A Critique of Traditional Feminism in the Arab World - Jordan Watch

An update and analysis of development and reform challenges in Jordan from a social democratic perspective.

A Critique of Traditional Feminism in the Arab World

Thursday, March 16, 2006

The International Women's Day celebrated on March 8th was another occasion to reflect back on the progress achieved by Arab women during the last couple of decades in particular.

At the forefront of the women outreach campaigns are the traditional feminist advocates who have the convection that the fight for women rights will be won or lost in a battle against men. I am not defending men, they have screwed up in decision-making in the Arab world, but to say that all the problems of deterioration of women rights are caused by men is an oversimplification.

I have met with many Arab and Jordanian feminisists, and as a true advocate of women rights I feel I have a fundamental disagreement with their cause. Many of the Arab feminists look for superficial indicators of Arab women liberty including the right to divorce, the right to smoke in public and the right to choose any kind of clothes and outfits. For them, any women with veil or traditional culture is not a liberal women.

I am not a supporter of veil myself and I look at it as a personal choice, but the issue is not the veil on the head but the veil inside the head. Any progress for women in the Arab world should be associated with the challenges for democracy and development. "Liberal" women who smoke and wear short skirts and spend their time in parties and following fashion will not contribute to the advancement of women. What will advocate women is their ability to learn, engage positively in the combined fight for democratic rights, social justice and sustainable development through empowerment and education.

I have met with great rural women from Jordan who came from traditional backgrounds and managed to do wonders for the enhancement of their lives while I met many women who appear as if they have came out from Glamour magazines but who have no contribution at all to the advancement of the society.

The struggle of feminism should be linked with women empowerment in decision-making, access to resources and social activism which is based on participation of local communities and not feminism theorists.

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(3) comments

On March, 27, 2006 7:34 AM , Rania said:

Mr. Wardam,
I'm not sure if I agree with you or not...u said "The struggle of feminism should be linked with women empowerment in decision-making" which I agree with, but doesn't chosing divorce fall under "decision-making"? ... isn't it ironic if a woman fights for equal rights in work force and opportunities in education and social life, but in the same time she has no choice in the veil nor in her marriage? wouldn't that make her "superficial"? How much self-esteem and confidence do you think a woman would have in herself and her abilities "to learn, engage positively in the combined fight for democratic rights, social justice and sustainable development through empowerment and education" if she can't even make a simple decision in how she dresses?
Please don't get me wrong, I'm not saying lets fight for women's rights to go out and party all night, because regardless of whether its a male or female, neither is helping to build and improve jordan or this world, but definately abusing and prisoning a woman at home and forcing her to stay in a miserable marriage with a man she can't stand isn't exactly helping to build and improve jordan or this world either!
On another note, I admire your sincere dedication to improve this place...

On April, 20, 2006 6:06 PM , Queen Rania's fan
from Italy said:

Batir, I agree with Rania. Of course the right to smoke in public, for example, isn't comparable to a social right: but it's a RIGHT TO DIVORCE (it isn't really superficial!!!), also because it isn't easy to divorce in Jordan for a woman.
Apparently the right of dressing in the way that a woman likes is superficial, but a woman that refuse to wear the veil, can be hit and so on: no freedom of dressing means violence!
By the way the enemy of woman hasn't always been the man, but also woman that think like a man and that so sad!
Ps. Of course a woman that has the veil "in her heart" is the best!

On April, 20, 2006 6:07 PM , Queen Rania's fan
from Italy said:

Batir, I agree with Rania. Of course the right to smoke in public, for example, isn't comparable to a social right: but it's a RIGHT TO DIVORCE (it isn't really superficial!!!), also because it isn't easy to divorce in Jordan for a woman.
Apparently the right of dressing in the way that a woman likes is superficial, but a woman that refuse to wear the veil, can be hit and so on: no freedom of dressing means violence!
By the way the enemy of woman hasn't always been the man, but also woman that think like a man and that so sad!
Ps. Of course a woman that has the veil "in her heart" is much better!

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