1
Middle East Women Studying Abroad presents a potential Solution to Racism
Introduction
Middle East is one of the regions that are known to steer racism, gender inequality, and religious prejudice with low concerted efforts to minimize the occurrences. This has been a problem to both the domestic populations and foreign populations living in the region. The racism exists in both lower social and higher social class and across different races. Citizens and political leaders play a major part in propagating racial prejudice across different races and particularly on women (Shalhoub-Kevorkian, 2004). Leaders use their selfish motives to gain power and in the end steer prejudice within societies (Price, 2003). Citizens have always trusted their leader and tend to follow their ill promises ending up in hatred and sometimes mistreatment and brutality to other races. Traditional methods by leaders to solve conflict in Middle East have led to inconclusive outcome and attitudes colored by strong emotions on populations (Saaty, & Zoffer, 2012).
Arabs and Islamic quest for a conspiracy theory, explain the lack of development and rise of dictatorial regimes in the Middle East. This is evidence by the lack of western hallmarks for society development thus faulting Arabs themselves. This is a representation of intellectual and cultural affliction independent of any external forces (Ismael, & Measor, 2003).
Middle East education system, religious platforms and leaders have shown no interest in ending the problem. The large group of victims of racial prejudice is females and children who experiences discriminations and denial to other basic human rights (Ruby, 2013). They are much hurt in cases of violence and are subjected to inhumane acts such as rape and murder. This shows there is need to find a solution to the problem and empower women through advocating their rights. The major contributor of racism has been linked by the high levels of illiteracy in the country (Golding, 2009). This hinders populations from knowing their rights and hence hard for them to fight and demand their rights through successive and peaceful negotiation forum with leaders and other stakeholders. People knowing their rights through education and other enlightening plat forms would achieve a solution to racism.
Few women who have benefited from getting education abroad have been so vocal about bringing solution to racism in Middle East but their numbers and unsupportive illiterate women let them down. Illiteracy is one of the major sustenance of racism in Middle East (Golding, 2009). Thus, the problem ends propagating itself to worse levels. If such women could increase in number in the region, a solution to the eating racism problem would be found. This study will be very important to leader and especial women in leadership and those studying abroad. Through the study, they will realizetheir role in curbing prejudice through informed knowledge on human rights (Gordon, 2012). The government and leader will be important audience so that they can advocate for foreign education and put policies in place that would encourage women to study abroad.
Education significance
The solution of racism has always been linked to men and political leader in Middle East. However, they have continuously failed in addressing the matter comprehensively and bringing a long lasting solution. Few enlightened women who by luck had a chance to go and study abroad seem to understand their rights and the need of a lasting solution in Middle East. Studying abroad equip women with necessary human rights knowledge necessary to address the Middle East problem (Gordon, 2012). The research that have been done tend to address solution based on traditional methods such as diplomacy and face-to-face and leaders intervention (Saaty, & Zoffer, 2012). The resolution forums never advocates for the rights of citizens but only advocated for need of reconciliation and unity. This research will be a revelation to leaders, women and government in bringing a solution to Middle East racism. Western countries seem also to have firm human rights activist who women studying abroad can emulate. This will help them understand their human rights will then they can transfer to the wide population (Steinberg, 2012; Ruby, 2013). A higher number of men have studied abroad from Middle East but they have done very little on the issue. Thus, this study will be very significant to all its audience in empowering women to study abroad thus awareness of human rights and solution to Middle East bringing a new dawn to the populations.
Literature Review
Racism is one of the major problems in Middle East that causes conflicts and brutality within populations. Middle East has Arabs and Muslim religious and ethnic group. In this region, non-Arabs and non-Muslims people are faced with rejection and disapproval (Fluehr-Lobban, 2005). The region also has more 20 diverse ethnic groups. The discussion on the religious and ethnic groups in the area is a taboo in the society.
The components that may help to discuss potential solution to racism by women include: According to Saaty, andZoffer, (2012) dispute resolution in middle East has been on the routine cause where leaders (males), use traditional approaches such as face to face to engager to conflicting party. These means have not been fruitful at all and so, leadership should adopt more practical dispute resolutions approaches in Middle East, which focus on the rights of the people in their social, humanitarian, economic, geographic, and historical worth. This way will help minimize conflicts and racism. Skilled people who are aware of their rights would tend to concentrate on nation building rather than their differences.
Medovoi, (2012) argues that religion has been of the group that has exemplified on racism dynamics. The author regards religion as one of the group that has supplemented the racial dynamics. From the perspective that most religions groups are headed my men, it is an obvious conclusion that men and other readers have failed to use their potential leadership and influential position to bring solution to the problem of racism in Middle East. This calls for a change in the ways of thinking and culture of Middle East to trust male dominated leadership in Middle East.
Steinberg, (2012) view the cause of racism and other violence against human rights to originate from political selfish welfare. He refers the persistence conflicts between Arabs and Israel as a form of political involvement. The leadership rather than solving the problem on their citizens and populations have continued to instigate hatred among the citizens. It is worth noting that male characters dominate the leadership here. Therefore, the failure to resolve conflicts and racism issues heavily fall on them.
Semati, (2010) argues that Islamic domination in the region is one of the key factors that have led to slow resolution of the problems differential racism in Middle East. He argues that Islamophobia is an ideological response, which conflates politics, societies, histories and cultures of the Middle East to a negative and unified attitude on Islam. This has led to incompatibility with other races thus propagating the racial prejudice. This can also be attributed to the failure of male leadership in Islamic religion.
References
Baker, J. (2013). Just Kids? Peer Racism ina Predominantly White City. Refuge, 29(1), 75-85.
Chronology. (2011). Middle East Journal, 65(1), 103-131.
Fluehr-Lobban, C. (2006). Why Muslims Rebel: Repression and Resistance inthe Islamic World. Arab Studies Quarterly, 28(2), 72-74.
Golding, A. S. (2009).Multiculturism, America, and the Middle East. Bloomington, IN: Authorhouse.
Hasso, F. S. (2005). Problems and Promise in Middle East and North Africa Gender Research. Feminist Studies, 31(3), 653-678.
Ismael, T. Y., & Measor, J. (2003). Racism andthe North American Media Following 11 September: The Canadian Setting. Arab Studies Quarterly, 25(1/2), 101-136.
Medovoi, L. (2012). Dogma-Line Racism. Social Text, 30(2_111), 43-74.
Price, R. (2003).Fast facts on the Middle East conflict. Eugene: Harvest House Pub
Rodenborg, N. A. (2013). Aversive Racism and Intergroup Contact Theories: Cultural Competence ina Segregated World. Journal of Social Work Education, 49(4), 564-579.
Semati, M. (2010).Islamophobia, Culture and Race inthe Age of Empire. Cultural Studies, 24(2), 256-275.
Shalhoub-Kevorkian, N. (2004). Racism, Militarisationand Policing: Police Reactions to Violence against Palestinian Women in Israel. Social Identities, 10(2), 171-193.
Treacher, A. (2007). Circulating Emotions, Beliefs and Fantasies: The Middle East andthe West. Psychodynamic Practice, 13(4), 345-360.
Gordon, J. (2012). Human Right Education?.Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics, 41(4), 754-767.
Ruby, T. (2013). The Question 0f Muslim Women's Rights And The Ontario Shari'ah Tribunals. Frontiers: A Journal of Women Studies, 34(2), 134-154.
Steinberg, G. M. (2012). From Durban to the Goldstone Report: The Centrality Of Human Rights Ngos In The Political Dimension Of The Arab–Israeli Conflict. Israel Affairs, 18(3), 372-388
Steinberg, G. M. (2012). International Ngos, the Arab Upheaval, and Human Rights: Examining NGO Resource Allocation. Journal of International Human Rights, 11(1), 124-149.
Boothe, I., & Smithey, L. A. (2007).Privilege, Empowerment, and Nonviolent Intervention. Peace & Change, 32(1), 39-61.
Cakir, S., & YerinGuneri, O. (2011).Exploring the Factors Contributing To Empowerment of Turkish Migrant Women inthe UK.International Journal of Psychology, 46(3), 223-233.
Kim, L. M. (2001). 'I Was [So] Busy Fighting Racism That I Didn't Even Know I Was Being Oppressed As A Woman!': Challenges, Changes, and Empowerment In Teaching About Women Of Color. Nwsa Journal, 13(2), 98.
Reardon, K. M. (1998). Combating Racism through Planning Education: Lessons fromthe East St. Louis Action Research Project.Planning Practice & Research, 13(4), 421-432.
Rubin, J. (2008). From Patriarchy to Empowerment. Women's Participation, Movements, and Rights inThe Middle East, North Africa, And South Asia. Middle East Quarterly, 15(3), 84-85.
Salime, Z. (2010). Securing The Market, Pacifying Civil Society, Empowering Women: The Middle East Partnership Initiative Securing the Market, Pacifying Civil Society, Empowering Women: The Middle East Partnership Initiative. Sociological Forum, 25(4), 725-745.
Zuhur, S. (2003).Women and Empowerment in the Arab World. Arab Studies Quarterly, 25(4), 17-38.
Burtonwood, N. (1990). Inset and Education for Multicultural Society: A Review Of The Literature. British Educational Research Journal, 16(4), 321.
Osler, A. (2002). Education For Citizenship: Mainstreaming The Fight Against Racism?.European Journal of Education, 37(2), 143.
Pettijohn Ii, T. S. (2008). Reducing Racism, Sexism, and Homophobia in College Students By Completing A Psychology Of Prejudice Course. College Student Journal, 42(2), 459-468.
Short, G. (1996).Anti-Racist Education, Multiculturalism, and the New Racism.Educational Review, 48(1), 65.