20th Annual Student Research Conference
Social Science
Degree of Women's Freedom in the Middle East
Lina J. Khan
Dr. John Ishiyama, Faculty Mentor
Political liberalization in the Middle East is particularly significant if instability in the region, and the diffusion of terrorism abroad, are products of non-democratic regimes. A still-developing measure of democracy is the crucial status of women in shaping political progress and individual capacity for advancement within a society. However, in several Middle Eastern countries women play a role as second-class citizens. Why do some states in this region have a higher degree of freedom for women than others? While it is suggested that the religion of Islam is incompatible with women’s rights, this does not adequately explain the wide divergence in policies for women across predominantly Muslim countries. This study will examine six factors of Middle Eastern states in the presence or absence of women’s political and civil rights: rentierism, economic system, ethnolinguistic divisions, concentration of executive power, quantity of natural resources, and years under colonial rule.
Keywords: Middle East, Women's Rights, Political Stability, Liberalization
Topic(s):Political Science
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 15-1
Location: VH 1412
Time: 8:15 am