The human rights of women throughout the Middle East and North Africa are systematically denied by each of the countries in the region, despite the diversity of their political systems. Many governments routinely suppress civil society by restricting freedom of the press, expression, and assembly. These restrictions adversely affect both men and women; however, women are subject to a host of additional gender-specific human rights violations. For example, family, penal, and citizenship laws throughout the region relegate women to a subordinate status compared to their male counterparts. This legal discrimination undermines women’s full personhood and equal participation in society and puts women at an increased risk for violence.
Family matters in countries as diverse as Iran, Egypt, Israel, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia are governed by religion-based personal status codes. Many of these laws treat women essentially as legal minors under the eternal guardianship of their male family members. Family decision-making is thought to be the exclusive domain of men, who enjoy by default the legal status of “head of household.” These notions are supported by family courts in the region that often reinforce the primacy of male decision-making power.
Here are ten of the most extreme examples of gender inequality you can find currently practiced, often state-sanctioned, in the world today.
In Saudi Arabia, women aren’t allowed to drive, or even ride bikes, and men aren’t allowed to drive women they’re not closely related to. The kingdom is currently dealing with the dilemma of how to get 367,000 girls to school on buses that can only be driven by men. The logical question at this point is this: If no men are allowed to come in contact with schoolgirls, and women aren’t allowed to drive, who will be driving the school buses? The Ministry of Education is currently recruiting “Al-Ameen” or trustworthy men for this initiative. It may be hard for some to take this term seriously considering the way Saudi Arabia’s religious police infamously broke the trust of 15 girls’ parents in 2002 when a girls’ school was on fire. The police forbade them from leaving the building, and in some cases beat them to keep them from leaving, because the girls’ heads weren’t properly veiled. The girls all died in the fire. One has to wonder how the Ministry of Education plans to handle school-bus breakdowns near similarly inclined men.
In 2001 a militant group called Lashkar-e-Jabar demanded that Muslim women in Kashmir wear burqas, head to toe garments that cover their clothes, or risk being attacked. Men threw acid in the faces of two women for not covering up in public. The group also demanded that Hindu and Sikh women dress so as to identify themselves: they said that Hindu women should wear a bindi (the traditional colored dot) on their foreheads, and Sikh women should cover their heads with saffron-colored cloth.
In many countries, while husbands can divorce their spouses easily (often instantaneously through oral repudiation), wives’ access to divorce is often extremely limited, and they frequently confront near insurmountable legal and financial obstacles. In Lebanon, battered women cannot file for divorce on the basis of abuse without the testimony of an eyewitness. A medical certificate from a doctor documenting physical abuse is simply not good enough. Although women in Egypt can now legally initiate a divorce without cause, they must agree not only to renounce all rights to the couple’s finances, but must also repay their dowries. Essentially, they have to buy their freedom. In Israel, a man must grant his wife a get, a Jewish divorce writ that can only be given by a man to his wife – never the other way around.
In many areas of Afghanistan, girls are often taken out of school when they hit puberty. Cultural factors related to the ‘correctness’ of sending girls to school, reluctance to send girls and boys to the same school after third grade, as well as the perceived and real security threats related to girls walking to school and attending classes all contribute to slowing down the enrollment of girls in schools. Likewise, the enormous lack of female teachers, who are fundamental in a country where girls cannot be taught by a man after a certain age, is having a negative impact on girls’ education. While progress has been made since the fall of the Taliban, women are still struggling to see their rights fulfilled. Literacy rates among young Afghan women are disturbingly low: only 18 per cent of women between 15 and 24 can read. While the total number of children enrolled in primary schools is increasing tremendously, the percentage of female students is not.
Husbands in Egypt and Bahrain can file an official complaint at the airport to forbid their wives from leaving the country for any reason. In Syria, a husband can prevent his wife from leaving the country. In Iraq, Libya, Jordan, Morocco, Oman and Yemen, married women must have their husband’s written permission to travel abroad, and they may be prevented from doing so for any reason. In Saudi Arabia, women must obtain written permission from their closest male relative to leave the country or travel on public transportation between different parts of the kingdom.
Women’s unequal legal rights increase their vulnerability to violence. In many countries in the region, no specific laws or provisions exist to penalize domestic violence, even though domestic violence is a widespread problem. Domestic violence is generally considered to be a private matter outside the state’s jurisdiction. Battered women are told to go home if they attempt to file a complaint with the police. Few shelters exist to protect women who fear for their lives. Spousal rape has not been criminalized; husbands have an absolute right to their wives’ bodies at all times. Penal codes in several countries in the region also contain provisions that authorize the police and judges to drop charges against a rapist if he agrees to marry his victim.
In Bahrain, where family law is not codified, judges have complete power to deny women custody of their children for the most arbitrary reasons. Bahraini women who have been courageous enough to expose and challenge these violations in 2003 were sued for slander by eleven family court judges.
Most countries in the region-with the exception of Iran, Tunisia, Israel, and to a limited extent Egypt-have permitted only fathers to pass citizenship on to their children. Women married to non-nationals are denied this fundamental right.
Many countries criminalize adult, consensual sex outside of marriage. In Morocco, women are much more likely to be charged with having violated penal code prohibitions on sexual relations outside of marriage than men. Unmarried pregnant women are particularly at risk of prosecution. The Moroccan penal code also considers the rape of a virgin as an aggravating circumstance of assault. The message is clear: the degree of punishment of the perpetrator is determined by the sexual experience of the victim.
China’s one child policy has heightened the disdain for female infants; abortion, neglect, abandonment, and infanticide have been known to occur to female infants. The result of such family planning has been the disparate ratio of 114 males for every 100 females among babies from birth through children four years of age. Normally, 105 males are naturally born for every 100 females.
Similarly, the number of girls born and surviving in India is significantly less compared with the number of boys, due to the disproportionate numbers of female fetuses being aborted and baby girls deliberately neglected and left to die. The normal ratio of births should be 950 girls for every 1000 boys, however in some regions the number is as low as 300.
Contributor: rushfan
I haven’t read every comment, but I’ve seen several people blame religion for these atrocities. I have a feeling the discrimination is so ingrained in the culture that if there was no religion, people would base these legislations on something else.
Theduke 96 quotes the Koran in the same way that many Jews and Christians do the same story: God created Adam from whom he created Eve.
There are two creation stories in Genesis. God > Adam > Eve is in the second version. The first version has God creating man/men/woman/women co-equally together.
The two versions, taken literally, are mutually irreconcilable, which is a fact that most biblical fundamentalists ignore most of the time.
Don’t blame religion for everything. I have no doubt that the same sorts of things happened in cave-dwelling societies and in head-hunting tribes of Brazil and Borneo.
Great list rushfan.
I do not understand why there’s so much hate for this list. The title is “10 Extreme Examples of Gender Inequality”, not “10 Extreme Examples of Why Islam Sucks”. Grow up, there’s no mention of Islam in the list, only from a few commentors.
Though it is true that the list should at least be renamed, if not have 2 examples where men are treated inequally. A random one off the top of my head is being forced to serve in the military when a certain age is reached. But I do see that it is difficult to compare/find injustices towards males that are on the same level as the ones mentioned in the list. It is not like any person can share with us the experience of both circumcision and having err parts sewn together.
I’m from Papua New Guinea, most of our traditional culture is pretty much male domminated. womens rights are slowly being recognized. It’s not always religion, it’s how mentally *****ed a society is.
thats sad =[
Crimanon: “What I’m saying is that I expected to see a little of both sides, not how much men suck.”
This is not about giving equal blame to both *****es. This is not about you blaming a few women so you don’t feel like as much of a jerk. This is about putting a spotlight on extreme examples of gender inequality — exactly what it says in the title.
Go find a modern, extreme example of men being oppressed — as in, a society where all men have their rights stripped away and their lives in danger. There’s no affirmative action for victims, I’m afraid.
The inequality in male-2-female ratio gives rise to many other social injustices like Polyandry, Import(smuggling) of women from other cultures to name a few and increased crime rate. What will an average man do without some one to love ? *****, prostitutes, fights, then it is tailspin.
Any culture that lives in strife and struggle, ends up mistreating their women. My friend’s happy marriage fell flat because of his “war rages” after he returned from duty.
Love and Peace everyone, God bless,
And I quote,
“60. Kelsi: I don’t think female genital mutilation really qualifies as inequality since male genital mutilation is practiced much more widely than the female version. Granted, the female version is more horrific and painful, but still…”
Give me a *****ing break man. Acid in women’s faces, needless pain, religious extremism? Think of your mother for God’s sake. Think of basic human decency. And don’t get into the culture clash, regardless of culture or religion there is the concept of human decency, isn’t there? If not, then the hell to you and your semantics.
I might just go outside and kiss my great Aussie backyard and be forever thankful for being born in this great country. If we have any inequality in this country, we should all be grateful we have the right and responsibility to do something about it.
which country gives women the most rights? the united states. which country is suffering through a depression? the united states. coincidence?…
I find it hilarious that the first related list is 10 Images of Irony, that is great. . .
Crimanon.
I don’t usually feel the need to respond to these lists, but your comments have called to me.
Propaganda: While this list is biased towards a certain geographical area, you do have to admit that they are extreme(as stated in the title) examples of inequality and are simply pointing out where the extremists are.
Fear: I think this inspires less fear and more anger for most people. This inspires anger. This is a list that shows the world what the hell is going on out there. Informing people of the things that happen, and while I do think that this list should be carried on in looking at other inequalities you have to admit that it is a good thing to show the world the horrific things that go on.
American Custody Rights: Yes they are a problem. Obviously. People are biased towards the mother because they assume that with her maternal instinct and love she will protect and care for the child to a greater degree. Sometimes it’s true. Sometimes it’s gravely not.
Domestic Abuse Of Men: Again. Another problem. But the truth is that the amount of abuse towards men is much much smaller that abuse towards women and children. And I do know a girl who’s boyfriend attacked her because she broke up with him. She hit him in the head with a lamp to get away. He claimed that she abused him.
Mormon Churches: Religious extremism. It’s everywhere. Christianity, Hindu, Islam.
I can’t comment on the Shriners. It is new to me.
No female presidents or VPs: Women have been running for office in the Unites States before they could legally vote. The main problem is that women have not run in the two main parties. All women Presidential and VP canidates have been running in independent parties. A woman hasn’t been voted into the position yet, just as many men haven’t as well. Also, women in America are still dealing with *****ism today. They usually are not physically destroyed by it though.
“What I’m saying is that I expected to see a little of both sides, not how much men suck.”
The problem with that statement is while there are parts about how much men suck in it, there is also the fact that Ayaan Hirsi Ali, who’s photo appears in the Victims of Violence section had her lady bits sewn up at the command of her grandmother. It is not only men who push this, but extremist women as well.
Male circumcision: Began as a rite into adulthood, a way to increase pleasure, and as an aid to basic cleanliness in places where bathing all the time wasn’t really an option.
Castrato: Was outlawed. The last castrato died in the beginning of the 20th century. It was a creepy thing that some crazy catholics or what have you came up with. The point is, people realized that chopping little boys balls off isn’t the nicest thing to do. Just like sewing a little girl up so she’ll bleed more when she first has ***** isn’t particularly the nicest thing to do.
Also, Crimanon, one thing that I find most disturbing about all that you have talked about on this board is your complete lack of horror at these going ons.
There is only your talk about how you don’t think the list was written correctly and that is it skewed.
Where is your compassion for your fellow human being?
I doubt its a coincidence that nearly all of these happen exclusively in the middle east.
YES, Victoria!
“Where is your compassion for your fellow human being?”
Crimanon, please respond to this question directly. Don’t take side roads, answer this question for all of us who are trying to understand, “acid in women’s faces”, etc. I would love to hear your rationalization.
Goddamn, me (#130)! What brilliant logic you’ve got going there! Are you an edumacated man?
me (130) What does one have to do with the other? That’s like saying more ice cream is sold in July and more people drown in July. Therefore ice cream causes people to drown. It makes no sense.
Apologies if this has already been mentioned, I didn’t have time to read all of the comments. In some South American countries, a women under 40 can only be employed if she has had a hysterectomy, presumably so the employer will not have to worry about lost time for maternity leave. This is an example of gross inequality which occurs outside a Muslim country.
I also noticed some comments about the inequality of, for instance, women being promoted ahead of women. There is such a thing as ‘positive discrimination’ which allows such things to happen. It could mean promoting women ahead of men or indigenous instead of non-indigenous etc, it is perfectly legal (at least in Australia) and an acknowledged way of trying to remove the glass ceiling.
PJ (135) No he’s just retarted. (And if no one remembers this joke, Im the one who looks retarted!!)
“Where is your compassion for your fellow human being?”, eh, just call me Jaded. A human rights violation is an everyday thing in my world.
When I can actually place my hands on it, then it’s my problem. Screaming at a corrupt government to stop just isn’t as effective as shooting up the place after your sister is openly violated in a holding cell by an officer.
“There is only your talk about how you don’t think the list was written correctly and that is it skewed”; Actually it’s very well written, just not properly titled.
I’ll continue this after I read what has just been posted……
Vera Lynn: I remember. I think it’s LU folklore by now.
A little while ago, some regular asked “In what discussion was the word ‘retarted’ first used?” I don’t think anyone actually answered that. Does anyone know?
Vera Lynn! LOL! Retarted! I can’t begin to tell you how many retarts there have been of late. Oh my.
And where have you been, girl? I’ve been slugging away at trolz, getting my nick stolen and having things said such that bigski’s jaw dropped and hit the floor! (You can imagine how bad it had to be)
I’ve been , I am, within an inch of bidding LV adieu. It takes so much out of me to put up with the retarts and trolz.
Tonight isn’t the time for decision making. The pain is too great. I make errors in judgment when my pain is this bad.
Tomorrow. After sleep and meds. Oh Lord, it’s just been a bad, bad week.
“Also, Crimanon, one thing that I find most disturbing about all that you have talked about on this board is your complete lack of horror at these going ons.” It’s so good to know that my feeling on these matters have been Broadcast across the internet and imbeded into the minds of my readers. Awesome Site Update Jamie!!!!!
astraya (140)
segue (141)Thanks you guys! I don’t remember, but that was the funniest. It might’ve been me who asked. I don’t know. We are old-timers here and share a lot of history. It’s nice. I don’t mean “old” I mean we’ve been here at LV a long time.
I know this isnt extreme but:
A man is expected to pay for everything in the US. This website has also condoned this in the top 10 tips of a date. This is ridiculous, considering how it demeans a woman in saying she isnt equal to a man.
Furthermore inequality goes both ways. In the US its skewed a lot of the time.
Snapple Fact #335: Saudi Arabia has the lowest vehicle accident rate in the world.
A lot of people have said this but some don’t get it..these arent the laws of Islam they are the laws of people in a culture where Islam happens to be practiced. However, these beliefs waaaaay pre-dated Islam. Women in the middle east wore veils and were forced into locked marriages when Alexander conquered the area. But those definitely arent rules just from the religion. I live near the place where the first mosque in america was , so I see muslims every day..they look like normal people here because that is their CULTURE not their RELIGION. Those saying christianity would never do this..maybe not where you live, but the culture could be different somewhere else and those beliefs are often sewn into religious practices
I used to care about this “injustice.” But it’s only the outsiders who can see the issue with these customs. In many cultures domestic abuse is seen as a sign of love. Doesn’t make sense to me. But who am I to interfere in such an overt manner?
Here’s the most applicable statistics to this topic; the Global Gender Gap Report:
In order of equality:
Norway
Finland
Sweden
Iceland
N. Zealand
Philippines
Denmark
Ireland
Netherlands
Latvia
Germany
Sri Lanka
United Kingdom
Switzerland
France
Lesotho
Spain
Mozambique
Trinidad and Tobago
Moldova
Australia
Where’s the US on this list?
The Problem is Islam it seems
It’s not Islam, the list is just Islam intensive.
Which was my point to begin with.
132. Victoria
Enjoyed your response to Crimanon. It was well thought out and addressed almost all of his points. I think I feel as Crimanon does, that everything that rushfan has expressed on this list is accurate and relevant. I do not want to create a list titled 10 extreme examples of male discrimination. It would in no way compare with the list above.
The problem is the word inequality with me. Rushfan has given a list of egregious examples of inequality. Inequality exists among *****es in all cultures, religions, countries, continents, etc..
I was surprised at some of the comments from the Middle East women who were offended by the apparent attack upon them. It is not their fault that they live in a region or society where this is prevalent, yet they were privileged enough that they are not affected. I do not believe that the women affected by the abuses described above would be respond in this forum. If there are women in this position, I encourage them to respond. Unfortunately, the ones who are affected are probably unable to respond.
146. ben
I agree that the religion itself is not propagating these atrocities. Leaders in power in these countries have enacted laws that cause these discriminations to occur.
143. Vera Lynn: The first mention of retart I recall was in a post by a troll. The troll was trying to call someone a retard and (among a bunch of other misspellings and errors of syntax and tense) called the other poster a retart.
I don’t remember the list, or any details, but I do remember we got onto a “retart” kick for several weeks thereafter, almost to the point of the ridiculous. (Well past the point of the ridiculous probably, but it was so much fun nobody wanted to say “enough!”)
Ah, those were the days.
China’s one child policy kills baby girl??? what century are you living in???
153. segue
(Tongue in cheek)
You are a retart
(Takes tongue out of cheek)
Mr.K, the policy leads many chinese people to commit infanticide on young female babies so that they can try to have a boy, since in chinese culture boys are far more cherished than girls
I think the
(Tongue in cheek)
paste comment
(Takes tongue out of cheek)
Posting should be common among all members. Not sure who did it first, but it is a classic,.
103 nikki: Im a lot more sure than you are, Islam IS the fastset growing religion & there is no doubt about that. You cant say most of our tv channels lie & the internet even more ?? christianity may be a close second but without doubt, Islam is the fastest growing religion.
Good list Rushfan although I do think mention of the gender suppression in Africa or South America might have done wonders; it would have prevented it from being perceived as Muslim bashing. Gender inequality is prevalent in pretty much all patriarchal societies. Including fundamentalist christian sects in both the USA and Canada. The 13 year old with the 65 year old husband is just as horrifying in southern Alberta/Colorado as it is in Saudi Arabia.
You also neglected to mention pre-war Iraq in your list of middle eastern countries that afford citizenship and some semblance of rights to women. Women were full citizens with the right to vote, own their own property, hold full seats in government. They were teachers, doctors and lawyers. Not now of course, that’s been ruined. While of course the Sheiks in Saudi Arabia have had their rule reinforced. Wonder why that is?
http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/IraqCoverage/story?id=666790
always loved this site. first time i’ve posted tho.
this list was such a humbling read. i’m 26 and my subordinates at work are in their late 40s. it took me a whole year to get a salary equal to theirs (bse apparently they’re guys and have families to support) and i’m still working at getting the appropriate salary for my job grade bse apparently my age and level of experience wasn’t an issue when it came to giving me this job but is when it comes to getting paid for it.
my point is, when i think abt the fact that women cant drive or go to school and have to dress a certain way in so many countries in the 21st century!! it blows my mind.
Thanks for a really thought provoking list Rushfan
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/cms.php?story_id=3835
now any doubt about which religion is the fastest growing ?? christianity is sixth, while some guy with great intellect was sayin it was first & ironically tellin me to do research. All i can say is that … he was stupid
hey you idiot!!!
why do you insult islam
looks like you had empty garbage topic so you would insult the other
its no strange about the rule, even other religion have more bizzare rule
respect the other
http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9704/14/egypt.islam/
http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/3016/fastest.htm
103 nikki: Need any thing more to prove islam IS the fastest growing religion? If i was you, i would regret saying crap.
I would just like to say all the Islam hate is totally uncalled for. It has become a fashion in America to badmouth muslims and islam. True, there are many countries that are islamic that show backward views and unjust laws, but they are countries that practice islam, not the speakers of the teachings of islam. The understanding and practice of a religion is based on individual perspective. This perspective can change many things.
I am from Turkey, an islamic country that has mnay of the views of the west. For example women’s suffrage in Turkey came earlier than many western european countries, evne before Britain. But there are still people in Turkey such as the current president who are trying to take away the rights that were given to women decades ago, but that’s a different story.
What I am trying to show is that it is individuals that cause these horrors having religion as the excuse, not the religion itself.
I think whoever wrote this has some sort of bone to pick with Israel. They act like ultra-Orthodox Jewish law is Israeli law. FYI: it’s not.
im just going to throw my opinion out on the islam and stuff.
i really think that even though islam might be a good thing to many people the way christianity is good to many people, muslims tend to be judged by the way the countries with the most islamic people act the same way americans are judged by the way their government acts. either way it is easy to judge people who are differant than other people but from the way i see things (and this is just my stupid point of view) i do not like islam from the thigs i read and watch about it. thislist just gives me more reasons
All I hear is WAAH.
Woah, and here i was just being happy to be first to comment here. I come back to this list finding a intense debate of near apocalyptic and World War 3 proportions, hahaha.
Imagine, 165 comments on this list in less than 24 hours. Incredible.
yet another list made with the feminist agenda in mind.
feminism was conceived by white european women in response to the “unequal” and “unfair” treatment they were getting from their white european male “masters.” By their narcissism and ignorance of foreign “inferior” cultures they sought to “educate” the peoples in colonized territories by “empowering” the native women.
that is why there are so many idiot liberals out there screaming for “women empowerment,” i.e. female>male.
men&women are NOT equal and were never meant to be, but that does not necessarily imply that one is better than the other. example: men may be better at motor skills and logic, but this does not automatically mean that they are better. women complement them by excelling in the other areas where they are lacking, like verbal and interpersonal skills.
This list would have been better had examples from other parts of the world been used- they can certainly be found.
Recently, the head of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was sent to prison. While the cases against him were winding through court, a local politican for either Arizona or Utah (don’t remember which) stated that a corner of his state was “worse than under the Taliban.” Perhaps a slight exaggeration there.
A man is given free reign over his family. A woman can’t leave him, and if another man tries to intervene on her behalf, he is penalized for “interfering in another man’s marriage.” Many of the local police are part of the religion, so are little help to women seeking to leave. The FLDS communities are fairly isolated, and many people who want to leave or who are sent out have little education and no contacts outside the community.
Another recent example was the shooting death of 14 female engineering students in Montreal in 1989. The mentally deranged killer was opposed to women pursuing higher education.
While perhaps not “extreme”, the lopsided approach to appearance also rankles me (I do what I can with my looks, but I’m no runway model). If a woman is not drop-dead gorgeous, it’s almost a character flaw- it’s not uncommon for a man to state he will not date a certain woman “because she’s fugly.” Does losing the genetic lottery make you unworthy of love? Whatever flak Islam gets, one thing that’s ensured with women covering themselves is that it’s their personality that detrmines friends and suitors- not their beauty or lack thereof.
Yeah, right, Ali Hayat.
I have a great news:MICHAEL JACKSON has become a Muslim — and changed his name to MIKAEEL.
Islam is really the fastest growing religion.
Thanks, Ali Hayat
To the people who keep attacking Islam: Please, Stop commenting on this list. Your offensive comments are too much.
To people who keep defending Islam: Please, dont try to preach Islam here. These people will never understand, your efforts are useless. They will keep criticizing Islam no matter what you say.
Altogether, dont drag religion into all this stuff. Please.
Hope I am not “provoked” to comment on this list again.
Peace.
157. shadow:…paste comment…
****
LOL!
I didn’t even make the paste comment on this list, yet you were kind enough to remember and comment on it.
Oh, we’ve had some good times over the last year+! shadow, you are going to love it here, I can already tell you are a good person – funny and smart. Exactly the sort who survive LV.
@rushfan
yes am Jordanian, and i Live in Jordan right now
we dont have such a thing !! the article is obviously wrong
Face it, Saudi Arabia is nothing more than Afghanistan with lots of oil. That’s the only reason Dubya holds their hands.
#173 — That may be the first Jehovah’s Witness -> Islam conversion in history.
Wow, imagine what this list would be like if the author wasn’t a Rush fan. You know, like all the other Rush sheeple, thinking that a woman’s place is in the kitchen and all.
What about male inequalities?
In most countries female circumcision is ‘female genital mutilation’, illegal, and highly frowned upon. At the same time, male cirumcision is legal, and sometimes reccomended by healthcare professionals.
Although they are far outstripped by female injustices, male injustices do exist.
#178 Do you mean “rushisamoron” ? Or did you REALLY mean to put rushisamaroon? A maroon what?