The Role of Women in Bahraini Society Evolution and development A historical approach

Abstract

I have chosen the subject of the role of women in Bahraini society, inspired by, among other things, the motive of the effective presence for the period that has been selected for monitoring. The Bahraini reality has forced women to play an exceptional role, which they have played with merit - The diving career has created many social and housework duties for women through forcing divers’ wives to find decent work until their husbands return from their diving trip. Moreover, the diving Governor has the right to dispossess the diver of his home, if he is in debt or send his son to work with Al Nokhitha in payment of his father’s debt, and ,hence, suffered from social and psychological persecution. Education in Bahrain is considered an important milestone in the advancement of Bahraini women. This formal, community and government education includes various grades up to university education. When literacy programs began, women’s associations contributed to women’s literacy classes and adult education. This helped to reduce the levels of female illiteracy, which, as a result, were the lowest rates in developing countries. The Constitution guaranteed women the right to education, which provided them with employment opportunities and the participation alongside men in all areas of work, such as teaching, nursing, banking, secretarial, printing, engineering, medicine, journalism, and the legal profession. Labour laws in Bahrain have granted women many rights, and emphasized indiscrimination between male and female employees; not to give women night duties, and not employ them in hazardous occupation, which could be detrimental to their health and the health of the fetus. In addition to these rights, there are many other duties that women should do. Education for women has provided them with access to political life through the national movement, realizing by the highest level of democratic rights. As well as participating in the preparation of a draft of the National Charter, women’s associations have contributed to the NGOs women’s activities and attempts have been made for coordination between these associations and International Women’s Association for the purpose of discussing the issues of women and children. In 2001، the Supreme Council for Women was established, and chaired by Her Highness Princess Sabika Bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa to be the official reference to feminist work in the country. The research concluded that there are two aspects of the results, one negative and one positive. The negative aspect indicates that there is a decline in the activities of the associations despite the qualitative transformation witnessed. The positive aspect is that the associations have made much progress for women on the political side.