Women In The Middle East Nov 2005 Common Threads and Diversity of Experience

1. Women in the Middle East: Common Threads and Diversity of Experience

3. Female Illiteracy Female literacy in the MENA region has tripled since the 1970s, but half the women in the region still cannot read or write.

5. Patriarchy : a system that privileges males and elders, giving males legal and economic power over his family members. In broader terms, the extension of male dominance over women in society in general.

7. Variations in Experience A Bedouin girl Moroccan women demonstrating. Some Iranian women.

9. Source: Freedom House

10. A Turkish mayoral candidate greets locals at a Diyarbakir market. Photo: NF Watts, 03/04

11. Regional Diversity – a Turkish case Map of Turkey; inset map of Turkey’s southeastern provinces

13. Class differences: Jobs and status Former Prime Minister Tansu Ç iller Female employee at a carpet restoration center in Turkey. Market woman in central Turkey. My friend Selin making pottery.

15. What do we mean by “veiling”?

16. Types of head and body cover Hijab: Head scarf Chador: Full body cover Drawings from the Seattle Times

17. Types of body covering cont. A burqa Hindu woman covering face with sari or other covering. Niqab, the face veil.

18. Head and body fashion, images Palestinian woman in Gaza American Muslim woman showing difference between the Niqab (left) and the Hijab (right)

19. Hijab Fashion Abbayas from Al-Iman Fashion Hijabs from Al-Iman Fashion Hijab & Abaya from alKaram fashion

21. Why do women veil? What does it mean for them?