Toward the study of women and politics in the Arab world: The debate and the reality

Abstract

This article deals with the subject of political roles of women in the Arab world. It argues that, while the conditions of women are not uniform in the region, there are some general common factors that inhibit women’s participation in the political process. The article also addresses the subject of Islamic determinants—or lack thereof—of the status of women in Arab society. An analysis of the feminist debate is presented, and some trends are identified. The analysis focuses on the interaction between Islam and culture in an attempt to determine the role of each in the oppression of women. A critique of the antifeminist and “Islamic feminist’ viewpoints is included. The article offers some methodological suggestions for the comparative study of women and politics in the Arab world, with special emphasis on: voting, legalistic/constitutional method, informal vs. formal politics, and the impact of modernization. The conclusion is predicated on the belief in the limitations of a feminist struggle within the parameters of religion, any religion—in this case Islam.