Women's rights in Iraq • FRANCE 24 English

Summary

The 51 Percenter Show highlights the ongoing struggles of women around the world. In Iraq, despite initial hopes post-Saddam Hussein, patriarchal societal norms and violence continue to impede women's rights, with activists pushing for political representation and legislative change. In Israel, controversial judicial reforms, driven by a right-wing government and ultra-Orthodox influence, threaten to reverse women's rights gains. Meanwhile, in India, social pressures and caregiving expectations have led to a significant decline in female workforce participation, despite the nation's economic growth. The episode underscores the global challenge of advancing gender equality in deeply traditional and politically turbulent contexts.

Takeaways

• 😀 The fall of Saddam Hussein in Iraq 20 years ago was expected to improve women's rights, but there has been minimal progress due to persistent patriarchal and tribal influences.
• 😀 Female representation in Iraqi politics was initially a struggle, but the 2005 Constitution established a 25% female quota for parliament, allowing women like Nor El Julihawi to enter politics.
• 😀 Despite women's political participation, the reality remains that many positions are filled with weak female candidates with little experience, as political parties often use them to fulfill legal quotas.
• 😀 The main human rights issue facing women in Iraq is violence, with activists pushing for stronger legislation to protect women.
• 😀 In Israel, Prime Minister Netanyahu's judicial reforms are seen as a threat to democracy and women's rights, particularly due to the growing influence of ultra-orthodox religious groups.
• 😀 Ultra-orthodox parties in Israel now hold significant power, raising concerns about the expansion of religious courts that currently exclude women from religious positions, like judges in rabbinical courts.
• 😀 Proposed legislative changes in Israel could legalize gender segregation in public spaces and institutions, reversing years of progress for women's rights.
• 😀 The weakening of Israel's Supreme Court is another concern, as it could allow discriminatory legislation to pass without checks and balances, undermining women's rights and other democratic safeguards.
• 😀 Despite Israel's progressive image, women have historically had to fight for their rights, including suffrage, and there is still no full gender equality in the country.
• 😀 In India, women's participation in the workforce is declining, with social pressures and caregiving responsibilities driving many women out of employment, despite the country’s growing economy.
• 😀 India’s female workforce contributes less than 20% to the GDP, and experts estimate that increasing female participation by just 10% could add over $550 billion to the economy.

Q & A

What was the initial hope for women's rights in Iraq following the fall of Saddam Hussein?

The fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003 was seen as a significant opportunity to improve women's rights in Iraq, with expectations that a new government would provide greater freedoms and opportunities for women, including political participation and social equality.

Why has there been little progress on gender equality in Iraq since 2003?

Despite initial hopes, Iraq's society remains deeply patriarchal, and tribal codes continue to influence gender roles. Women still face significant barriers, including underrepresentation in politics, violence, and a lack of legal protections.

What is the significance of the 25% gender quota in Iraq's parliament?

The 25% gender quota was a partial victory for Iraqi women, ensuring that a quarter of the seats in parliament and provincial councils were reserved for women. However, many women in politics were placed there to fill the quota rather than for their political qualifications, limiting their influence.

How have female activists in Iraq worked to address women's rights issues?

Female activists, like Hanadua, have fought for stronger representation and better legal protections for women. They campaigned for a 40% gender quota, which was ultimately reduced to 25%, and have continued to push for reforms to protect women from violence and promote gender equality.

What is the main concern regarding Israel's judicial reforms, especially for women?

The main concern is that Israel's judicial reforms, particularly the weakening of the Supreme Court, could undermine the legal protections for women's rights. The rise of religious courts, which currently have no female judges, could also lead to greater gender discrimination in legal matters.

How would expanding the power of religious courts in Israel affect women?

Expanding the power of religious courts, such as rabbinical courts, poses a risk to women's rights because these courts have no female judges and often rule in ways that favor gender segregation and discrimination, limiting women's freedom and legal equality.

What role has the Supreme Court played in protecting women's rights in Israel?

The Israeli Supreme Court has been instrumental in advancing women's rights, providing legal protections and ensuring that discriminatory laws are challenged. However, if the court is weakened by judicial reforms, it may be less able to protect women's rights in the future.

What is the demographic challenge related to the ultra-Orthodox community in Israel?

The ultra-Orthodox community in Israel has a much higher birth rate than other segments of the population, leading to a growing influence in political and social spheres. This demographic shift raises concerns that the ultra-Orthodox may push for policies that limit women's rights and autonomy.

Why are protests against judicial reforms in Israel seen as a source of optimism?

Protests against the judicial reforms are seen as optimistic because they demonstrate widespread opposition to the weakening of democratic institutions. Interestingly, even some religious Israelis have joined the protests, recognizing that the proposed changes could harm their own rights as well.

What factors contribute to the declining female workforce participation in India?

Factors contributing to the decline in female workforce participation in India include social pressures related to caregiving responsibilities, lack of support for working mothers, and economic challenges that force women to prioritize family over career. These pressures discourage women from entering or staying in the workforce.

What could be the economic impact of increasing female workforce participation in India?

Increasing female workforce participation by just 10% could add an estimated $552 billion to India's GDP. This underscores the significant economic benefits that could result from better gender inclusivity and empowerment in the workplace.

How does India’s historical economic reform impact women's employment?

While India’s economic reforms in the 1990s created new job opportunities, particularly in urban areas, these opportunities did not fully benefit women. Social expectations and economic barriers have limited women's ability to capitalize on the expanded job market, leading to a decline in female workforce participation.

Why do some women in India leave the workforce despite having job opportunities?

Many women in India leave the workforce due to social stigma, pressure to fulfill caregiving roles, and economic challenges such as the high cost of living in cities like Mumbai. These pressures lead women to prioritize family responsibilities over their careers, even when jobs are available.

What is the main issue with the lack of female representation in Israel’s current government?

The lack of female representation in Israel's current government is a concern because it highlights the dominance of male-dominated ultra-Orthodox parties, which may lead to policies that undermine gender equality. Only 9 out of 64 members of the coalition government are women, signaling a regression in women’s political power.

What role do ultra-Orthodox political parties play in the Israeli government's approach to women's rights?

Ultra-Orthodox political parties in Israel have significant influence in the current government, and their policies are seen as regressive for women's rights. These parties support gender segregation and oppose many reforms that would promote gender equality, thus contributing to the erosion of women's rights.