Abstract :
Any reader of my first published research on the political participation of Lebanese women can easily detect my vehement opposition to the principle of gender quota and its implementation in Lebanon. As a newcomer to research on women’s political empowerment, I lacked in-depth knowledge of the intricacies of the obstacles that faced, and continue to face, Lebanese women who have political aspirations. Having no personal political ambitions, and facing no obstacles of a discriminatory nature to self achievement and advancement at the professional level, it was hard for me to grasp the logic behind the demands for a women’s quota. Simply put, to me, such a proposal was inherently undemocratic, an insult to women, and an underestimation of their ability to make it to power positions based on their competence
