Arab Awakening and Western Media: Time for a New Revolutionary Discourse (Ramzy Baroud)

[Tace]

Ramzy Baroud -- World News Trust

July 27, 2011 -- When President Ali Abdullah Saleh tried desperately to quell Yemen’s popular uprising, he appealed to tribalism, customs and traditions. All his efforts evidently failed, and the revolution continued unabated.

When Saleh denounced women for joining men in demonstrations in Sana’a -- playing on cultural sensitivities and a very selective interpretation of religion -- the response was even more poignant. Thousands of women took to the streets, denouncing Saleh’s regime and calling for its ouster.

The immediate popular response was notable for its level of organization and decisiveness. It was also interesting because most of the women protesting did so while wearing the Niqab. Fully covered Yemeni women have continued to inspire -- if not fuel -- the revolution that started in February. Without their active participation and resilience in the face of violent attempts to quash the uprising, one wonders if Yemen could have held on for so long.

The role of Yemeni women in the revolution should significantly challenge any ideas of Arab women that are based simply on statistical or superficial criteria. In 2010, the Freedom House report on women in the Middle East had already determined that Yemen made no significant progress on women’s rights in the preceding five years. Most international reports examining the standing of women in Yemen -- whether in education, health or any other field -- have consistently been bleak. Yet, in revolutionary Yemen, the discounted women were more than equal to their male peers when it came to articulating their demands for freedom, democracy and equality.

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http://worldnewstrust.com/arab-awakening-and-western-media-time-for-a-new-revolutionary-discourse-ramzy-baroud.html

[txlibdem]

1. K&R

Thank you for posting the story "from the ground" of the fight for Democracy in Yemen. Best wishes to the protesters... EQUALITY FOR ALL.

[ellenrr]

2. thanks! this guy always has something enlightening to say. n/t