Women’s Rights in the Middle East (Color Coded Map)
Using the information below, color coordinate a map of each country’s level of rights using:
RED for low rights; YELLOW for medium rights; and GREEN for high rights
Remember: even if the law gives women rights, social norms still affect women’s struggle for equality
Women in Iran are not allowed to speak to other men out in public, cannot watch men’s sporting events, and can’t travel without their husband’s permission. They can be beaten by their husbands if they have not followed Islamic law.
Women in Israel may run for political office, hold important jobs, and own property with rights equal to men. There is a gender-equality law in the country that ensures women can’t be discriminated against.
Women in Jordan can take their children to the movies and can enjoy shopping during the day while their husband is at work. Jordanian women are also allowed to run for office, but since the country remains pretty conservative, there are not very many women in prominent government positions.
In Kuwait, women are slowly gaining more rights, including the right to work as judges. But the law still says that women need their father’s permission to marry someone.
In Qatar, the law protects women from violence by their husbands, but the law also says that women must obey their husbands and look after the household.
For women in Saudi Arabia, obtaining a passport, marrying, traveling, or accessing higher education cannot be done without the permission of a male relative. Women can’t drive either, but are allowed to run for office and vote.
Women in Egypt can go to school and work outside of the home, and even own a business. But the law does not specifically protect them from discrimination and the government does not always give serious attention to violence against women.
Morocco’s new constitution protects gender equality and updates to their Family Code further improved women’s rights.
Law technically protects women’s rights in Pakistan and women can hold offices and have jobs. But the jobs are in the lowest class of employment and the government has not addressed violence against women and attackers usually go unpunished.
Since the removal of the Taliban in Afghanistan, women’s rights have slowly improved. But they are still encouraged to not leave the house without a man and violence against women is very high and often goes unnoticed.
In Sudan, women can be physically punished for dressing indecently and violence against women goes unpunished.
In Iraq, women can vote and hold jobs, but extremists often commit acts of violence against women who they feel are too westernized.
Women in Libya can have jobs, own property, and serve in the government. There are still a few limitations on women’s rights.