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Arab Women's Social Revolution
Abstract
In the post-Arab Spring world, Arab women continue to show confidence in their collective power to fight exclusion, silence and oppression. Analyzing cases from across the region, this paper argues that Arab women are continuing their social revolution and challenging social, legal, and political norms that have traditionally rewarded their compliance. Today, male dominated social structures and powers are shaken, and women are influencing politics and challenging the secular-Islamist power poles. Just as Arab women resisted oppressive regimes, their activism during the uprisings revealed the shortcomings of how Arab women were overwhelmingly misrepresented as “victims” and subordinate by nature who operate in a highly patriarchal setting and whose activism is limited to “bargaining with patriarchy.” Since the Arab Spring, the social revolution of Arab women is manifested in overwhelming participation in public life, representation in decision-making, and emboldened leadership of women’s organizations. Women have infiltrated the contentious collective space en masse fighting for women’s rights and representation as parts of the greater plight for political and economic reforms. They partnered with international, civil society, and state actors to pass a number of gender legal reforms that protect women’s rights, combat gender-based violence, and promote gender equality. Major social transformations have occurred in the region since the Arab Spring that showcase Arab women’s determination to respond to existing and new challenges. Gaining momentum during the uprisings, women have personalized their agency and made their voices heard throughout the region.
Discipline
Sociology
Geographic Area
All Middle East
Sub Area
Gender/Women's Studies