Women’s Changing Roles in Middle East Explored at Huntington Library Seminar

By Pat and Samir Twair


	Women's Studies panelists (l-r) Dr. Wendy Smith, moderator; Dr. Anne Bennett, Ferial Masry, Dr. Nayereh Tohidi and Dr. Ece Algon. (Staff photo S. Twair).

“WOMEN CHANGING the Face of the Middle East” was the theme of a March 14 panel discussion as part of the 25th anniversary of Women’s Studies at the Huntington Library in San Marino. Dr. Wendy Smith of California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB), was the moderator.

CSUSB anthropology professor Anne Bennett, who conducted her doctoral research among Druze of Syria, discussed the status of women in contemporary Syria. She stressed that Syria’s economy is struggling because of the depressed world economy and the stress of accommodating an estimated 1.5 million Iraqis who have crossed its borders since the onset of the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003.

“With this sudden 8 percent increase in population,” Dr. Bennett explained, “Syria’s schools, power grid, water resources, health services and housing are overburdened. One result is a rising unemployment rate estimate, officially at 9 percent and unofficially at 20 percent.”

Syrian women must cope in a competitive job market, she noted, while the system turns out a rising number of women university graduates. In 1990, women were 58 percent of university students, now they account for 88 percent.

Over the same time period, the percentage of literate females aged 15 to 24 rose from 86 percent to 92 percent.

“Syria continues to maintain a high rate of women’s participation in politics among Arab countries,” Bennett said, “with women holding 30 out of 250 parliamentary seats—a 2.4 percent increase from 1994.”

According to Syria’s Central Bureau of Statistics, in 2007 women were the primary breadwinners in 11 percent of households. However, only 14 percent of women aged 15 to 65 held jobs, and accounted for 16 percent of the workforce.

Dr. Nayereh Tohidi, chair of Gender and Women’s Studies at CSU Northridge, delivered a paper entitled “The Women’s Movement and Democracy in Iran: A Comparative Perspective.”

She noted that Muslim women in the Middle East traditionally owned land and that it was only in the late 19th century, as Westerners arrived to exploit resources, that traditionalists insisted women wear veils and be secluded. Dr. Tohidi said Reza Shah was influenced by Ataturk, who ordered Turkish women to no longer wear the veil, but he still wanted them to remain under the patriarchal system while appearing modern.

“Women’s Self-representation and the Media in Turkey” was the topic of a talk by Dr. Ece Algan, assistant professor of Communication Studies at CSUSB. Ferial Masry, who unsuccessfully ran for California’s 37th Assembly District, discussed her experiences as a Saudi-born woman running for a U.S. political office. For more information, visit <http://huntingtonwomensstudies.blogspot.com>.

Israeli Checkpoint in L.A.


Motorists arriving at an AIPAC fundraiser at the Universal Hilton Hotel were stopped at an “Israeli checkpoint” (Staff photo S. Twair).

While Gazans tried to cope with the deaths of 1,300 people and injuries to more than 6,000 in the aftermath of Israel’s three-week assault of their unprotected homeland, more than 1,000 supporters of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) wined and dined March 8 at AIPAC’s annual Los Angeles fund-raiser at the Universal Hilton.

As their cars approached the Hilton parking lot, it was difficult for the Zionist party-goers not to become aware of Israel’s treatment of Palestinians. A huge “STOP CHECKPOINT” banner greeted motorists and pedestrians, who witnessed Israeli “soldiers” arresting and humiliating Palestinians.

Demonstrators handed colorful flyers to AIPAC attendees as well as to pedestrians heading for Universal City. The flyers were headlined: “AIPAC Supports Israeli War Crimes” and listed Israel’s violations of Palestinian human rights.

Another large banner stated “No Palestinians—Jews Only.” More than 50 demonstrators carried signs reading “AIPAC Supports Israeli Apartheid.” Code Pink members held a large hand-painted poster stating “HAFRADA means APARTHEID in Hebrew. Open the Borders NOW.”

A camera crew from Fox News photographed the faux checkpoints but was ordered off the premises by Hilton employees.

UCLA Vigil Protests Israeli Dance Company


	A Silent Vigil at Israel’s Batsheva Dance Company’s Feb. 28 performance at UCLA reminds audience members that 400 Gazan children will never dance again (Staff photo S. Twair).

As hundreds of dance aficionados approached UCLA’s Royce Hall for a Feb. 28 performance by Israel’s Batsheva Dance Company, they were taken aback at the sight of large posters reading: “400 Children of Gaza Will Not Dance. Israel Killed Them.”

More than 60 black-clad protesters held candles in a silent vigil for Gaza’s dead and wounded. Others held a clothesline from which dangled baby shoes splattered with red paint.

Although the demonstration did not influence any people to walk away from the performance, those entering Royce Hall appeared somber and read a trifold leaflet distributed by “ushers.”

The message of the leaflet was that the Batsheva Ballet is an ambassador of Israel’s apartheid system and noted that not one Palestinian is in the ballet company.

Reza Aslan Discusses Iran


Reza Aslan (Staff photo S. Twair).

In conjunction with its photography exhibition, “Exploring the Other: Contemporary Iran,” the Los Angeles Craft and Folk Art Museum sponsored a Feb. 15 program entitled “God and Globalization: Conversations with Reza Aslan.”

The author of No God But God: Origins, Evolution and the Future of Islam told an audience of more than 100 that globalization has made wars between states an impossibility. “Wars of the 21st century will be wars of identity,” Aslan stated.

In the past, identity was based on one’s religion and the national state where one lived, he noted, but the Internet allows one to transcend borders, and micro communities are formed by interests.

Stressing that Iran is marking the 30th anniversary of its Islamic Revolution, Aslan said the days of anticipating a counter-revolution are over. “The regime learned the way to keep the lid on rebellion was to let the youth do what it wants to at home,” commented the Daily Beast columnist. “Let these kids party all the time and the mullahs will do what they want to do.”

In order to achieve a balanced budget, oil must be priced at $90 a barrel, Aslan noted, and with today’s rate of $35 a barrel, Iran’s economy is weak. While unemployment is high, he believes reforms lie ahead—although change will not be rapid.

“Whatever you say about Iran, you understand its views are seen through a prism of paranoia. U.S. troops are in countries on its borders and 50 to 100 nuclear warheads are pointed at it from Israel,” he pointed out.

“The Israeli elections were based on which politician could be the toughest on Iran,” he stated. “And please be serious about Iran posing a threat to Israel. The only threat to Israel is demographic. The clock is ticking on a two-state solution. I’d venture to say that within two years, the wall and expanding settlements will preclude the possibility of a Palestinian state.”

Pat and Samir Twair are free-lance journalists based in Los Angeles.