Islamists in Jordan: Promoters of or Obstacles to female Empowerment and Gender Equality?

Abstract

This study deals with the Muslim Brotherhoods’ reception of CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discriminations against women) in Jordan. In view of the Arab Human Development Report and interviews with several political actors in Jordanian society it is possible to evaluate Islamist ideas on women’s rights. The main aim is to investigate whether Jordanian Islamists are promoters or obstacles to female empowerment and gender equality. By analyzing various political stands it became apparent that Islamists, on the one hand, reject CEDAW, gender empowerment, and gender equality, and on the other promote issues which in the long run will empower women in Jordanian society. There is thus an unintentional trend towards female empowerment in the organization of the Muslim Brotherhood despite its opposition to such female politics.