The status of women in traditional Muslim societies, particularly Saudi Arabia, has long been an awkward source of cultural and political tension between the West and the oil-rich monarchies of the Arab world. Women’s roles are gradually changing as these states modernize, but more disruptive social change could well occur within a generation, as larger cohorts of educated women succeed in challenging social norms.
Taking the Long View on the Changing Status of Women in the Middle East
By Ellen Laipson
In Middle East & North Africa
By Ellen Laipson:
The status of women in traditional Muslim societies, particularly Saudi Arabia, has long been an awkward source of cultural and political tension between the West and the oil-rich monarchies of the Arab world. Women’s roles are gradually changing as these states modernize, but more disruptive social change could well occur within a generation, as larger cohorts of educated women succeed in challenging social norms.
Read the full article in World Politics Review.
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Ellen Laipson is a Distinguished Fellow and President Emeritus at the Stimson Center.
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