The middle eastern gender gap: The state of female political participation before, during and after the ‘arab spring’

Abstract

For citizens of the Middle East and North Africa, the ‘Arab Spring’ has come and gone with varying degrees of change. No country was immune to the revolutions and their subsequent political upheavals but a major section of the citizenry is more vulnerable to systematic changes. Both women and men in these countries needed political agency after dictators fell, but the importance is not equal between the genders. Before the ‘Arab Spring’, gender inequality was one of the most pressing issues facing the region and, though the smoke has cleared from the city streets, women still yearn for more political inclusiveness. Every religion, gender, and social class was represented during these revolutions, but the question remains how equality will be distributed once a new government gains power. This chapter aims to uncover if women in the Middle East and North African countries benefited from the ‘Arab Spring’ revolutions, or if society reverted back to traditional gender norms. It is paramount that input from both sexes be used to create stable, lasting governments. The protests erupted due to a region-wide buildup of animosity toward authoritarian regimes for a past lessening of liberties. The aim of this chapter is to highlight the progress that has been made and the plenitude of work still left to do. For the ‘Arab Spring’ to have long-term success, gender equality will need to be strengthened. If there are no significant measures that show women are making progress in the political sphere, then impactful nation-building will not follow. Strong, prosperous countries cannot be created and maintained without the entire population contributing.