Gender Inequalities in the Middle East
Woman of the Muslim religion in Saudi Arabia and other Middle East countries have to wear berqas. A berqa is a garment that covers your clothes and hair. If you do not wear this you will be at high risk of being attacked. Men would throw acid in your face if it was not clothed. This picture above is of two women wearing berqas in 108 degrees. When it comes to swimming, woman most definitely cannot wear a bikini, tankini, or even a one- piece bathing suit. Men have to have a shirt on, but can wear swim trunks. Women must wear the berqkini, or a regular berqa shown below.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia, a Middle East country, is well known to have gender inequalities. They are one of the worst countries for women. They have very few privileges. Women cannot drive, travel alone, and were just allowed to ride bikes. Just two days ago, women were also allowed into a soccer stadium. In 2015, woman will finally be able to vote there. According to The Daily Beast, one in every six women are abused verbally, physically, or emotionally every day. They are abused 90 percent of the time by their fathers or husbands.
Employment
Many women in these Arab countries cannot read. Most also don't get a good education. They are barely allowed to go to school. This leads to unemployment of women. Arab countries only have 33% of their women employed, the lowest in the world. Even if a woman learned how to read and got a job, she still wouldn't get paid as much as a man working the same position. This pay gap can be from 54% to 90%. It is ridiculous because women are just as good as men are. The picture above is of some of the few women in Arab countries that have jobs.
Marriage
Gender inequalities become even worst when it comes to marriage. In most middle eastern countries, marriages are forced or negotiated by the parents. Because of the Syrian war, girls as young as 15 are sold and forced to marry and then are left alone and abandoned after the girls are abused. They can be abused verbally and physically, but mostly sexually. This also happened in the Iraq war, as thousands of girls went to Syria to escape the war, only to be sold off and abused.
In Afghanistan, girls under the legal age of 16 are also getting married off. For example, Humaira Taiba was just one year old when her grandfather made this engagement with a now 45 year old man. Humaira Taiba is 17 years old now and is trying to get out of this marriage through a petition. If she can't, she will commit suicide. Many set engagements for their children or grandchildren in order to make money or end an argument. You are allowed to choose not get married if you are engaged by a family member, but many still marry in fears of kidnappings, and more violence.
In Afghanistan, girls under the legal age of 16 are also getting married off. For example, Humaira Taiba was just one year old when her grandfather made this engagement with a now 45 year old man. Humaira Taiba is 17 years old now and is trying to get out of this marriage through a petition. If she can't, she will commit suicide. Many set engagements for their children or grandchildren in order to make money or end an argument. You are allowed to choose not get married if you are engaged by a family member, but many still marry in fears of kidnappings, and more violence.
Sources
- http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9821946/Syrian-girls-sold-into-forced-marriages.html
- http://listverse.com/2008/11/20/10-extreme-examples-of-gender-inequality/
- http://www.irinnews.org/indepthmain.aspx?indepthid=28&reportid=69984
- http://www.thedailybeast.com/