Teaching about Women and Empowerment in the Arab World

How can women s studies, and feminist theory and methodologies best serve the Arab world?2 The region is now home to quite a few research centers devoted to gender studies and programs of instruction that were based on the relevance of feminist theory developed in and for the Arab world.3 In addition, many “gender specialists” are now employed by the numerous NGOs in the region. Still, all of these new areas of study or employment face complex challenges, especially if education is to lead to women’s empowerment. First of all, the goal of women’s empowerment through education is not a given. There is a great deal of disagreement about the degree of transformation necessary or even possible in Arab society. Moreover, it is not clear to many that women are an integral part of the very fabric of society and lie at the heart of its developmental needs. Furthermore, women, are not, as is commonly believed, merely another under-represented interest group. Beyond this, another debate rages over whether women can be “mainstreamed,” especially in more segregated environments. Most importantly, many forces in Arab societies oppose women’s empowerment if it means changes in women’s duties and responsibilities in the family