Women's Movements

Only if women are given the same rights, opportunities, and respect as men, can societies truly flourish and reach their full potential. The edition “Women’s Movements” is about women who are devoted to change in their respective society and take an active role in it. 

Protest in Tunis in spring 2012 against the conservative-Islamic Ennahda party ©Aya Chebbi
Two women at a protest for women’s rights holding up a sign: “Women’s Rights in Tunisia are irreversible“ ©Aya Chebbi

Women's Movements6 min
 Feminists Claiming Civic Space

In 2011, the world felt inspired by the power of the Tunisian people that toppled its decades-long authoritarian regime and sparked a wave of citizen action throughout the region and the world. The international community then noticed the presence of women at the forefront of these movements, challenging the widespread preconception of a region devoid of women’s activism.

Tunisia
Black and white close-up photo of a face, lips painted white with black paint criss-crossing, making it look as if the lips are sewn together. ©Eythar Gubara

Women's Movements4 min
 Always Motivated by Hope!

Political Islam posed an unprecedented challenge to women’s emancipation in Sudan.Despite worsening circumstances, numerous women’s rights organisations, associations, and centres continued to lead courageous campaigns all over the country to address the many pressing issues women were and are still facing.

Sudan
A group of protesters at the Beirut International Marathon, holding red ballons and signs against blaming rape victims. ©ABAAD

Women's Movements4 min
 Campaign Exposes “Victim-Blaming” Attitudes to Rape in Lebanon

Lebanon is caught in a vicious circle of gender-based violence (GBV) and discrimination that deprives women and girls of meaningful participation in social, economic, and political life. Most abusive and discriminatory acts against women and girls in Lebanon are the direct result of unequal treatment of men and women within the Lebanese law and the influence of a patriarchal society that thrives on the control and oppression of women.

Lebanon
Black and white drawing of women protesting for gender equality. ©qaherathesuperhero/Deena Mohamed

Women's Movements6 min
 Together we are Strong, Together we Make a Difference

I was denied a job as a site engineer in an oil company, because of my gender. The rejection letter clearly stated that the company would rather offer their jobs to male engineers. Women in Egypt have come a long way since then.

Egypt
Image of hands holding flour. ©Nariman El-Mofty/AP; CC BY 2.0 via flickr.com

Women’s Movements5 min
 Making the most of the space available

Yemen’s modern history has never seen a coherent and consistent women’s movement, but rather temporary and fragmented movements with different priorities, such as women’s struggle against human rights violations, and feminists’ focus on combating patriarchal tribal structures that discriminated against women. They all stemmed from genuine concerns for human rights and democracy.

Yemen
Drawing of three women on red-orange background. ©Goethe-Institut e.V./Perspektiven, Melina Gamal

Women's Movements14 min
 60 Years of Activism

Gulf society made sure to keep its womenfolk in the background, at times using traditional values as a pretext, and at other times using religion or the claim that human nature gives men physical and mental advantages over women. This form of social discrimination extended to law-making, where many women’s rights as supposedly full citizens were dropped. 

Gulf Region
Three photos of Iraqi Women wearing a hijab and black clothing. ©Goethe-Institut/Ruya, Manar Al-Zubaidi

Women's Movements5 min
 In Iraq, women make up the numbers in politics and no more

Since 2003, Iraq has seen minimal change in terms of the participation of women in politics and the promotion of women to decision-making positions. Throughout this period, women have held no important executive or leadership positions, and to date all 3 presidential administrations and their representatives have comprised men.

Iraq

Editor's recommendation

Failed to retrieve articles. Please try again.

Most Read

Failed to retrieve articles. Please try again.