Since ancient times, Yemeni women have been linked with political life and have had a distinct role. This historical legacy makes Yemen one of the few countries where women have gained balanced roles in public life in political history and enjoyed the confidence, respect, and acceptance for running and handling the affairs of governance.
Recent history has seen a crystallization of women’s roles that were considered honorable and heroic in the struggle against the British colonial regime in the south and the Imamate rule in the north. Yemeni women fought and struggled alongside men for independence. Women in the south have been engaged in organizing political parties, participated in the establishment of associations, and participated in political and social life, while in northern Yemen conditions were more complex for women because of the historical and social heritage of the Imamate rule.
However, after the revolution of September 26, 1962 women achieved a degree of education and laid the first pillar of change in the lives of Yemeni women in the north. Before the revolution, Yemeni women lived in a difficult era. Women are still suffering from a lack of freedom. Perhaps this suffering gave them motivation for equality.
Amatalalim al-Soswa is one of the women who inspired Yemeni women’s freedom after the September 26th revolution. Al-Soswa is a Yemeni journalist and politician from Taiz. She served as the Assistant Secretary-General, then Assistant Administrator and finally Director of UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Arab States.
We invite our users to read the complete article published September 21 2014
Since ancient times, Yemeni women have been linked with political life and have had a distinct role. This historical legacy makes Yemen one of the few countries where women have gained balanced roles in public life in political history and enjoyed the confidence, respect, and acceptance for running and handling the affairs of governance.
Recent history has seen a crystallization of women’s roles that were considered honorable and heroic in the struggle against the British colonial regime in the south and the Imamate rule in the north. Yemeni women fought and struggled alongside men for independence. Women in the south have been engaged in organizing political parties, participated in the establishment of associations, and participated in political and social life, while in northern Yemen conditions were more complex for women because of the historical and social heritage of the Imamate rule.
However, after the revolution of September 26, 1962 women achieved a degree of education and laid the first pillar of change in the lives of Yemeni women in the north. Before the revolution, Yemeni women lived in a difficult era. Women are still suffering from a lack of freedom. Perhaps this suffering gave them motivation for equality.
Amatalalim al-Soswa is one of the women who inspired Yemeni women’s freedom after the September 26th revolution. Al-Soswa is a Yemeni journalist and politician from Taiz. She served as the Assistant Secretary-General, then Assistant Administrator and finally Director of UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Arab States.
We invite our users to read the complete article published September 21 2014