What can be dont to bring more freedom to women in the middle east and countries like Pakistan and India?

Question

I saw a question about burqa, and began to think about women in India. My parents come from India, and even amongst some of my family members, women are not treated equally at par with men.

In India I am beginning to see a shift in attitude, where many are now standing up, but these women are in the minority and are those who are making money. So is jobs the answers to bring equality, is education the answer, or I have even found that western culture, such as hollywood movies impacting Indian women.

I am not a feminist, but do believe in equally opportunity to succeed and I would like to see women are the world given an equal opportunity to suceed.

Answer 1

Yes women should be given equal opportunity. Only education will bring this change. Because we may not see inequalities in the educated families.

Answer 2

A lot of factors must be taken into consideration when discussing women equality. It's not just a simple thing as providing jobs or education or letting them take care of themselves, although it is a step towards that goal. But aside from that you have to understand the reason why women are treated the way they are in the society they live in. A lot (or majority) of middle eastern countries are Islamic, and I as far as I know, Islam itself has a precise societal role for women.

You have to go beyond the small things and look at the bigger picture. If you want to bring more freedom to women in these countries, you have to change the way of thinking or the social structure/belief of the the people themselves. It's not an easy tasks; it took a long time for western countries to give fair treatment to their women, and this coming from society that could be considered liberated, in a sense. Awareness of what women can do would also help them and those around them see their value as equals to men.

Answer 3

You write:
"In India I am beginning to see a shift in attitude, where many are now standing up, but these women are in the minority and are those who are making money. "

Women remain so far down on the food chain and there already appears to be a "backlash", lol. There used to be an Indian guy who posted regularly here: he would complain and whine and moan and blame and project and justify...

Crazed Indian "feminists" had taken over completely and were ruining the country! Yes, indeedy do. Evidently laws had been re-written overnight and the system discriminated against Indian men. If anyone dared to question his (longwinded, nonsensical, convoluted, ranting, unsupported, rhetorical) "questions" - he would instantly block that poster.

What a gem he was...

Answer 4

giving women education and economic opportunities brings empowerment. it often brings a change in mindset (typically hard to achieve) b/c women can be seen on par with men as far as providing for their family. as long as they remain dependent, they can be mistreated. it's not often a man will mistreat a woman who is earning their family food, healthcare and other necessities.

for those of us living in the western world or elsewhere - this is not just a question of feminism - this is a question of human rights and they are universal. we can pressure our governments to ensure human rights are respected.

a year or two ago a young woman was gangraped & forced to walk naked back to her village (in pakistan). her crime was that her brother was with a woman from another caste.this case brought attention to rape laws (or lack there of) anyway, international pressure got musharef to change the rape laws. they used to require 4 male witnesses - if not, the woman was charged with adultery.

amnesty international, one world, other HR groupos now takes on many of these cases of violence against women that used to just be considered 'tradition' or 'culture' - they are no such thing - they are violations of human rights.

if interested, support human rights groups. write letters to newspapers. pressure government officials to do the right thing.

there are also women's rights groups that work abroad - in a culturally appropriate manner (dont' make the assumption feminists aren't culturally appropriate or that they force their beliefs on people). i have just come from working abroad and volunteered with women's groups. these groups can be supported with time or money, too.

Answer 5

I am not sure where the source of *more freedom* is located. I hope it is piled up in America and the western world. May be we can use a big truck to bring it up to the water front and then load it on to a small ship. India, Pakistan and many countries in the Middle East do have beaches. We can unload it on the beach and then use donkeys, head load workers, elephants etc to carry it and bring it to every nook and corner of these countries.

I live in India and I volunteer my donkey to carry *more freedom* on its back, for my family and 7 other families in the neighbor hood, if the load is less than 80 lbs.

Answer 6

Leave them alone until they are ready for change. It cannot be forced. Women don't really like civil wars causing ethnic strife, damage to infrastructure, food shortages, homelessness, tragedy, economic downturns and other tragedies so that someone can fight for their cause and principles in their own country.

I doubt anyone wants a foreign country coming over to take over in a colonialist fashion (American foreign policy is expansionist and colonialist). I would not want the Japanese, Turks, French or any other group of people landing on my shore and taking over or fighting my people because they didn't like our way of life and wanted us to be more like them.

I'd prefer to be offered trade and diplomacy. I'd prefer advice and dialogue on women's rights, human rights, economic reform, democracy, peace, foreign relations, environmental issues, etc. over a number of years with aid and benefits attached. I wouldn't want my people to be harmed.

Answer 7

Education,economic independence and social awareness are the key areas.The rest shall follow.

Answer 8

Give all the left over feminists from the western world a one way ticket over their.

That should be good for everyone.

Answer 9

Not trying to be rude, but..

I say let women take care of themselves.