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And Once Again In Kuwait …

… the men have unfurled their peacock feathers (or their baboon asses) in a heady display of chauvinism.

Lawmakers Block Women From Voting in Kuwait

My initial incendiary reaction has given way to accepting that it is existing power which stays the hand of the conservative Kuwaiti man from granting voting rights to a group of women already powerful in their own right. Almost 80% of Kuwaiti women are literate, a surprising great number of them are well-educated and many serve their country in every way but through the vote.

Regardless of the wire-puller incentive for such a blockade, I cannot help but bring up the old boy machinations and adherence to conservative traditionalism that holds Kuwait back from well-informed policymaking. How many more times will half the native population be politically silenced? What will it take to get Kuwaiti women the vote? A revolution or the prime minister coming through on his promise of women’s suffrage? I’ll believe either when I see it.

Never mind that I would have been unable to attend university or enjoy female voting rights in Kuwait – I am glad I left there and am now an enfranchised member of a large society.

4 comments… add one
  • Tilo May 11, 2005, 11:41 AM

    Mitus,

    Hmm.. they don’t even want ‘lady’ doctors for their women? That is surprising.

  • a May 12, 2005, 12:32 PM

    They just know that with the current voting base, they can keep all the power for themselves. Nevermind CUSTOM, which says that women aren’t real human beings. They milk it for all it’s worth; not because they hate women, but in pure self-interest.

    Interesting that there are double the women than men in the Kuwait University. Probably because all the boys are going to inherit Daddy’s oil biz anyway and don’t *have* to go to college….

  • Administrator May 12, 2005, 11:42 AM

    Hmm.. they don’t even want ‘lady’ doctors for their women? That is surprising.

    A considerable number of Kuwaiti doctors are women, and women are treated by women.
    However, a lot of guys prefer to be treated by men, even if the women are specialists in a particular ailment/area.

  • tilo July 16, 2005, 4:28 PM

    Mites – saw this book by Mughni in the library yesterday, thought of you.

    http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0863563589/002-8748532-3438413?v=glance

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