Islamic World

Question 1

Woman’s status - disputes of Islamic World

Answer 1

anti-Islamic approach = secular modernists:

• Intellectuals mainly from Lebanon, Egypt, Maghreb (Morocco)
• Active role of women in society is necessary
• Changes of women status very slow

Islamic theologists:

• Negative attributes have nothing in common with Islam; appeared during the history; often adopted from different cultures
• Women had more freedom in the early Islam

Conservatives and fundamentalists:

• Segregation of sexes, inferior, woman as devil’s tool

Question 2

Development?

Answer 2

Question 3

Deficit in the region

Answer 3

• High maternal mortality rates (Yemen: 150/100k, y: 2013)
• Highest female illiteracy compared to other developing regions app. 72%) -but is increasing
• Some countries low school enrolment (Yemen)
• Women more affected by poverty
• Law discrimination, often tolerated violance
• Political and economic inequality (i.e. wages)
• Weak Economic participation - causes: traditional patriarchal society, preference of men by employers, high unemployment rates, high fertility rates,…

Question 4

Causes of Deficit:

Answer 4

1. Cultural and social
2. Legal
3. Economic
4. International

Question 5

Causes of deficit - Cultural and society:

Answer 5

• Tribalism and patriarchal society
• Different stands of Islamists: fundamentalists and traditionalists rejecting reforms X pro-reform Islamists accept the necessity of reforms

Question 6

Causes of deficit - Legal

Answer 6

• Inconsistent approach towards CEDAW (Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women) signed not ratified - contradiction to Constitution, Sharia
• Constitutional conditions: gender equality part of the most states BUT not followed
• Criminal laws discriminate women
• Discrimination in nationality issues

Question 7

Causes of deficit - Economic:

Answer 7

• Rentier form of economy (no taxes, state subsidies → people leave the politics to autocrats e.g. Saudi Arabia) →unemployment
• Prevailing female education in “useless” fields (mainly humanities) - difficult to find a job

Question 8

Causes of deficit - International

Answer 8

• International pressure on gender equality → resistance