Position of Women in the Middle East
The current articles; Why do they Hate Us: The Real War on Women is in the Middle East by Eltahawy, 2012, and Debating the War on Women by Good, 2012 offers critical insights and perspectives regarding the position of women in the Middle Eastern world. A close analysis of the two articles showcases the manner in which women in the Middle have and continue to be oppressed. Deductively, women in the Middle East have a lower societal status emanating from cultural, religious, and political oppression.
Evidently, women are objectified, disregarded by the society, even despite the existence of revolutions hypothesized to be the epitomes of democracy for all regardless of gender. In a nutshell, Eltahawy page 6 notes that women have been utilized as “bargaining chips” in that the gains from revolutions that women partake do not favour women. Instead, men enjoy such gains and continue being agents of women oppression. Conclusively, Eltahawy dwells on the notion that gender inequalities in the Middle East are the result of hatred than men harbour towards women. On another note, Good page 2 notes that women in the Middle Eastern societies face discrimination both at home and in the society. Overall, the current article offer an analysis of cultural factors such as female genital mutilation, as well as religious and political factors, which have and continue to prejudice the quest of women to have equal opportunities as men.
Actions that Women should take to Advance their Status in the Middle East
Arguably, there are a number of actions that women can take in order to enhance their status in the Middle East. More importantly, illiteracy levels amongst women continue to prejudice the efforts of Middle Eastern women to gain equality. For this purpose, there is a need to improve literacy levels of these women. This will empower women to realize their personal rights. At the moment, a significant proportion of women in the Middle East are ignorant of the oppressions that they undergo in the hands of men.
As such, education would enlighten these women; hence, emancipate them from the lower status accorded to them. In addition, enhanced women representation in government is another action that would enhance the status of women in the Middle East. This action would offer a viable platform that would ensure that women issues are addressed by the government. In conclusion, the quest of Middle Easter to gain equal rights with men remains an aspiration and not a reality. Nevertheless, adoption of the above connoted actions would enhance the status of women in the Middle East.
