Middle East politics and women's collective action: Challenging the status quo

The Middle East and North Africa have long been associated with conflict, fundamentalism, and patriarchy. We question the stereotypes, drawing attention to the gendered nature of social politics in the region and to the growing visibility of feminism and women's movements. After examining the ways in which feminists and women's groups have been challenging patriarchal arrangements and the political status quo, we offer five theoretical propositions to guide further research into gender and politics in countries of the Middle East and North Africa.