Work

Strategic Choices: How Conservative Women Activists Remained Active throughout Tunisia's Democratic Transition

Year: 2022

Type: article

Abstract: Gender politics scholars conclude that conservatives and religious actors curtail women's rights and political participation during a democratic transition, except in post‐conflict contexts. Yet, this was not the case in Tunisia. This article documents how Islamist women activists remained active throughout the democratic transition in Tunisia. I argue that Islamist women within Tounissiet remained politically active by making two strategic choices: (1) not challenging conservatives and (2) aligning with liberal feminists when it was in their interest. This article builds on the emerging scholarship on women's roles in a democratic transition, especially conservative women, by providing original empirical work on an Islamist women's rights organization in a democratizing Tunisia. I suggest that more needs to be understood about conservative women and new actors that democratic transitions empower and embolden.

Source: Sociological Forum

DOI: 10.1111/socf.12828

Author: Maro Youssef

Institution: University of Southern California

Language: English

Topic: Multiculturalism, Politics, Migration, Gender

Subfield: Political Science and International Relations

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Gender equality, Peace, justice, and strong institutions

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $2,850