Middle East (Greed) - If you have been paying any attention to things in the Middle East, you may have noticed that the rights of women have been taking the stage, perhaps not center stage, that has been occupied by war and the effects of war. In the background though, we seem to be seeing a sea of change when it comes to some of the basic rights of women. For women in the western world, these changes may appear insignificant. Women in the west take some of these basic freedoms for granted, try and imagine though, what not being able to do something as basic as driving would be like.
We have covered several of these changes over the last month or so, you can read more about each of them in the linked articles. Here is a little summary though;
Saudi Arabia has been at the forefront in these new changes, which would make sense as they were near the bottom of the list when it came to freedom for women. With changes allowing women to drive, attend sporting events (even if only a briefly lived change), serve in the military, become investigators in their police forces, and even, not be forced to wear the Abaya in public, and even changes to the sexual harassment laws.
Are we witnessing a revolutionary change or a placation of women? It is possible only time will tell us the final answer to that. In all of these cases, women are the driving force. Understanding some of the backgrounds won't hurt, we blame Sharia Law, however actually knowing what Sharia Law is, and the general cultural issues that help keep women repressed will only aid others in helping these women.
Iran seems to have started turning a corner as well, with women fighting back against compulsory veiling. Facing charges for doing so, these women may be making things happen. A recent change allowed them to attend male sporting events for the first time.
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Pakistan has just seen the election of its first female senator. Shocking more than a few people.
By no means is this the end, nor should the pressure for a continued improvement end. Women in many areas of the Middle East are facing an enormous battle to get to a place even on par with equal. Educational roadblock exists in many countries, including Afghanistan. War across the regions has impacted women and their children in unimaginable ways. Women in Syria and Yemen are facing that reality every day. In Palestine young women like Ahed Tamimi face time in prison for trying to defend their homes. In Iraq women tied to ISIS are facing death penalties. Kurdish women are fighting and dying daily in the Middle East, with little to no media attention.
Pushing for other countries to take a stand on the rights granted back to women in the Middle East may help, The United States has backed down on this recently, not a very good indicator of the current administrations position on the rights of women in general.
This is just a small taste of the moving pieces that make up women's right, nay women's lives, across the Middle East. When one of us is not free, are the rest of us truly free? Do we not owe it to our sisters to keep fighting for them, while we continue to fight for ourselves?
The biggest recommendation we can make, and honestly probably the easiest thing to do, continue paying attention to the good and the bad. Continue sharing that information with others. Keep the conversations happening and keep the reality of it in the front of the minds of everyone across the world.
By Dragon Lady for Greed Media on Steemit
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