Women's Role in Middle East Developments: Case Study on Tunisia and Egypt

Women played a significant role in the 2011 developments in the Middle East, making their voice heard almost anywhere. Arab women’s militancy surprised many observers particularly those in the West who for long viewed them as oppressed victims of religious patriarchy. The main question of this paper revolves around the role played by women in recent Middle East developments, examining historical conditions of women in Egypt and Tunisia as pioneers of the movements. Drawing upon statistical data, the authors conclude that in spite of progress made by women in the two countries concerning education and legal status, their insufficient participation in sociopolitical spheres as well as undesirable place in economic activities made women attend street protests.