Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

G_j

(40,366 posts)
9. & a special thanks to women in every country
Thu Jan 26, 2012, 01:27 PM
Jan 2012




No Arab Spring without women
http://english.alarabiya.net/views/2012/01/25/190506.html

No Arab Spring without women
By Najat Al-Saeid

Wednesday, 25 January 2012

Under the banner of “No Spring without Women,” a Lebanese feminist organisation has organized a march in Beirut, as part of the 5th New Arab Woman Forum. The slogan of the march is “Sawa Sawa”, which in this context means “Let’s walk together, let’s make it together”, calling for a Spring that includes both men and women. Before getting the invitation to this march, my mind was already preoccupied with the future of Arab women after the revolutions and how women’s status might be impacted in each of the Arab countries. My concern is: can there be Arab union or organisation to sustain Arab women’s status in the post-revolution era?

Women in the Arab world have suffered in the revolutions, but the question now is, what will the outcome of all this suffering and sacrifice be? To date, the revolutions have not resulted in any improvement in women’s status. In Egypt, there are now voices saying that women should leave the revolution to men, and during a demonstration on International Women’s Day in March, men jeered at the women marching, telling them to go home and feed their babies.

On Dec. 21, 2011, women marched from Tahrir Square through the city, outraged by the image of a young woman kicked by troops and dragged along the ground. What’s more, there are no women on the committee that has been tasked with drafting the new constitution, though many are qualified to be. Since the revolution, the women’s quota in parliament has been abolished, which means there will be fewer women and their presence will barely make a difference.

Tunisian women have not suffered from the same abuses, but their legal position has not changed since the revolution. Tunisian women are trying to preserve their rights instead of winning new ones. One large party only, the Democratic Modernist Pole, has promised to install a woman as its leader.


..more..
nine recs, no kicks... G_j Jan 2012 #1
K&R... tosh Jan 2012 #2
K&R! Louisiana1976 Jan 2012 #3
George Soros was sounding the alarm at Davos as well. PA Democrat Jan 2012 #4
yep G_j Jan 2012 #5
Yep, that is a given........... socialist_n_TN Jan 2012 #10
kick & rec! BeHereNow Jan 2012 #6
K&R PotatoChip Jan 2012 #7
Thank you Arab Spring, thank you Wisconsin,thank you Ohio, malaise Jan 2012 #8
& a special thanks to women in every country G_j Jan 2012 #9
Nice malaise Jan 2012 #12
K&R nt hifiguy Jan 2012 #11
k G_j Jan 2012 #13
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Dystopia: Corporate Rule ...»Reply #9