Paradise Beneath Her Feet and Women the State, and Political Liberalization
Paradise beneath Her Feet and Women the State, and Political Liberalization
By: Zenebech Mesfin
Paradise Beneath Her Feet by Isobel Coleman and Women, the State, and Political Liberalization by Laurie Brand are two very interesting books on women in the Middle East and North Africa that for the most part focus in on the roles and experiences women have in the economy, education and politics. Paradise Beneath Her Feet is truly a great find. Coleman touches base on many key issues that women in Islam experience. She brings some of these issues to a personal level, with antidotes of women she has met, some who have been the victims of crime in the name of Islam and others who have become respected in their communities for being economically independent. She emphasizes the need to educate women in the Middle East and place them in positions of leadership over their communities. She includes colorful stories of ‘how women are transforming the Middle East.’ Coleman thoroughly investigates the impacts of empowering women through education, economic freedom and political voice. Women, the State, and Political Liberalization by Laurie A. Brand is not so much an account of the experiences of women in the Middle East and North Africa but a summary of political liberalization movements. The book goes in depth in explaining the political environments in Morocco, Tunisia and Jordan, the three countries discussed in Women, the State, and Political Liberalization. Brand shares her view that the political liberalization of women only poses danger for those involved, sometimes even death. She says that when studying political transitions that focus on women, they become more about the economic transitions. Like Coleman, Brand has found that the economic liberalization of women brings about the most positive impact for women.
In addressing the leadership roles that women have taken, Coleman opens with the story of some very brave Mogadishu women. During the civil war in
By: Zenebech Mesfin
Paradise Beneath Her Feet by Isobel Coleman and Women, the State, and Political Liberalization by Laurie Brand are two very interesting books on women in the Middle East and North Africa that for the most part focus in on the roles and experiences women have in the economy, education and politics. Paradise Beneath Her Feet is truly a great find. Coleman touches base on many key issues that women in Islam experience. She brings some of these issues to a personal level, with antidotes of women she has met, some who have been the victims of crime in the name of Islam and others who have become respected in their communities for being economically independent. She emphasizes the need to educate women in the Middle East and place them in positions of leadership over their communities. She includes colorful stories of ‘how women are transforming the Middle East.’ Coleman thoroughly investigates the impacts of empowering women through education, economic freedom and political voice. Women, the State, and Political Liberalization by Laurie A. Brand is not so much an account of the experiences of women in the Middle East and North Africa but a summary of political liberalization movements. The book goes in depth in explaining the political environments in Morocco, Tunisia and Jordan, the three countries discussed in Women, the State, and Political Liberalization. Brand shares her view that the political liberalization of women only poses danger for those involved, sometimes even death. She says that when studying political transitions that focus on women, they become more about the economic transitions. Like Coleman, Brand has found that the economic liberalization of women brings about the most positive impact for women.
In addressing the leadership roles that women have taken, Coleman opens with the story of some very brave Mogadishu women. During the civil war in
Bibliography: "The Nobel Peace Prize 2006". Nobelprize.org. 8 Nov 2011 http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2006/ Brand, Laurie A. Women, the State, and Political Liberalization. New York: Columbia University Press, 1998. Print. Coleman, Isobel. Paradise Beneath Her Feet. New York: Random House, 2010. Print.