- This event has passed.
Women, Islamism & the Jasmine Revolution
October 6, 2011 @ 12:00 am
Women, Islamism & the Jasmine Revolution (or the so-called “Arab Spring”)
Thursday, October 6, 2011 * 12:00 noon * Center for Black Studies Research
4603 South Hall*
Tunisian women have played a major role in the Jasmine revolution that led
to the ousting of President Ben Ali, after 23 years of autocratic
leadership. They stood side by side with men during the massive protests
that shook the country, and their voices rose loud and clear demanding that
the dictator leave. Six months after the revolution, the great political
emptiness beyond the ousted president is being filled by Islamist parties
(30% of vote intention) which are marginalizing women’s role in the
revolution and in society at large and threatening their basic rights.
This talk will examine the role that Tunisian women played in the
revolution as well as the many challenges that they are facing in the post
revolution era. It will also focus on women’s strategies to protect their
rights and to ensure that religion will remain separate from the political.
Professor Raja Boussedra is a Professor of English at the Université de
Carthage, Institut Supérieur des Langues de Tunis, English Department, in
Tunis, Tunisia.
Co-sponsors:
John Woolley for the Department of Political Science,
Mark Juergensmeyer for the Orfalea Center,
Giles Gun for the Global and International Studies Program,
Dwight Reynolds for the Center for Middle East Studies, and
Richard Hutton and LeeAnne French for the Carsey-Wolf Center
hm 10/5/11