Semi-structured interviews were carried out with 35 parliamentarians between March and November 2009.

They were euphoric during the first months that followed the fall of Zine Al-Abedine Ben Ali and Hosni Mubarak. The Arabs had regained their pride. But that pride has long since ebbed away and hope turned into disappointment.

This paper tells the story of Mayatai Sorte, who was born into a lower caste in India. It describes her efforts to fight against gender and caste-based discrimination.

Saeed Haqiqi is a journalist and writer from Herat.

Mary Nabard Ayeen is a journalist. She is the Deputy Director of Bhakhtar News Agency, the official state news agency of Afghanistan, and Managing Editor of the weekly publication Seerat. She is an active member of the Women's Political Participation Committee.