The relationship between democracy and women's meaningful participation in
decision-making is an organic one. On one hand, women's participation is essential as
they are part of society and any democratic government must include every group in the
democratic process and decision-making. On the other hand, the marginalization of
women leads to the marginalization of a wide group of citizens, and, therefore, its
marginalization means that whoever takes the decision does not represent but a small
group, and that is not in line with the most significant principles of democracy, which
were defined as “the mechanisms to involve the largest number of citizens in the largest
number of decisions through which the state is managed’’.
Therefore, there is no real democracy without the meaningful participation of women in
decision-making in countries and societies where women make up, at least, half of their
population.
The countries where women are engaged the most in decision-making and political
institutions are the Scandinavian countries, where the proportion of women's political
participation in Finland is approximately 45% compared to 55% for men, unlike Arab
and Islamic countries, where participation drops to very low levels
Women in the developing countries suffer from marginalization and discrimination where
it is rather difficult to establish meaningful and sustainable participation. Proceeding from
this and as women’s issues became in the heart of international attention, many advocacy
movements emerged to help promote women’s political rights.
There are major obstacles that stand in the way of women’s meaningful political
participation, including the lack of collective awareness towards women’s work and their
right to participate, the rule of customs and norms that are inconsistent with nowadays
world.
In addition there is the lack of women’s awareness of their capabilities, role and rights,
as well as the existence of unfair discriminatory laws against women within the
constitutions and laws in third world countries.
Illiteracy and lack of education are considered a major obstacle to the development of
women and the growth of their awareness, and the fluctuating political situation in
developing countries plays a major role in the delay of women and the lack of their political participation, especially in light of the rise of extremism that makes women an
inferior individuals whose role is limited to serving and satisfying desires.
Supporters of women’s right to representation and political participation disagree on how
to make qualitative changes that contribute to the greater involvement of women in the
political process.
In Syria and within the existing reality, women must take a more effective role despite all
that they offer and suffer. The existing social movement requires taking serious steps by
the newly emerging political, revolutionary and civil bodies, and the great role that
women played in making peace and change within countries. Many suffered from the
consequences of revolutions and armed conflicts.
It seems that our today’s world, one is asked whether they are feminist ,
regardless of their gender. The answer might determine whether you are
politically correct or not. Moreover, the answer might determine whether you are
‘free-spirit’ leftist or conservative rights. I believe that the debate about feminism
has been given the wrong context. In other words, feminism is an ideology that
doesn’t necessarily hold all that is good and fair. On the other hand, one can
campaign for including more women in power and protest against sexism,
without being automatically associated with one of three waves of feminism.
Unfortunately, the political debate on this matter turns very often into
name-calling. One can oppose the radicalism of feminists, and ends up being
accused of hating women. I believe that both parties should understand that
feminists should listen to men’s problems before calling them misogynists.
Indeed, the gender roles were not created by all the men on the planet, and
holding all men responsible for the oppression would not lead to deconstructing
the patriarchal system.
Overall, I am not trying to say that there is not a system that is oppressing
women based on their gender. In contrast, the same system marginalizes men
based on their social class. Therefore, I believe both should work together, not
against each other.
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