Violence Against Women in Middle East Countries Essay Example

Introduction

The prolonged war in the Middle East is primarily characterized by gender-based violence where women are the most affected gender in society (Garcia, 2011). It is imperative to note that, the gender-based violence mostly in the Middle East countries purposely affect the vulnerable individuals in the society including women, children as well as the disabled people in the society. Significantly, this paper intends to focus on the perennial war in the Middle East and how it affected specifically the women in the isolated war toned countries. It is imperative to note that, the gender-based violence which significantly affects women in the entire Middle East is initiated in different forms such as the domestic violence, female genital mutilation horror killings, and violence during the time of war (Garcia, 2011).

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It is worth acknowledging the fact that, the prevalence of the background, as well as a wide range of diversity, forms the basis upon which the discrimination against women in the Middle East countries is based. Conversely, the gross violation of human rights where women are denied access to their human rights has led to the women being utterly vulnerable to the periodic violence witnessed in the immediate environment. Notably, some of the contributing factors to the gross violation of the right of women have their backgrounds encroached in the society seem detrimental (Garcia, 2011).

Causes of Violence against Women in Middle East Countries

Middle East countries are predominant in the world's records as the most common regions where the rights of women are immensely violated(Chan, 2008). Tentatively, different forms of gender-based violence exist among the affected population which subjects them into the risky situation such as injuries, poverty as well as the infection of various diseases. The authoritarianism and political violence that plagues the public life in these regions tend to expose the vulnerable individuals in the society to a risky situation most probably the women. Apparently, the political class intentionally employs the demagoguery system of ruling over the poor citizens in society. It is worth acknowledging the absolute fact that, the authoritarian political regimes tend to expose the vulnerable women to a variety of physical violence which in the long run become disastrous(Yount, 2011). Historically the Middle East is known for horror killings among the women as well as obligatory beatings which are forms of psychological and physical violence which prevents gender relations.

On the other hand, the oppressive systems of control are the socio-cultural tool used by the political class to violate gender relations in the entire Middle East countries. Following the in-depth research, it is clearly demonstrated that women are not only victims of violence but also welcome the opportunities to become perpetrators of violence, particularly in the marriage life circle. On the same account, the gender-based violence in the Middle East is basically eluded to the fact that the political suicidalists and the martyrological adulation are the chief initiators of the violence against the vulnerable individual in the society such as women (Chan, 2008). On the same account, it is demonstrated that different modalities of violence towards women are eluded to the domestic sphere including the wife battering, rape as well as the sex-related violence. Since the Middle East is dominated by the political authoritarians, the crime and horror incidences hurled against women form one of the most significant concerns which discussing the general analogy on the violence against women. It is worth acknowledging the absolute fact that, the horror killings which are mostly channeled towards women rise from a male-centered society. All these criminal activities committed against women tend to cultivate a similar culture among the affected countries in the Middle East that instill fear among women (Yount, 2011).

Secondly, religion is another set of the common factor which exposes women to this horrific violence across entire countries in the Middle East. Islam basically acts as an agent of patriarchy which offers religious and cultural rationalization as well as the legitimization of violence towards women (Chan, 2008). Apparently, several countries in the Middle East use the possession of political Islam in the control and subjugation of women in society. Religion has been used by gender profiling where women end up being victim violence related cases. The formation of the Military Islamic group that has come to power in the Middle East exposes women to violently triggered situations thus ending up suffering. Religion is interpreted as one of the major cause of violence in the countries found in the Middle East. This is because the Arab uprising and the re-birth of the Shi'a-Sunni tend to provide a clear division among the population which triggers violence particularly among women in the society.

Significantly, the magnitude violence towards women is greatly influenced by the Islamic religion which tends to divisive in nature based on the inappropriate teachings which radicalize the entire youths in the affected regions. Since most individuals do not disagree by belief, the result that vulnerable individual in the society such as women keeps on suffering the more (Chan, 2008). Certain countries in the Middle East such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arabs Emirates tend to safeguards the religious war with the ideal notion of serving their geopolitical interests.

On the other hand, the concept of gender and power is a significant concern in most countries in the Middle East as it is used as a tool to subject women into violence. Notably, the authority accorded to women in the Middle East is seen to be illegitimate and unacknowledged hence most women tend to suffer most from the hand of male counterparts who are seen as the oppressors in this case. Since female power is undeniable, it should be viewed under the lens of equality where the most vulnerable members of the society are not subjected to pain, anguish, and suffering. Similarly, the hierarchical gender power place women below the men in most of the Middle East countries which in the long run subject them gender-based violence. The women's power in the Middle East is firmly attached to exclusively unrecognized power exercises in the private domains and informal social networks.

Results of Violence against Women in Middle East Countries

Following the in-depth analysis on the violence against women in the Middle East, it is clearly evidenced that women are the most vulnerable in the society, therefore, suffer the more with regards violence(Krantz, 2005). According to the United Nations regional reports on violence against women 45% of women in most of the Middle East countries do suffer a lot from a series of violence hurled against them from the public. Both physical and psychological violence render the women population un productive following the periodic attacks they receive from their male counterparts. Notably, due to the lack of proper political goodwill to foster peace and development is one key aspect that tends to facilitate the constant violence against women. Most women are often subjected to pain and suffering, horror killings while others are maimed during the times of war (Krantz, 2005).

The short-term physical effects of violence can include minor injuries or dangerous conditions. They can consist of bruises, cuts, broken bones, or injuries to organs and other parts inside of your body. Some physical injuries are difficult or impossible to see without scans, x-rays, or other tests done by a doctor or nurse. On the same account, violence against women which involves physical, sexual abuse such as rape results into the transmission of diseases, unwanted pregnancies as well as the virginal bleedings and pelvic pains (Krantz, 2005).

Remedies to help curb violence against women in the Middle East

In a bid to reduce the intermittent problem of violence against women in the Middle East, it is prudent that the relevant international policies be adopted to help curb this menace in the entire society (Patel et al., 2007). Since the political goodwill seems authoritative and does not favor women, appropriate measures must be taken into place to help control this problem (Patel et al., 2007). Ideally, violence against women is a gross violation of human rights, and the perpetrators of such criminal activities should be brought to book. Notably, the prosecution mechanism must be put in place to ensure the perpetrators and properly punished to help reduce the menace among women. On the same account, effective preventive measures must be put in place to reduce the prevalent factors from causing much harm particularly to women in society. The political class must formulate relevant and applicable guiding principles which aim at promoting equity among the entire population (Patel et al., 2007). Also, the concept of power and religion should be taken into close consideration while formulating such policies (Patel et al., 2007).

Bibliography

Chan, Ko Ling, Murray A. Straus, Douglas A. Brownridge, Agnes Tiwari, and Wai-Ching Leung. "Prevalence of dating partner violence and suicidal ideation among male and female university students worldwide." Journal of Midwifery & women's health 53, no. 6 (2008): 529-537.

Garcia-Moreno, Claudia, and Charlotte Watts. "Violence against women: an urgent public health priority." Bulletin of the world health organization 89 (2011): 2-2.

Krantz, Gunilla, and Claudia Garcia-Moreno. "Violence against women." Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health 59, no. 10 (2005): 818-821.

Patel, Vikram, Ricardo Araya, Sudipto Chatterjee, Dan Chisholm, Alex Cohen, Mary De Silva, Clemens Hosman, Hugh McGuire, Graciela Rojas, and Mark Van Ommeren. "Treatment and prevention of mental disorders in low-income and middle-income countries." The Lancet 370, no. 9591 (2007): 991-1005.

Yount, Kathryn M., Nafisa Halim, Michelle Hynes, and Emily R. Hillman. "Response effects to attitudinal questions about domestic violence against women: A comparative perspective." Social Science Research 40, no. 3 (2011): 873-884.