Yemeni Woman: Active Participation towards Progression [Archives:2002/39/Reportage]

MAYASA MOHAMMED GAWAD
Yemeni woman actively participates in the processes of development in Yemen. She has overcome obstacles and difficulties she had been facing in the time of Imamate rule and colonization period. She has now become able to work in various fields, enhancing her status in the society. She works in various jobs, occupies different positions, and is actively represented women’s unions in Yemeni , as well.
History stands as a witness that she is an example to follow since the appearance of Islam – she was one of those women who nursed people injured in battles, defended the prophet Mohammed ( peace be upon him ), and took part in fighting enemies. She ,as well , played a significant role the strife for Yemen’s freedom from the Imamate rule in the North , and from the colonization in the South, and faced for that pursuit and imprisonment as her brothers did.
It is after the achievement of Yemeni unification , she started to realize her goals – she is to raise her
position in Yemen . She started with a step towards progression . She got educated to contribute in different fields in the every-day life.
How does Yemeni woman evaluate her contribution in society, and what does she achieve in the processes of the development of Yemen? Women, engaged in some guiding positions, and those playing a praiseworthy role as activists in various fields exert great efforts to activate woman’s role ,and to make other women aware of their rights.
Najeba Hadad ,the deputy of the minister for culture – drama and public section , and a writer specialized in children art, is the first Yemeni woman to assume such a position. Najeba says, Islam grants the woman a high rank for she represents an important segment of the society. Yemeni woman becomes a major participant in the processes of the development of Yemen under the social , diplomatic , and economic atmospheres Yemen enjoys and under the leadership of president Ali Abdulla Saleh. Najeba adds that the Yemeni woman has squeezed her rights in a number of fields, enabling her to play a big role in decision-making , and she still holds hope to contribute more widely in the work field. The role of woman as a mother , sister , wife , daughter and an active human in the society can never be ignored because it is indispensable. Najeba praises the high positions some Yemeni women assume, of which Yemen is to feel proud – Waheba Farea , the state minister of human rights ; Amat Alaleem Al Sosowa, Yemeni ambassador to Holland; captain Rose Abdulkhaleq , and many others. Najeba calls on the higher council of woman affairs, the National Community of Human Rights, Yemeni Woman Union, and Civil Society Organizations to continue reinforcing woman’s roles to develop her situation in Yemen. Najeba believes we must face all challenges with a national Yemeni thinking, woman should contribute to for creating it together with man to build the new future of Yemen.
Amat Al Rahman Jahaf ,head of woman sport-Taiz says optimistically the role of woman in Yemen has highly developed nowadays because of the encouragement by the political leadership and the social awareness, out of a belief in the active role Yemeni woman plays. Amat emphasizes that if a nation wants to accomplish true achievements, the woman role must be activated through sowing the seeds of values, and new understanding in the coming generations. Amat sees that the best example of woman’s contribution is that in the diplomatic field, in the presidential, and parliamentary elections. Women have really succeeded in proving their right to choose the right persons representing them in the political field.
Woman today is completely different of what has been in the past.
Ibtisam Al Mutawakil, a Yemeni female author and researcher sees that in the past the woman’s social contributions were not clearly seen and felt as she stood behind man to push him forward. Yet , after the achievement of Yemen Unification, she began contributing actively and effectively towards modernity in different fields such as working as female police. As an author, she stresses we must not forget the role of Yemeni female authors in portraying the proper image of Yemen abroad as she becomes distinguished in her art, and her presence in both the Arab world and internationally. Ibtisam feels sorry that there are some female energies that are still idle and not utilized for several reasons as illiteracy and rejection of families to let their females work outside the house. .She wishes the government will concentrate on the positive role the woman in Yemen plays. However, obstacles still block the way of woman towards progression ; obstacles of old traditions and customs keeping the work of woman within certain limitations, and the confined area of freedom she enjoys ,etc . All stand as blocking and tumbling stones so that some women are somehow unable to achieve any progress. She believes Yemeni woman to have her social right to education as priority to any other field.
Soad Al Absi, chairwoman of Yemeni woman union, Taiz says, Obstacles are still there – the existence of male dominance , some economic defects ,and the spread of poverty. Soad believes it is under a national strategy within new understandings woman in Yemen will achieve many in the future. It is then she will be the solution, not the problem, specially after Yemen Unification has been achievement.

——
[archive-e:39-v:2002-y:2002-d:2002-09-23-p:./2002/iss39/report.htm]