Woman Political Representation and Participation In Arab Spring: Motivations, Aspirations and Concerns

For a long time the Arab society was considered as masculine and prone to perpetual discrimination against women. The massive participation of women in the Arab Spring led to a new situation and, consequently, to more objective view. Suffering from the existing political social and economic situation: dictatorship, marginalization, poverty and unemployment, Arab Women discover the remedy in the revolt. Their participation in this revolt is active, massive and with clear objectives: freedom, development, equal citizenship and greater role in the society as well in politics. They defied the western stereotypes and images of the unqualified oppressed Muslim woman. Through social constructivist-feminist epistemology and content analysis of various documents, this study attempts to focus on the motivations of Arab women which led to the massive participation. Here, this paper will explore the nature of their aspirations and concerns throughout the Arab Spring. Secondly, this paper also will examine the advantages and advancement that the Arab women are achieving despite their difficult situations as women in the countries that are strongly upheld hegemonic masculinity in all aspects of life. Therefore, this will raise the question - what is next for Arab women after this massive participation? Political parties, syndicates, NGOs and even traditional politicians begin to speak loudly on the woman s situation and the need to change. Nevertheless, the main concern of this uprising is the destiny of these women could be oriented back in the hands of the patriarchs. Therefore, how Arab woman could avoid such deviation? This is the real challenge.