Education of Women

Arab women have enormous potential to impact society, politics, and culture in the Middle East and around the world. However, because of the widespread conflation of Arabs and Muslims, Arab women are often incorrectly labeled oppressed, lacking in opportunity, and in need of saving. What many Westerners who make these assumptions fail to realize is that the education and equality of women in the Middle East is becoming an increasingly prevalent political topic As awareness of the issue increases, significant reforms are being made:

Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) countries have demonstrated significant educational reforms from 1970 to 2000 as gross enrollment rates in education in stitutions increase and gender gaps decrease. As generations of educated women increasingly exert influence over culture, politics, and society, MENA countries have reaped enormous benefits. Infant and child mortality rates are dropping. Family health is improving. Educated women are more active in politics and are committed to providing their daughters with education, increasing the presence of women in the work force and strengthening national economies.

Perhaps one the most widely recognized examples of woman who has embraced both her gender and her rights as an individual is Norah

al-Faiz. Born in and raised Saudi Arabia, al-Faiz actively pursued her own education and is now using her talents to improve the education of girls all over her country as a member of the Saudi Arabian government, the Council of Ministers. al-Faiz serves as the Vice Minister for Women's education. Before this appointment, she worked as a teacher and administrator for the women's section of Prince Alwaleed bin Talal's Kingdom Schools. al-Faiz also directed the women's section of the Institute of Public Administration in Riyadh. In addition to her leadership in Saudi Arabia, al-Faiz is a wife, mother, and devout Muslim. She displays how Arab and Muslim women can embrace their rich cultural and religious traditions, but also exert power and influence in the public arena and claim their rights as equal members of society.