Arab women use media to address inequality

Abstract Women's inequality in the Arab world is associated with culture in the societies, subjugating them to second-class citizens based on gender and dictates of the patriarchal establishment. Consequently, women face discrimination in education, employment and in the home, and are victims of domestic violence. Inequality is more draconian in conservative societies where women are not allowed to vote or drive, nor can they travel or work without the man's permission. Aware of lack of societal support for their causes, women have turned to modern information technology, particularly social media in the forms of Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and smart phones because they are virtual and free from stifling government controls. Remarkable progress has been recorded, including media positions and eventual reportage addressing women's inequality issues. More women are enrolling at universities and daring to enter even fields that heretofore were reserved for men. The gate is open, too, for careers that society deemed unacceptable for women because they required communicating with non-family males. To sustain initiatives to counter inequality and plan for the future, Arab women's organizations have sprung in the region, focusing on capacity building to enable women to acquire necessary know-how to effectively use media to address pervasive inequality.