middle-class women)

11. Readings Discussion on Sexuality • Asad AbuKhalil • Characteristics of Present-day sexism • Persistence of Male dominance • Women missing from public space • Tolerance of homosexuality • Bruce Dunne “sexuality in political culture” • Dialmy – Contradictions and contraception • Suad Joseph – the nation-state and Gender • Pre-colonial and post-colonial • Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft

12. The MENA region