I wrote the article before the official US and NATO withdrawal from Afghanistan as an estimative ... more I wrote the article before the official US and NATO withdrawal from Afghanistan as an estimative analysis piece to predict changes and issues in the aftermath. The purpose is to give context from the Soviet invasion period to the US/NATO withdrawal period to inform readers of meaningful context and events pertinent to understanding contemporary history in Afghanistan.
Women have been primary agents of change in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) for decades. ... more Women have been primary agents of change in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) for decades. Most recently, they have been at the forefront of the uprisings since 2011 as protestors, organizers, and leaders. The Arab Spring witnessed women’s rights groups and prominent activists mobilizing masses to call for democracy, freedom, and equal rights. Even after the initial wave of uprisings waned, women from all backgrounds worked with their male allies to push for progressive political transitions.
After 10 years of determined effort, Tunisian women have historical successes to celebrate. Tunis... more After 10 years of determined effort, Tunisian women have historical successes to celebrate. Tunisia is considered a regional leader in advocating for women's rights, as its laws include relatively better gender equality provisions than do the laws in most other countries in the region. However, women are far from having equal representation in many spheres of life. The glass ceiling for women in political life remains unbroken, and women continue to suffer from domestic violence, despite laws that have been enacted to prosecute abusers.
Historically, Iraqi women have enjoyed a higher status than their counterparts in the region. Sin... more Historically, Iraqi women have enjoyed a higher status than their counterparts in the region. Since the adoption of Iraq's Provisional Constitution in 1970, women were granted equal rights to vote, attend school, run for political office, and own property. The future seemed brighter for Iraqi women; however, women’s status gradually deteriorated amid the country’s internal and regional armed conflicts, and economic sanctions disproportionately affected their access to healthcare and education. The Iraqi government’s increasingly Shia character and growing sectarian divisions alienated much of the population and made women the principal victims of violence. Years of repression and the erosion of women's rights further shifted gender norms toward a more conservative life and society. These factors exhausted women for decades and led to little mobilization during the initial wave of the Arab Spring. By late 2018, however, Iraqi women revolted in defense of equal rights and drove the October Revolution. Their activism improved women’s political status in the country, though women still have a long way to go to achieve full and meaningful citizenship in Iraq.
I wrote the article before the official US and NATO withdrawal from Afghanistan as an estimative ... more I wrote the article before the official US and NATO withdrawal from Afghanistan as an estimative analysis piece to predict changes and issues in the aftermath. The purpose is to give context from the Soviet invasion period to the US/NATO withdrawal period to inform readers of meaningful context and events pertinent to understanding contemporary history in Afghanistan.
Women have been primary agents of change in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) for decades. ... more Women have been primary agents of change in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) for decades. Most recently, they have been at the forefront of the uprisings since 2011 as protestors, organizers, and leaders. The Arab Spring witnessed women’s rights groups and prominent activists mobilizing masses to call for democracy, freedom, and equal rights. Even after the initial wave of uprisings waned, women from all backgrounds worked with their male allies to push for progressive political transitions.
After 10 years of determined effort, Tunisian women have historical successes to celebrate. Tunis... more After 10 years of determined effort, Tunisian women have historical successes to celebrate. Tunisia is considered a regional leader in advocating for women's rights, as its laws include relatively better gender equality provisions than do the laws in most other countries in the region. However, women are far from having equal representation in many spheres of life. The glass ceiling for women in political life remains unbroken, and women continue to suffer from domestic violence, despite laws that have been enacted to prosecute abusers.
Historically, Iraqi women have enjoyed a higher status than their counterparts in the region. Sin... more Historically, Iraqi women have enjoyed a higher status than their counterparts in the region. Since the adoption of Iraq's Provisional Constitution in 1970, women were granted equal rights to vote, attend school, run for political office, and own property. The future seemed brighter for Iraqi women; however, women’s status gradually deteriorated amid the country’s internal and regional armed conflicts, and economic sanctions disproportionately affected their access to healthcare and education. The Iraqi government’s increasingly Shia character and growing sectarian divisions alienated much of the population and made women the principal victims of violence. Years of repression and the erosion of women's rights further shifted gender norms toward a more conservative life and society. These factors exhausted women for decades and led to little mobilization during the initial wave of the Arab Spring. By late 2018, however, Iraqi women revolted in defense of equal rights and drove the October Revolution. Their activism improved women’s political status in the country, though women still have a long way to go to achieve full and meaningful citizenship in Iraq.
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