Role of Women in Middle Eastern Societies - Research Paper Example

Introduction Modernization gave rise to a number of opportunities for women and this is evident in developed territories. During the early civilizations, women are not granted the same basic privileges as men were. In most cases, their role is constrained within the four walls of their home—domestic chores, overseeing the children, and attending to the husband’s needs. Women are not even allowed to decide on matters that directly affect their lives. They cannot choose who to marry, engage in educational pursuits, or even express their thoughts. Modernization gave rise to a number of opportunities for women, and such is evident in developed territories. The United Nations in collaboration with the government of the United States of America campaigns for the abolition of gender inequality, thus promoting policies and reforms to bring up the status of women in the society. However, the position of some countries in the Middle East as pertains to this issue has deeper roots—with implications on their culture and religion. Muslims in general, adapt to the way of life as stated in the Qur’an, and such is a fact that cannot be simply put behind. Nevertheless, there are countries in the Middle East that support the advocacy towards liberating women from the shackles of gender discrimination. Development in its broadest sense can be attributed to several factors, and in this areas, the improved role of women in the society and economy are among those to be given high regard. There are certain indications that support this claim, though these are not to be taken as an implicit avowal that without the women in action, moving forward is not probable. Role of Women in Least Developed Countries “The least developed countries (LDCs) are a group of countries that have been identified by the UN as least developed in terms of their low gross national income (GNI), their weak human assets and their high degree of economic vulnerability” (Nations Online, 2011). Among countries in the Middle East that belong to this classification include Afghanistan and Yemen. Both are identified for their conventional treatment of women and adherence to the extremist interpretation of the Qur’an in connection with the role of women. Before the Taliban ruled over Afghanistan, women from this country had the same freedom as those from the Western nations did. They dressed the Western style and “worked in agriculture, medicine, and law” (Rivera, 2004, p.48). Some interpretations of Qur’an assert that the role of the women primarily lies in overseeing the children, while men are to support the family financially, yet this was taken to the extreme under the Taliban rule, thus limiting their participation in other endeavors (Rivera, 2004). Similarly, Yemeni women do not have access to most of their “economic, social, and cultural rights and still face many challenges in exercising their full political and civil rights” (Nazir & Tomppert, 2005, p.336). Women representation in the government and labor is still at a minimal degree, and only 8.2 percent report paid employment (Nazir & Tomppert, 2005). The government of Yemen does not have effective systems to implement the compulsory education law, and “many families deny their daughters the right to education for cultural or economic reasons” (Nazir & Tomppert, 2005, p.337). Role of Women in Developed Countries According to the World Bank List of Economies (2011), Israel, Cyprus, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain make up the top 5 most developed countries and have the highest income level in the Middle East. Experts propose that globalization provided the key for this economic growth while Keddie (2007) correlates such a phenomenon with the “evolving role of women in the Middle Eastern societies, with implications for their opportunities to work and organize, and for shifts in societal attitudes toward gender” (p.32). In an interview at the World Economic Forum convention, senior official of Bahrain’s Monetary Agency and chairman of the Educational Technology Department of Bahrain University, Fatima Al-Belooshi, stressed that Bahraini women are among the most educated women in the Gulf region and the Middle East (America.gov, 2003). For this reason, they are considered a great asset for Bahrain, thus the efforts to provide women with “better training and more specialized education” (America.gov, 2003). In the same way, The UAE government supports women in their attempt to play a full role in the development of the country. Moreover, the belief that women are entitled to take their place in society is grounded in the UAE constitution (IPS, 2007). The increased role of women, particularly their greater control over decision making in the family, has brought about many favorable impacts. The children’s well-being, for one is significantly linked to female education and participation in the labor industry (Moghadam, 2003). Several feminists consider women’s engagement in compensated services as a “pathway to social and gender consciousness, autonomy, and empowerment” (Moghadam, 2003, p.34). In addition, this helped regulate “fertility rates” and supplement the “human resource base” (Moghadam, 2003, p.35). Conclusion The above discussion tends to give emphasis on the role of women in the social and economic progress of countries in the Middle East. The advantages of stretching out these roles are clearly implied, while the adverse consequences remain a debatable issue. Some women are hesitant to embrace a new realm in consideration of their religious and cultural orientation, while the others strive for deliverance from the conformist practices in pursuit of a better status in their field of interest. Changes have been continuously proposed by the Western territories who believe that theirs are the ways of the world. Nevertheless, it is not up to them to decide on what will do well for women that have survived the odds of living within the traditional through time. References America.gov (June 21, 2003). Women in Bahrain play a crucial role in national development: Interview with Professor Fatima Al-Belooshi of Bahrain University. Retrieved from http://www.america.gov/st/washfile-english/2003/June/20030621163748ynnedd7.989138e-02.html#ixzz1Jy3zpEM4. IPS (2011). Status of women in UAE. Retrieved from http://www.ips.siu.edu/iss/WID/project/UAE/STATUS%20OF%20WOMEN%20IN%20UAE.pdf. Keddie, N. (2007). Women in the middle east: past and present. New Jersey: Princeton University Press. Moghadam, V. M. (2003). Modernizing women: Gender and social change in the Middle East, Second edition. London: Lynne Reinner Publishers, Inc. Nations Online (2011). Least developed countries. Retrieved from http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/least_developed_countries.htm. Nazir, S. & Tomppert, L. (2005). Women’s Rights in the Middle East and North Africa: Citizenship and justice. Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc. Rivera, S. (2004). Women of the Middle East. Minnessotta: ABDO and Daughters. World Bank List of Economies (January 2011). UN classification, LDC. 245, 24, Middle East & North Africa (all income levels), MEA. 246, 25, North America, NAC. Retrieved from siteresources.worldbank.org/DATASTATISTICS/.../CLASS.XLS Read More