Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Cultural Change in North Africa: The Interaction Effect of Women’s Empowerment and Democratization

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Double-Edged Politics on Women’s Rights in the MENA Region

Part of the book series: Gender and Politics ((GAP))

Abstract

This chapter offers a new theoretical framework for understanding progressive cultural change in the MENA as an interaction effect between women’s empowerment and democratization. Increased women’s empowerment at the personal-legal, socioeconomic, and political levels, in effect, democratizes the nuclear family and macro-level society by altering patriarchal power hierarchies and fostering a culture of equality and inclusivity. Cultural change among North African states towards women’s empowerment informs and is informed by cultural change towards democratization. In addition, democratization in the MENA region will likely be a feminized social democracy, with greater attention to women’s issues, instead of the Western liberal model. Instead of the widely used combined Freedom House and Polity IV scores, the used measure should focus on a state’s redistributive capacity and the provision of social services such as education and health care, which are frequently termed women’s issues. This chapter uses the World Values Survey data to assess spatial and temporal cultural change as well as variation between the genders and among generations towards women’s empowerment and social democratization.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 79.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 99.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 129.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Ahmed, L. (1992). Women and gender in Islam: Historical roots of a modern debate. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Al-Ali, N. (2012). Gendering the Arab spring. Middle East Journal of Culture and Communication,5(1), 26–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alexander, A., & Welzel, C. (2010). Empowering women: The role of emancipative values. European Sociological Review,27(3), 364–384.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alexander, A., & Welzel, C. (2011). Islam and patriarchy: How robust is Muslim support? World Values Research, 21(12), 249–276.

    Google Scholar 

  • Almond, G., & Verba, S. (1963). The civic culture. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Annan, K. (2002). In Africa, AIDS has a woman’s face. The New York Times. December 29, 2002 (Retrieved 3 August 2019).

    Google Scholar 

  • Banfield, E. (1958). The moral basis of a backward society. New York: Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beissinger, M., Jamal, A., & Mazur, K. (2015, October 19) What the Arab uprising protestors really wanted. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2015/10/19/what-the-arab-uprising-protesters-really-wanted/?utm_term=.f303cc0f96a0. Last Accessed 2 April 2019.

  • Cuberes, D., & Teignier, M. (2016). Aggregate effects of gender gaps in the labor market: A quantitative estimate. Journal of Human Capital,10(1), 1–32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Donno, D., & Russett, B. (2004). Islam, authoritarianism, and female empowerment: What are the linkages? World Politics,56(4), 582–607.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Feather, G. (2019). Moroccan women’s movement: Navigating contested cultural norms and legal discrimination in the fight against gender-based violence. The Journal of Applied Language and Culture.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fish, M. S. (2002). Islam and authoritarianism. World Politics,55(1), 4–37.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Geertz, C. (1973). The interpretation of cultures. New York: Basic Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Held, D. (2006). Models of democracy (3rd ed.). Cambridge: Polity Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hughes, M., & Paxton, P. (2007). Familiar theories from a new perspective: The implications of a longitudinal approach to women in politics research. Politics & Gender,3(3), 370–378.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huntington, S. (1993). The clash of civilizations? Foreign Affairs,72(3), 22–49.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huntington, S. (1996). The clash of civilizations and the remaking of world order. New York: Simon & Schuster.

    Google Scholar 

  • Inglehart, R. (1977). The silent revolution. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Inglehart, R. (1988). The renaissance of political culture. American Political Science Review,82(4), 1203–1230.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Inglehart, R. (1990). Culture shift in advanced industrial society. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Inglehart, R. (1997). Modernization and postmodernization. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Inglehart, R. (1999). Postmodernization erodes respect for authority, but increases support for democracy. In P. Norris (Ed.), Critical citizens: Global support for democratic government (pp. 236–256). New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Inglehart, R., Haerpfer, C., Moreno, A., Welzel, C., Kizilova, K., Diez-Medrano, J., et al. (Eds.). (2014). World values survey: Round six-country-pooled datafile version. Madrid: JD Systems Institute. http://www.worldvaluessurvey.org/WVSDocumentationWV6.jsp.

  • Inglehart, R., & Norris, P. (2003a). Rising tide: Gender equality and cultural change around the world. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Inglehart, R., & Norris, P. (2003b). The true clash of civilizations. Foreign Policy,135, 63–70.

    Google Scholar 

  • Inglehart, R., & Norris, P. (2004). Sacred and secular: Religion and politics worldwide. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Inglehart, R., & Welzel, C. (2005). Modernization, cultural change and democracy: The human development sequence. New York: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Inglehart, R., & Welzel, C. (2010). Changing mass priorities: The link between modernization and democracy. Perspectives on Politics,8(2), 551–567.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jackman, R., & Miller, R. (1996). A renaissance of political culture? American Journal of Political Science,40(3), 632–659.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Joseph, S. (1994). Problematizing gender and relational rights: Experiences from Lebanon. Social Politics: International Studies in Gender, State & Society,1(3), 271–285.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jourde, C. (2005). “The president is coming to visit!” Dramas and the hijack of democratization in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania. Comparative Politics,37(4), 421–440.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kandiyoti, D. (1988). Bargaining with patriarchy. Gender & Society,2(3), 274–290.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koch, M., & Fulton, S. (2011). In the defense of women: Gender, office holding, and national security policy in established democracies. The Journal of Politics,73(1), 1–16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Layachi, A. (2006). Algerian: Crisis, transition and social policy outcomes. In M. Karshenas & V. Moghadam (Eds.), Social policy and development in The Middle East and North Africa (pp. 78–108). New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Linz, J. (2000). Totalitarian and authoritarian regimes. Boulder: Lynne Rienner Publishers.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Mernissi, F. (1975). Beyond the veil: Male-female dynamics in a modern Muslim society. Cambridge: Schenkman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mernissi, F. (1987). Beyond the veil: Male-female dynamics in modern Muslim society (Vol. 423). Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Merry, S. E. (2006). Human rights and transnational culture: Regulating gender violence through global law. Osgoode Hall Law Journal,44(1), 53–75.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mitter, S. (1986). Common fate, common bond: Women in global economy. London: Pluto Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moghadam, V. M. (2010). States and social rights: Women’s economic citizenship in the Maghreb. Middle East Law and Governance,2, 185–220.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moghadam, V. M. (2012). Globalization and social movements: Islamism, feminism, and the global justice movement. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moghadam, V. M. (2013). Modernizing women: Gender and social change in the Middle East. Boulder: Lynne Rienner Publishers.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Moghadam, V. M. (2018). After the Arab Spring: Toward women’s economic citizenship. In N. Butenschon & R. Meijer (Eds.), The Middle East in transition: The centrality of citizenship. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moghadam, V. M., & Senftova, L. (2005). Measuring women’s empowerment: Participation and rights in civil, political, social, economic, and cultural domains. International Social Science Journal,57(184), 389–412.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mossallem, M. (2015). The IMF in the Arab world: Lessons Unlearnt. https://eurodad.org/files/pdf/56b075f5395dd.pdf. Retrieved 22 March 2019.

  • O’Donnell, G., Schmitter, P., & Whitehead, L. (Eds.). (1986). Transitions from authoritarian rule: Prospects for democracy. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paxton, P., Kunovich, S., & Hughes, M. M. (2007). Gender in politics. Annual Review of Sociology,33, 263–284.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pew Research Center. (2012, July 12). Mosts Muslims want democracy, personal freedoms, and Islam in political life. www.pewglobal.org/2012/…/most-muslims-want-democracy-personal-freedom.

  • Putnam, R. (1993). Making democracy work: Civic traditions in modern Italy. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rose, R., & Shin, D. C. (2001). Democratization backwards: The problem of third-wave democracies. British Journal of Political Science,31(2), 331–354.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ross, M. (2008). Oil, Islam, and women. American Political Science Review,102(1), 107–123.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tripp, A. (1994, January 7). Gender, civil society and political participation in Africa (Commissioned Paper). A Study of USAID’s Capacity for Rapid Response in Support of African Civil Society Development.

    Google Scholar 

  • Viterna, J., & Fallon, K. (2008). Democratization, women’s movements, and gender-equitable states: A framework for comparison. American Sociological Review,73(4), 668–689.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Volden, C., Wiseman, A., & Wittmer, D. (2018). Women’s issues and their fates in the U.S. Congress. Political Science Research and Methods, 6(4), 679–696.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walby, S. (1990). Theorizing patriarchy. Oxford: Basil Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walby, S. (2003). Gender transformations. London and New York: Routledge.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Walby, S. (2004). The European Union and gender equality: Emergent varieties of gender regime. Social Politics: International Studies in Gender, State & Society,11(1), 4–29.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Waylen, G. (1994). Women and democratization: Conceptualizing gender relations in transition politics. World Politics,46(3), 327–354.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Waylen, G. (1996). Gender in third world politics. Boulder: Lynne Rienner Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Waylen, G. (2007). Engendering transitions: Women’s mobilization, institutions and gender outcomes. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Wedeen, L. (2002). Conceptualizing culture: Possibilities for political science. American Political Science Review,96(4), 713–728.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wejnert, B. (2014). Diffusion of democracy: The past and future of global democracy. New York: Cambridge University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Wejnert, B., & Rodriguez, E. (2015). Building a better world for future generations through implementation of global gender equality. In Enabling gender equality: Future generations of the global world (pp. 231–243). Bingley, UK: Emerald Publishing Group.

    Google Scholar 

  • World Bank. (2018). Income tax rate by country. World Development Indicators, The World Bank Group.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zakaria, F. (1997). The rise of illiberal democracy. Foreign Affairs,76(6), 22–43.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zvan-Elliott, K. (2015). Modernizing patriarchy: The politics of women’s rights in Morocco. Austin: University of Texas Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Independent Researcher, Overland Park, KS, USA

    Ginger Feather

Authors
  1. Ginger Feather
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Languages, Arts and Human Sciences, Ibn Zohr University, Ait Melloul, Morocco

    Hanane Darhour

  2. Department of Political Science, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden

    Drude Dahlerup

  3. ISE, Roskilde University, Roskilde University, Denmark

    Drude Dahlerup

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2020 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Feather, G. (2020). Cultural Change in North Africa: The Interaction Effect of Women’s Empowerment and Democratization. In: Darhour, H., Dahlerup, D. (eds) Double-Edged Politics on Women’s Rights in the MENA Region. Gender and Politics. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-27735-2_4

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation