Stubbornness and domination have become characteristics to be admired in the male with varying degrees in the entire Arab world. Girls are encouraged to defer to their brothers, and taught to hide their intelligence and good sense in discussions with their male counterparts. Males are burdened from an early age to assume the mantle of family leadership, and encouraged to see themselves as protector of the extended family against all external threats. This macho tradition is transferred to the politics of an Arab world that largely excludes women, and has produced an unhealthy imbalance between the sexes that has been to the detriment of everyone in society.
Highly educated women such as doctors, teachers, philosophers and authors are discouraged, with doors firmly shut in their faces, from entering the 'man's' world of politics. The internet and social communication websites such as Facebook and Twitter have made inroads into such a culture, and have given women the confidence to say, "You know what, we can do better than you men in the running and governance of the country". The problem has always been in the past that they could not get involved in politics. Politics was, and is, a dangerous activity to get involved in.
You had to be a ruthless bully or come from a ruthless tribe or family to survive it, and to reach the top you would have had to physically eliminate your opponents. The involvement of women in the revolution itself is unprecedented in the Arab world and no one predicted that. These women have had the courage to confront some of the most tyrannical regimes on the planet.
Read the whole article at Huffington post, published 3. August
Stubbornness and domination have become characteristics to be admired in the male with varying degrees in the entire Arab world. Girls are encouraged to defer to their brothers, and taught to hide their intelligence and good sense in discussions with their male counterparts. Males are burdened from an early age to assume the mantle of family leadership, and encouraged to see themselves as protector of the extended family against all external threats. This macho tradition is transferred to the politics of an Arab world that largely excludes women, and has produced an unhealthy imbalance between the sexes that has been to the detriment of everyone in society.
Highly educated women such as doctors, teachers, philosophers and authors are discouraged, with doors firmly shut in their faces, from entering the 'man's' world of politics. The internet and social communication websites such as Facebook and Twitter have made inroads into such a culture, and have given women the confidence to say, "You know what, we can do better than you men in the running and governance of the country". The problem has always been in the past that they could not get involved in politics. Politics was, and is, a dangerous activity to get involved in.
You had to be a ruthless bully or come from a ruthless tribe or family to survive it, and to reach the top you would have had to physically eliminate your opponents. The involvement of women in the revolution itself is unprecedented in the Arab world and no one predicted that. These women have had the courage to confront some of the most tyrannical regimes on the planet.
Read the whole article at Huffington post, published 3. August