Women in Kuwait: The Politics of Gender - Tapa dura

A portrait of Kuwaiti women, based on the author's own experience and her extensive research into women's organizations in Kuwait. The book discusses a wide tange of issues in terms of their impact on the role of women in Kuwait: class, tribe and politics; the impact of the oil era; the growth of the state; the emergence of women's organizations in a male-dominated society; the recent Islamic revival; and the future prospects for women's participation in Kuwaiti society. One of al-Mughni's challenging conclusions is that Middle Eastern women are partly responsible for their own oppression. Her study shows that women's loyalties are primarily to their families and kin, and that they act in ways which reinforce rather than challenge female surbordination. In other words, the education of women and their access to prestigious professions have resulted in class consolidation rather than social mobility.

Haya al-Mughni is a Kuwaiti sociologist.