The hierarchical social relations inherent to any patriarchal system have resulted in women’s social identities becoming dependent on their relationship with men, as a fathers or husbands. Such relationships have encouraged the view that the oppression of women is the cornerstone of such systems and that their liberation is an essential condition for overcoming it. My question for this paper is: What is the relationship between patriarchy and women’s marginalization and absence in the political sphere? In this paper I will discuss how women are marginalized and silenced by force rather than by choice. To further elaborate on that it must be clear that women, especially in the Middle East, are constrained by different types of patriarchy. They are restrained from growing and aspiring to change power relations by the legal system, by the social conventions and the unequal power relations between male and female, and lastly by externalities that constructed the polity of the region. In order to further carry out this research paper, I will use a Marxist feminist theoretical framework to analyze the issue of women’s marginalization in the Middle East.
Table of Contents
I. INTRODUCTION
II. WOMEN IN POLITICS: POLITICAL OPPORTUNITIES
III. WOMEN’S SUBORDINATION AS A REFLECTION OF GLOBAL POLITICS
IV. PERPETUATION OF PATRIARCHY IN THE FAMILY DYNAMICS
V. CONCLUSION
Research Objectives and Themes
This paper examines the relationship between patriarchy and the marginalization of women in the political sphere within the Middle East, arguing that women are silenced by force rather than by choice. It employs a Marxist feminist framework to analyze how legal systems, social conventions, and regional power dynamics intersect to exclude women from public life.
- The role of patriarchal ideologies in the public sphere.
- Intersection of class relations, economic exploitation, and gender oppression.
- Impact of legal-structural barriers and the "glass ceiling" on female political participation.
- Perpetuation of traditional gender roles within family dynamics.
- Critique of international frameworks regarding women’s empowerment in the Middle East.
Excerpt from the Book
II. WOMEN IN POLITICS: POLITICAL OPPORTUNITIES
All around the world women have been stuck in the private sphere, allowing their male counterparts to dominate the public and political sphere. Although the integration of women and their acceptance in the public sphere, as equally capable to occupy key positions and formulate intellectually critical opinions about the political arena, has been a gradual process that required decades of power struggle, it has been harder for the Muslim-dominated Middle East to come to terms with what they saw as a radical transformation of gender relations and ultimately power relations, due to their conservative, and colonial history. In the larger context of low women’s political participation globally, the Middle East suffers from even lower penetration of women in politics. As a medium towards development and international integration, women present a somewhat “untapped resource in the social, economic and political arenas in the region” (Akande, 2007).
Chapter Summaries
I. INTRODUCTION: Outlines the research focus on women's roles in the Middle East and the suitability of a Marxist feminist framework for analyzing patriarchal marginalization.
II. WOMEN IN POLITICS: POLITICAL OPPORTUNITIES: Discusses the historical and systemic obstacles that prevent women from accessing political power, including the "glass ceiling" in legal and professional fields.
III. WOMEN’S SUBORDINATION AS A REFLECTION OF GLOBAL POLITICS: Examines how international and regional conflicts, along with economic trends, have shaped policies that prioritize male dominance and marginalize female labor.
IV. PERPETUATION OF PATRIARCHY IN THE FAMILY DYNAMICS: Analyzes the central role of the family in enforcing traditional gender roles and how social and economic pressures force women to prioritize household duties over political participation.
V. CONCLUSION: Summarizes findings, asserting that patriarchal ideology and the lack of distinction between domestic and international power structures are the primary causes of women’s political exclusion.
Keywords
Women, Middle East, Feminism, Patriarchy, feminist identity, Women’s marginalization, public policy, culture of silence, Marxist feminism, gender roles, political participation, class oppression, rentier states, power struggle
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper explores the systemic marginalization of women in the political sphere of the Middle East and argues that their absence is enforced by patriarchal structures rather than chosen.
What are the central thematic fields addressed?
The main themes include patriarchal ideology, the intersection of gender and class, the impact of legal systems on women's careers, and the role of the family in sustaining traditional gender hierarchies.
What is the primary objective of the study?
The objective is to provide evidence that patriarchy serves as the fundamental barrier to women's inclusion in public and political life in Middle Eastern states.
Which theoretical framework is applied?
The author uses a Marxist feminist framework, which emphasizes the critical analysis of gender and class oppression within a capitalist and patriarchal context.
What does the main body of the text cover?
The main body discusses political opportunities and participation, the reflection of global politics in local gender relations, and the perpetuation of patriarchy within family dynamics.
Which keywords best describe the paper?
The core keywords include Women, Middle East, Feminism, Patriarchy, Marxist feminism, and gender roles.
How does the "inside/outside" approach explain political exclusion?
The paper argues that the international political arena influences domestic relations, suggesting that governing forces and societal pressures are mutually inclusive in maintaining male dominance.
What argument does the author make regarding the "Arab Human Development Report"?
The author critiques the report for using liberal frameworks that marginalize issues of political economy, claiming it bases its conclusions on elite statistics rather than the realities of the working class.
Why is the "family system" considered a political obstacle for women?
The family is seen as a unit that enforces traditional roles; the societal expectation for women to serve as caregivers and homemakers effectively prevents them from engaging in the public workforce or political life.
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- PhD in International Development Reham El Morally (Autor:in), 2019, Women and Politics in the Middle East through a Marxist Feminist Lens, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/492844
