August 13 – National Women's Day in Tunisia

nPostednon August 13, 2015

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nTodaynis the anniversary of the 2003 adoption of the following line in thenCode of Personal Status:
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nWenbelieve that total equality between men n

nandnwomen remains a fundamental claim.

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nWomennin Tunisia enjoy many freedoms and rights that are not enjoyed bynwomen in neighboring countries, or by women in other largely-Islamicnnations. For example, Tunisian women can vote and seek office. They can get college educations; they can file for divorce; they can choose from many different careers.

nFurthermore, political activism in Tunisia has included strong women and women’s voices for a long time!

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nHowever,nTunisia is in flux and some influences are now pushing it toward anmore strict viewpoint about Islamic law and women’s roles in society.

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nIt’sninteresting to note that in 1981, women wearing a hijab was againstnthe law in state offices; later, the hijab was banned in many othernsorts of institutions. In some cases, women were forced to removentheir hijab before entering a school, workplace, or university –neven, sometimes, on the streets! n

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nSincenthe Tunisian revolution of 2011, the hijab ban has been lifted.nHowever, some women now complain that the hijab is becoming a socialnrequirement in some towns or groups.

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These photos show that, although
some Tunisian women wear the
traditional hijab, many do not.

nWhatnmany people would wish for is for the hijab to be an actual option –nand that other sorts of clothing, also, would be actual options. Thatnwould mean that there would be no pressure from people to wear it ornnot to wear it, no cat-calling if a woman’s legs showed, no snubbingnor scolding or shaming if a woman’s outfit shows her shape, nor if itndoesn’t, if it shows some skin, nor if it doesn’t.