Day: March 8, 2013

Women International Day: a word for Tunisian women

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I would like to congratulate all women in Tunisia. I would like, also dedicate this quotes for them:    

“Well-behaved women seldom make history.”
― Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, Well-Behaved Women Seldom Make History

 

Women in Tunisia though were lucky to have laws to guarantee their rights; the mentality of people didn’t change.  First of all, women were barely present in the political scene. Indeed, women presented in the Tunisian parliament were few. In fact, the presence of women there was just for decoration or else to add flavor to the meal. Furthermore, women were not equal to men even in the economic level. In this respect, women get the half of the wage of men in Tunisia. They are also, suffering from unemployment more than men. This sufferance wasn’t due to their lack of qualification but to the rooted mentality. Moreover, women in Tunisia are victims of the Tunisian social standards. In this respect, women in Tunisia sometimes, they drop school earlier than boys. Other times, they are obliged to quit their jobs and nurse their kids. Overall, the number of women who achieve certain position is few. Only the elite would be able to prove their existence in such a patriarchal society. For this reason, I refer to what Virginia Woolf states: ‘’ For most of history, Anonymous was a woman.” In fact, it is the case of Tunisian women. Even though, they participated in the revolution and they tried to raise their voice; there is always oppression that controls the atmosphere of the scene.

Nowadays, it is quite difficult to be a woman especially in an Arab society. According to Joseph Conrad[1]: “Being a woman is a terribly difficult task, since it consists principally in dealing with men (9).’’ Indeed, in Tunisia, it is not an easy task to get what you want and express yourself. Many pressures are put on women tradition, society or culture.  

However, as a Tunisian woman, I tried to de-chain these boundaries, express myself without fear. In fact, I do believe that a small contribution is a step toward freedom. Being chained never means that you are enslaved. For that slavery isn’t about real acts but about psychology. Women are enslaved inside their own sphere of thoughts that deprive them from moving toward their freedom. I am not taking this step further alone, we; all Tunisian women; are trying to fight against this patriarchal and unfair treatment. Our way toward freedom is quite long. We need just to be united, believe in salvation and never bow.

For these reasons, I do again congratulate women in Tunisia and all over the world. I would like to transmit this message to every Tunisian woman; I would just ask her for patience.

Eventually, be united, be strong, and never bow! We can do it!

Written by Asma Ghali,