The Effect of Literacy and Education of Women on Conditions in the Middle East - Essay Example

27 May 2007 The Effect of Literacy and Education of Women on Conditions in the Middle East Today, women in the Middle East are influenced greatly by old cultural and religious traditions and values which deprive them a chance to enter educational establishments and receive good education. Literacy and education of women in the Middle East would affect all sphere of life social, economic and political, structure of workforce and family relations.For women education means absence of restrictions and compulsions, and in correlation with the idea of will, it is the opportunity to act as would be desirable (Jaber 34).

Without education and literacy skills women are not able to benefit from outside worlds depending on their limited world perception. Freedom of choice is the main priority given by education and knowledge. Today, women in the Middle East are limited by their narrow worldview based on domestic values and prejudices (Jaffee 68). “Thus money is spent on boys, who could eventually pay it back” (Faisal 2003). Education and knowledge would give women great opportunity to choose their life path and become free from other people and events.

From the social point of view, knowledge and education give the feeling of personal freedom and mobility. If women lack literary skills and education, democratic rights and freedom of speech and expression cannot make people free, because they cannot understand true meaning of these institutions (Rejwan 45). In modern world, a woman should be free to choose her life path and accept decisions based on this knowledge. To some extent, education embodies personal democracy for Muslim women, acting as a social leveling force, granting more and more people a wide range of personal choices (Moghadam 17).

For instance, education would support democracy and lead to absence of physical oppression, result in a sustained outpouring of human creative activity in every form imaginable. The fundamental change would lead to new society based on equal rights and employment opportunities, abolition of patriarchy and male dominance in all spheres of life. Education and literacy would change family life and give women opportunities to become free from a father’s or husband’s will.Education and literacy would have a great impact on the society which can be compared with social changes in Europe and America at the end of the 19th century.

During this period of time, women received a chance to educate themselves and became a strong political and social force. This tendency led to women rights movement and equal employment opportunities and protection of their family life (Berkeley 49). Similar changed would occur in the Middle East and promote democracy and equal rights, a right to vote and absence of domestic violence. From the personal standpoint, education means self-realization and personal achievements which would lead to new family relations and increasing importance of women in society.

Education and literacy would change social landscape if women occupy high positions and enter workforce. Knowledge gives total freedom and guarantees complete control over life.. “Meanwhile educated girls in Egypt and Sudan have begun campaigning against female circumcision - and their campaign for womens rights has even involved going out and protesting in their holidays” (Faisal 2003). The main countries would change the most are Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Yemen, Jordan. Education and literacy would lead to economic prosperity of the countries and more stable political situation in the Middle East.

It is possible to say that new labor force would help to improve economic performance and develop new industries, develop social institutions and improve social services. Education would help women to get in touch with the society, the world around them and others which also a key to freedom. It would eliminate poverty and improve healthcare, education and social services, etc. Education would raise awareness and feminist consciousness reflected in gender relations and new social roles. It would turn the Middle East countries into modern states and promotes democracy and equal rights.

Works Cited1. Berkeley, K. C. The Womens Liberation Movement in America. Greenwood Press, 1999. 2. Faisal, S. Muslim girls struggle for education. BBC Arabic Service. 2003. 27 May 2007. 3. Jaber,N., Bargaining with Patriarchy: Gender, Voice and Spatial Development in the Middle East. Arab Studies Quarterly (ASQ), 23, 2001: 34. 4. Jaffee, C. Teaching about the Middle East: Challenges and Resource. Social Education, 68, 2004: 67-68. 5. Moghadam, V.M. Patriarchy in Transition: Women and the Changing Family in the Middle East.

Journal of Comparative Family Studies, 35, 2004: 16-17. 6. Rejwan, N. Arabs Face the Modern World: Religious, Cultural, and Political Responses to the West. University Press of Florida, 1998.