JEDDAH, 3 July 2003 — As a journalist I attend many conferences, forums and seminars, whether medical, economic, educational or social. In each of them the segregation between men and women takes different forms.
Medical conferences are the least segregated. Men and women are seated in the same hall, separated only by an aisle. Presenters, whether male or female, stand in front of the whole audience. Everyone is interacting professionally and respectfully.
What is wrong with this picture?
Nothing, as far as I can see.
The women are dressed modestly, with their hair covered. Some even wear their niqab (a veil covering half their face), and it does not interfere with their participation in the conference. Yet this form of limited segregation at conferences doesn’t seem to be appropriate for many others who choose to place women behind a screen or in a separate hall, listening to and watching the presenters through closed-circuit television. Although this form still allows women to interact with the participants and be involved in the conference, it is not as convenient or practical as direct contact. We all know how much more effective it is to speak to someone directly rather than through a medium. Nevertheless, I have no real objection to this form, if it is considered more appropriate and suitable for our society.
The types of conferences that really irk me are the ones exclusively for men or exclusively for women, even when they are covering the same topic. For example, there may be a conference on child abuse or unemployment or educational reform, and there will be a day scheduled for men and another for women, or there might not be a day for women at all, as if we don’t share the same concerns and the same experiences. Aren’t we part of society? Doesn’t every issue — whether political, economic or social — affects us as well as men?
However, these issues don’t always affect us the same way as men, therefore men cannot represent us or speak on our behalf. Usually they do not speak for us, and only assume that what works for men must also work for women. Do they consider us incapable of expressing an intelligent opinion? Do they think that we have no independent views or insights on a subject that might be worth studying? Do they feel that they have everything covered and under control and there is nothing we can add or propose, nothing we can improve upon, nothing we can possibly suggest that could make a difference?
We are told that the presentations and discussions in the women’s-only conferences are written up and handed to the managers and ministers concerned with the issues discussed, and that they review them and deliberate on them and make a decision. No wonder it takes such a long time, to improve the women’s departments and facilities and change anything that has to do with women’s jobs and personal life.
Women continue to be marginalized in our society. Our participation and involvement in any issue or project is only an afterthought when all the decisions have already been made and implemented. We are asked for our input on “women’s issues” as if we are alien creatures from another planet.
Our so-called issues are just as much part of society as any other labor, municipal or religious issues we talk about in our social gatherings and the media. The high rate of unemployment is our issue, the sewage problem in Jeddah is our issue, harassment in public places is our issue, cramped classrooms are our issue, terrorism is our issue, the Western media’s biased representation of our society is our issue. Everything that affects us privately and publicly, locally and internationally, is our issue. We are members of this society and we should be treated as equal members of it and not as invalids who can’t speak for themselves or as second-class citizens who should not be allowed to speak.
Speaking of segregation, I think we go too far in segregating men and women. And before anyone starts attacking me, I’m not suggesting we desegregate everywhere. For example, studies in the US found that girls and boys in segregated schools scored higher grades than mixed schools. We don’t need a study from the US to tell us that, we can see it in our schools. But the issue here is the curriculum. In the US they tried “separate but equal” in schools segregating white and black children, and it failed. “Separate but equal” is failing here too.
Girls’ schools and universities are in an even worse condition than boys’ schools, and their curriculum is different. The same goes for segregated work places. Most women prefer to work in a separate building from men for religious reasons and because they feel more comfortable. However, most women’s facilities are either too small for them or too old and unsafe.
There are always attempts to segregate men and women in public places like restaurants, recreational parks and malls. The problem is not in keeping men away from women, but in teaching men how to treat women with respect and in teaching women to respect themselves and act accordingly.
