What is it now like for women living amidst Middle Eastern chaos?

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