Having spend some time in Israel, I have had some first hand opinions and interaction with women in the Middle East, both from Jewish and Moslem backgrounds, as my partner worked extensively in education on Public Health over there.
I often hear comments relating to how "oppressed" women are, and while it is certainly true that womens roles are often very different to those of women in say England or the US, I am not sure that their lives are as the western media portrays them.
Sure, there are different expectations of dress, and different types of marriages, yet the middle eastern women I have directly encountered have been strong, vital figures in their families, respected within their society, strongly opinionated and passionate.
There are certainly areas in which they do not have equal rights, and aspects of culture which I personally find hard to stomach, but as to whether they are oppressed - that is a complex question.
What are your impressions?
2007-11-18
23:58:16
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9 answers
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asked by
Twilight
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Gender Studies