Columbia International Affairs Online: Policy Briefs

CIAO DATE: 07/2013

Democracy, Like Revolution, is Unattainable Without Women

Sahar F. Aziz

June 2013

United States Institute of Peace

Abstract

The biggest challenge facing women in Arab Spring countries is transforming their leadership and attendant influence during the revolutions into high-level governance positions, both elected and appointed, after the revolutions. To achieve this goal, reform efforts should include: 1) amending election laws to increase the proportion of women represented at the local, state, and national levels; 2) increasing high-level employment opportunities; and 3) using public education to highlight the role of women and counter perceptions of traditional gender roles.