Arab Spring and Arab Women Challenges and opportunities Routledge International Handbooks Series

This volume examines the role of Arab women in the Arab Spring and their contribution to the ongoing process of change sweeping the region. The book begins with an examination of the process of democratization and its impediments in the Arab World since the Second World War. It then looks at the conditions that led to the upsurge of the so-called Arab Spring. Finally, it underscores women?s role as participants, organizers, leaders, but also as victims.

The main thesis of the book is that while Arab women were an integral part of the revolutionary efforts within the Arab Spring paradigm, they did not benefit from their sacrifices. Although they continue to be part of the process of change, their gains, rights and scope for participation are still limited. If the expansion of women?s participation and the scope of their rights do not seem to be a priority for revolutionary forces, women have made remarkable achievements, especially in some Arab Spring countries such as Yemen and Libya.

The book includes case studies of some Arab Spring countries and other countries influenced by developments: Egypt, Bahrain, Kuwait, Libya, Yemen, Algeria, Jordan, Morocco and Saudi Arabia. It calls on revolutionary and reformist forces to give special attention to issues related to Arab women, as they are an indispensable pillar in the process of reform, development, peace and stability in the Middle East.

Introduction: Democratization, Arab Spring and Arab Women Muhamad S. Olimat Arab Women and Political Development Arwa Oweis,Muntaha Gharaibeh, Hmoud Olimat and Hadeel Al Maaitah Gender Empowerment in Algeria Sangeeta Sinha Bahraini Women and the Arab Spring: meeting the challenges of empowerment and emancipation Magdalena Karolak An Egyptian Spring for Women? Nadine Sika The Role of Women in the Egyptian Revolution of 25 January Manal al-Natour Arab Spring and Women in Kuwait Muhamad S. Olimat Prospects for Women in New Libya Wafa Bugaighis The Struggle for Women's Rights in Morocco: from Historical Feminism to 20 February Activism Zeineb Touati Saudi Arab women's rights and the Arab Spring uprisings: contextualizing grassroots activism and state reforms Magdalena Karolak The status of women in Syria - before and during the Arab Spring Lorraine Charles and Kate Denman Social networks and women's rights activism in post-revolutionary Tunisia Zeineb Touati and Sami Zlitni The Arab Spring: The beginning or the end of women's dreams in Yemen Lody Odeh Conclusion Muhamad S. Olimat