Reply #5: I don't know if it is possible... [View All]

[MeDeMax]

to desegregate a gender segregated society overnight by force or with legislation.

for a starters both genders have to get accustumed to being in the prescence of the other without becoming too self conscious, after having observed centuries of being separate in public.

What was viable in Afghanistan is not necessarily so in Iraq, for a number of reasons including Iraq's geographical proximity to Haaj.

It was a bitter debate to get some women included in the afghani parliament when it was formed in '02.

What is perceived by the west as treating women equally, may easily be perceived by the Iraqis as disrespect or "infidelizing" of their people.

And I don't think it serves anybody's purposes (including the women whose equality is being sought) to have a shiite uprising, in addition to the current sunni one.

so lets smooth out the basics before we reach for loftier goals.