Lebanon: Women's Participation in the Political System and Lebanon Women's Rights
This 7-page undergraduate essay notes that Lebanon’s recent chaotic past and its complex network of religious sects have not always served Lebanese women well. Lebanese women have made important advances in recent years, including greater participation in women’s groups, some leadership positions, entry into some profession, and access to education. Nevertheless, women still are considered unequal to men in many ways, as is evident by under-representation of women in leadership roles, by lack of greater legal protection, and by the prevalence of violence against women. What is most troubling, however, is that non-Muslim women and Muslim women in Lebanon are treated differently and face different rights and opportunities. This essay concludes that in order to help Lebanese women, and in order to examine the impact of political turmoil and religious sectarianism on women’s status, more work needs to be done on women’s roles in Lebanon. It is clear that greater access to positions of real power will help women gain a greater role in the future of Lebanon and in the future of Lebanese women. Since women already have some access to financial power - as evidenced by the presence of women in professions, in schools, and in women-created and lead women’s groups and organizations, it is possible that financial resources will provide women an entrance into greater political power in the future. This essay also includes a table of key statistics about Lebanon and a map of Lebanon.
