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Women in the Middle East

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Women in the Middle East

1. Introduction 2. Before Islam 3. After Islam 4. Marriage 5. Education 6. Modern Day
-Examples from different Arab countries
-Arab Spring 7. What’s next? 8. Citations

1. Introduction

Over the course of history, women in the Middle East, not so much different than around the world, haven’t been attaining all their full rights and haven’t been quite satisfied with the status of gender equality that the world continues to lack. The Middle East has its more than enough share with this ever-continuing phenomenon. The situation changes with every passing day, as it is affected by our effervescently changing political and social status. Religion has played an enormous role in the matter, as did politics, economy, and social standards. Women’s rights have increased and decreased soon before it was satisfactory enough. This continues and will continue to happen until women find themselves satisfied in our men-driven society. In order for one to judge the current and possible future status, we must understand the past and how women’s rights evolved to become where it is right now.

2. Before Islam

Women before the dawn of Islam had practically no legal status in opposition to the traditional and standard tribal laws. Their own fathers sold them to their husbands or legal guardians; they had no choice in the matter and could be left at anytime according to the spouse’s will. They had no private property or rights after the marriage would be terminated.
Women’s status was quite poor in pre-Islamic Arabia. Their rights varied as per the social standards and laws of their tribes, as there were various ones. Some tribes gave women more liberal rights than others, in which at some instances, women held high positions among the rest. However, the general status was the mere opposite. Women had

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