Those who have actually visited the Middle East, what is your perception of how Women are treated?

Question

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?

Originally posted in Gender & Womens studies here: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/;_ylc=X3oDMTE1aThkdWZ2BF9TAzIxMTU1MDAxMTgEc2VjA2Fuc19ub3QEc2xrA2Fuc21vcmU-;_ylv=3?qid=20071119045816AAvIuYz

Reposted to this section on the kind suggestion of tunisianbelle.

Answer 1

I am an American who lives in a Muslim country and I am married to a Muslim man. I've been married and have lived here 6+ years, and no, I am not a Muslim.

While there are differences in day to day life here, it truly is not the way it is portrayed in the media.

Here in Tunisia women do have equal rights to men. Tunisia was one of the first countries in the world to grant women equal rights to men and the right to vote back in the 1950's. Women can choose to work if they want (and many do). Women work in all fields here - they are in the military, they are doctors, lawyers, pilots, teachers, entrepreneurs, etc. Some wear the hijab, others do not - it is a purely personal choice here.

In our culture here, women have a very important role. It is the women who nurtures the family. She is the bond that holds everyone together. She is looked up to by her children, her husband relies on her, friends seek her companionship, and they all love her.

I'm sure that there are countries where women are oppressed, but from my personal experience, I have not witnessed that here - not in my family, nor those of the people I have met. For me, no matter where you go, there will always be cultural differences. Look at Asia for example. The women have very strict traditional roles there, yet no one makes a fuss and talks about them being oppressed.

In all honesty, I feel more valued, more respected, and more appreciated here than I did when I was in my own country.

Answer 2

experienced Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. No the ladies individuals we encountered weren't oppressed. The Western international regards the eastern international in this style of unusual way. way of existence is diverse. a procedures be it for me The Westerner to tell The Easterner how they might desire to habit their lives. Hypocritical in the severe could that be. Twilight- save posting like this and "Yoda Lomax" would be sitting at your ft.