Blogging in the Middle East

Abstract

Lack of press freedom in the Middle East prevents information from reaching people, much alone mass media analysis and interpretation. Arab Spring shows that information rights are essential for political involvement and socioeconomic progress. Female activists and nationalists in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Bahrain, UAE, and Saudi Arabia have used nontraditional media to fight social inequity and prejudice. Women know that government-owned news has tightly controlled information and overlooked women’s problems, including education and authority. Virtual media gave women a voice to express their problems. Female empowerment messages are sent via Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Arab women face social, educational, and professional marginalization.

Key Words

Freedom of press, public agenda, technology, equality, participation

Introduction

Arguing that women lack national development skills is ridiculous. That women need empowerment to be productive in their land is also true. Unfortunately, Arab women are generally excluded from national progress. They have fewer top government, political, and commercial sector jobs than males. They cannot make decisions about their concerns due to this circumstance. BBC (2005) claims that Arab women MPs quadrupled in 2005. Though up from 3.5 percent in 2000, the International Parliamentary Union (IPU) reports just 6.5 percent of the region’s MPs were women. Morocco, Tunisia, and Jordan donated the most. An IPU poll found that female MPs worldwide had increased from 13.4% to 15.7%. Tunisia had 43 women out of 189 in 2005; Morocco had 38 out of 595, as did Egypt. Bird (2005) writes on culture, focusing on gender. Bird argues that the Arab World talks on women’s concerns are monochrome, ignoring women’s diverse lifestyles and realities. The author regrets media stereotyping of Arab women.

Consequently, women are weak, passive, and constantly hidden. Stereotypes are also applied to all Arab nations, which is false. In Tunisia, veils are banned. However, political and professional equality for women is still lacking. Bird (2005) believes that US policy, economic exploitation, and sanctions are connected to Arab women’s plight. Many Arab women in Israel suffer, even though the West considers Israel the most democratic country in the Middle East. According to BBC (2009), the Association for Civil Rights says women are discriminated against notwithstanding the legislation. The group found that Arab Israelis have fewer government positions, lower education, and worse criminal justice treatment than Jews. Many Middle Eastern countries mandate all children to obtain at least five years of education and provide free education through high school. Still, the fast rise of school-age populations is a difficulty. The number of Iranians aged 5–19 increased by 20% between 1986 and 1996, straining schools. The Egyptian government reduced adult literacy from 60% in 1980 to 50% in 1990. Several Middle Eastern countries have seen a similar trend. Jordan and Tunisia, which have reduced illiteracy, have succeeded in providing women with skill development and professional prospects.

Methodology

The present study examined Arab media trends from official control to virtual access and practice. How social media has and will handle women’s rights concerns was of interest. Library books, websites, newspapers, and magazines were secondary sources. Secondary sources guided and analyzed relevant material on the topic. Work, living in Kuwait and the UAE, and excursions to Oman, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia gave the author direct access to original materials. This study addressed five themes. First, women in certain Middle Eastern parliaments were examined. The second theme was foreign pressure on Middle Eastern governments to implement equal opportunity rules. New media technologies and women’s rights advocacy were the third subject. The fourth subject investigated the social media empowerment of women. In media convergence, the sixth subject stressed social media exploitation. A theoretical communication framework was considered. Before social media, the hypodermic needle was used in literary research and interpretation. A similar treatment was given to the two-step flow. Agenda planning was also addressed, given the women’s attempts to publicize their issues. In the male-dominated realm of possibilities, uses and gratifications theory helped close the gender gap.

Access Virtual Media

Women also seek citizenship. They want info. They desire social media management. They seek to produce and distribute messages. CNN has shown Middle Eastern women utilizing the Internet to connect with the globe. Hana Hajjar sketches illustrations of Saudi women’s feelings when their husbands take second or third wives. The man’s deed breaks the woman’s heart, she paints. Islam allows polygamy. The holy Muslim scripture reads, “You can take multiple wives, but if you want to be fair, marry one,” which men easily overlook. Foreigners are concerned about Hajjar’s well-being, even if few Saudis do. Social media activity after Iran’s 2009 elections showed support for Iranian reformists. Social media inspired campaigners and disseminated the message worldwide. Bloggers arrested in Egypt and Saudi Arabia for demanding social justice and political reform have also garnered notice. It also demonstrates how bloggers who refuse to be silenced are informing the World about the most conservative and police-controlled countries in the area. Fear of arrest or persecution doesn’t deter them. In 2010, the Lebanese Association of Women Researchers (Bahithat) held a conference at the American University of Beirut on “A Cornerstone of Arab Feminism” with attendees from Iran and Iraq. The conference promoted feminist Twitter and Facebook use. Instead of waiting for government approval, women were advised to speak out on social media. Even Queen Rania of Jordan recognizes the significance of social media. Her 2008 YouTube appearance was recorded with three cameras while she sat behind her huge office desk. By March 2008, Rania had released seven videos online, according to Jones (2008). Rania asked people to share Arab women’s misconceptions and promised to correct them.

Tracking Success

Hilleary’s (2010) thoughts are based on a conversation with Egyptian-born journalist Mona Eltahawy, who writes about Middle Eastern politics for foreign media. Hilleary said social media have given marginalized groups, including women, a voice, which is hopeful for the area. Social media has changed the game by driving women’s problems to the forefront. Mona Eltahawy’s publications have helped convict police personnel for torture and unlawful conduct. Saudi hunger strike word spread quickly on social media. Sexual harassment awareness has increased on social media in Egypt. Social media exposed Moroccan police corruption. Social media empower women beyond stress reduction and venting. Saudi Internet rules are complicated. Anything that violates a fundamental principle or law infringes on Islam and Sharia, violates public decency, is against the state or its system, damages the Saudi Arabian armed forces without competent authorities’ approval, publishes official state laws, agreements, or statements before they are publicly available, and degrades heads of state. Religious authorities pressured the government to outlaw blogging by 2005. Bloggers have migrated to evade religious police screening and abuse. Women bloggers may easily access and share content via Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Women now hold political power.

Pakistan elected Benazir Bhutto as prime minister in 1988-1990 and 1993-1996. Even though she faced politics, she broke the gender gap in national leadership and was accused of corruption. So, the prime minister went into self-imposed exile in London. From a women’s empowerment perspective, her hijab is most notable. Taylor (1994) states that hijab-wearing women desire to define themselves and preserve their history. Princess Lolwah Al-Faisal defends Saudi women’s rights. She heads a major Kingdom women’s college and supports women’s rights. She supports women’s freedom to drive, get an education, and choose. Al-Faisal uses the veil to let oppressed women in his nation comprehend its power and realize it is not a source of oppression, according to Buzbee (2007). Thus, the princess stands behind her veil, empowered and in charge. As the wife of 2009 presidential contender Mir Hossein Rahnavard, Iranian Zahra Rahnavard garnered political attention. Public appearances and declarations were novel for her. Freeman (2009) says she added the “Zahra factor” to the campaign. Zahra rapidly developed political savvy despite never running for government. Today, she supports women’s political participation. Zahra promotes women’s empowerment and calls for legislation repeal or revisions. The adjustments Zahra proposed have affected other Middle Eastern countries. Due to their increased activity, Iraqi women had high hopes and aspirations in 2003. Political freedom brought organizing freedom.

Kuwaiti women have advanced greatly. A court overturned a Ministry of Justice ban on women entering entry-level employment in April 2012. Human Rights Watch filed the discrimination case for six women. The ministry advertised in local media in July 2011 for entry-level legal researchers, a prerequisite to becoming a prosecutor. The advertising said that only male applications would be accepted. The court found the ministry breached the Kuwaiti constitution and Kuwaiti-ratified international treaties. Article 29 of the Kuwaiti constitution states, “All people are equal in human dignity and in public rights and duties before the law, without distinction to race, origin, language, or religion.” In Beyond the Cube (2012), Moroccan women use social media to communicate. Over 30 million individuals (half the population) utilize the Internet, with 33.5% being women. Gender equality legislation has recently been passed to improve women’s standing. Morocco’s commercial law was revised in 1995 to allow women to create businesses or work without their husbands’ consent. Women can also control their property and money under existing laws.

Over the past four decades, print and electronic media have dehumanized and commercialized women, according to Ayish (2011). To combat these depictions, women and support groups have frequently urged media leaders and journalists to take greater responsibility for women’s concerns. Some appeals have failed. Women have realized they must act to take charge. According to Ayish, the 2000s brought new media technologies with many information and communication capacities. The Arab Women Media Strategy was established in Dubai in 2008 by UAE General Women’s Union head Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak. Arab women’s approach comprises media initiatives, training, production help, and social media message creation and distribution guidance. The media plan aims to counteract unfavorable cultural attitudes and unbalanced media practices that have limited women’s education and professional chances. The October 5-8, 2010, Arab Women in Media conference occurred in Amman, Jordan. Unfortunately, just three Arab women occupied television business leadership roles. In Palestine, 43% of media college graduates are women. Men make up about 80% of the media workforce. Women make up only 8% of Saudi media workers. Naomi (2002) mourns the existing quo and anticipates a bright future of equal opportunity. She advocates using social media and cyberspace to empower women, recognizing the necessity of equitable media access. Gittler (1999) agrees that the Internet may perpetuate inequality, stifling variety or encouraging exclusivity.

Social media access and use for women’s empowerment are agreed upon. Media strategists, practitioners, and information packaging aim to end cultural inequality and create justice and fairness in business ventures and opportunities. Beyond the Cube (2011) proposes a present-focused approach for women’s groups. The cube highlights these social media and entrepreneurship basics:

• Recognize that email remains ubiquitous among employees.

Collaboration, communication. Social content posting, notification, and activity digests must be linked to email, SMS, and Outlook.

• Acknowledge collaboration goes beyond physical boundaries.

Organizations because we use multiple tools and networks

• Collaboration is uncertain. Use-related content and collaboration must flow across mobile, tablet, desktop, and laptop.
• Equal opportunity is necessary for ubiquitous collaboration. For example, one using multiple tools and multiple networks can add one more tool to the “mix” to make life easier,
• The intranet should be associated with the social platform. If a certain Website is the place to get news, the social platform should seamlessly be an integral part of the experience and
• Focus on providing a “natural” collaborative experience; do not create numerous social tools. Rather, please focus on the basics so they can be mastered. If the trend is accurate, users will move rapidly from online to interact more pervasively using social media.

Roudi-Fahimi and Moghadam (2003) present a rationale for the role of education in promoting women’s empowerment and achieving gender equality. (a) The upward trajectory of female education is correlated with a decline in fertility rates, population growth, infant and child mortality rates, and an improvement in family health outcomes. (b) The augmentation of girls’ enrollment in secondary schools is linked to an increase in women’s engagement in the labor force and their contribution to household and national income. (c) The enhanced earning capacity of women has a positive impact on child nutrition. (d) Offspring of educated mothers exhibit a higher likelihood of school enrollment and achieve higher levels of educational attainment. (e) Educated women demonstrate higher levels of political activism and possess a greater understanding of their legal rights and how to exercise them.

Moreover, a reciprocal relationship exists between education and women’s reproductive choices and empowerment. Most women residing in the region know about contemporary contraceptive methods. Nevertheless, women with higher levels of education typically possess a greater understanding of a broader array of contraceptive techniques and their respective sources. In Egypt, it was observed that a higher proportion of married women, namely 69 percent, falling between the age range of 15 to 49 and possessing a secondary school education, reported their utilization of family planning messages disseminated through newspapers and magazines. In contrast, a comparatively lower percentage of 32 was recorded among those women who had finished just basic school. Women with higher education levels are more inclined to engage in conversations on family planning matters with their spouses. The capacity for women to exercise control over the time of their childbirth plays a crucial role in promoting women’s empowerment in their roles as people, mothers, and members of society.

Conclusion

Social media has boosted women’s empowerment despite documented degradation, sanctioned ill-treatment, and prejudice. Women’s empowerment is recognized worldwide. The International Women of Courage Awards were held in Washington, DC, in 2012 by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and First Lady Michelle Obama, according to Pomed Wire. One winner was Samar Badawi, the first Saudi woman to fight the government over her spouse’s choice. In 2011, the Nobel Peace Prize Committee honored three women for their non-violent fight for women’s safety, full participation, and peace-building. Yemeni activist Tawakkoi Karman won. The answer to women’s difficulties can only be realized in a free democratic society in which human energy is unleashed, the energy of both women and men, Karman said in her acceptance address.

By November 2011, the number of Arab women utilizing social media increased significantly. Tomlin (2012) claims 36 million Facebook and Twitter users now. Tomlin said women in the region believe social media improves their economic, social, and political engagement. This allows women to express themselves to create societal change, says Tomlin. “Women are so embedded in social media in their lives that they use it seamlessly in their campaigns,” adds Tomlin. Despite these accomplishments, Arab women have faced practically insurmountable impediments in their drive for country development. Some women are afraid to seek change for fear of retaliation. Other ladies have shared their ideas with friends and relatives. Some ladies desire to act. The latter have determined change cannot be given. Demand it. They’ve formed daring women’s rights groups.

References

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Tweet cross-posted from Intel’s Corporate Social Responsibility blog.

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