LE3 .A278 2008

2008

Brickner, Rachel

Acadia University

Bachelor of Arts

Honours

Political Science

Politics

Women’s political participation in the Islamic Middle East is considerably lower than any in other region of the world. One of the main challenges facing women’s entry into the political realm is the interpretation of religious texts which has established a degree of institutional sexism. Such interpretation has had a significant impact on the lives of women within both the public and private spheres. In order to increase their levels of political participation, women are seeking alternative means of gaining entry into the realm of politics. Specifically, women in the Islamic Middle East are engaging in the realm of civil society. Given the rise of civil society organizations as a whole throughout the region, this thesis argues that women are creating windows of opportunity in order to increase their levels of political participation. In addition to using civil society as a springboard into the political sphere, women’s engagement in religious forms of civil society has allowed women to reconnect with Islam and to challenge the state interpretation of religious traditions.

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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:1055