What is it now like for women living amidst Middle
Eastern chaos?
A recent Reuter’s poll stated that Egypt is the worst
out of 22 Middle Eastern countries for women. But if you read this poll, be
sure to read the responses which point the abundance of problems in the
conclusions reached.
First, it’s uncertain who these ‘experts’ on women in
the Middle East: Reuter’s does not specify who, how they were selected, and
other criteria necessary to complete a truly scientific data. Second, interpretation
of words and phrases is questionable as each country in the Middle East will
have its own take on words used to describe a set of situations. There is a
further problem with setting hierarchical order with a very small set of
respondents. Next, the framework for comparing the multi-faceted countries in
the Middle East is virtually non-existent.
Further problems deal with the fragility of the states
restructuring themselves after the step-down of dictatorial rulers, the economic
pressures and instability attached to these fragile countries. The example of
Egypt, in a very frail state of reconstruction after the two revolutions destabilizing
the country cannot withstand the scrutiny of a poll which suggests that women
have no rights. At the present time, the interim government is in the process
of re-forming its old constitution under which women certainly had rights to
vote, partake in government, be appointed as ministers, work and travel without
male consent, as well as initiate divorce proceedings. Time will tell as to the
restoration of these rights for women on a permanent basis after the new
constitution reaches the public in a referendum.
Other countries such as Tunisia, Yemen, Bahrain, and
Libya are undergoing similar delicate restructuring of their governments including
the rights given to women. These are a minimum of questions to be asked while
examining the Reuter’s poll. In the end, to establish the very tiny island of Comoros
as the best place for women in the Arab world is terribly misleading and
requires an in-depth study of all the parameters employed by the Reuter’s
Foundation poll.
Personal accounts from various friends and
acquaintances in Egypt have assured me that most areas of Cairo are safer now
than they were under the Morsi government; they hope this indicates a true step
toward restoring Egypt to its former position as a highlight for tourists. A
very fine article in response to the Reuter’s poll can be read at the following
site: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2013/Dec-04/239806-is-the-reuters-ranking-of-arab-women-valid.ashx#axzz2n5KjcZjB.
Gwenn Meredith
