Pietrobelli, Marta (2013) In whose interests?: the politics of gender equality in Jordan. PhD Thesis. SOAS, University of London http://eprints.soas.ac.uk/18069 Copyright © and Moral Rights for this thesis are retained by the author and/or other copyright owners. A copy can be downloaded for personal non‐commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge. This thesis cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the copyright holder/s. The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. When referring to this thesis, full bibliographic details including the author, title, awarding institution and date of the thesis must be given e.g. AUTHOR (year of submission) "Full thesis title", name of the School or Department, PhD Thesis, pagination. IN WHOSE INTERESTS? THE POLITICS OF GENDER EQUALITY IN JORDAN MARTA PIETROBELLI Thesis submitted for the degree of PhD in Gender Studies 2013 Centre for Gender Studies Faculty of Law and Social Sciences SOAS, University of London 1 Declaration for PhD thesis I have read and understood regulation 17.9 of the Regulations for students of the SOAS, University of London concerning plagiarism. I undertake that all the material presented for examination is my own work and has not been written for me, in whole or in part, by any other person. I also undertake that any quotation or paraphrase from the published or unpublished work of another person has been duly acknowledged in the work which I present for examination. Signed: ____________________________ Date: _________________ 2 Thesis Abstract This thesis engages with the politics of gender equality in the context of democratisation processes in the Middle East, with specific reference to an often- neglected case study, i.e. Jordan. By analysing the gender dimension of representation and political participation, my thesis contributes to the literature on gender quotas, social change and gender mainstreaming in the region, and does so from a bottom-up perspective, bringing in women’s lived experiences. More specifically, I investigate how the international gender equality rhetoric is understood and translated into practice in the context of women’s political empowerment. I also problematise the role of women’s organisations in advocating gender justice. Drawing on original ethnographic fieldwork carried out in Jordan between 2010 and 2011, my case study focuses on the experiences of female candidates in the parliamentary elections of November 2010, the role of local and international organisations in empowering women in politics, and the influence of the authoritarian regime on the promotion of women’s rights. Analysing the intersections between diverse dynamics involved in the promotion of gender justice in Jordan, I argue that gender equality is often instrumentalised and/or treated as an add-on in local, national, regional and international policies. In addition, while analysing the reasons behind the adoption of gender quotas, I stress the need to look at the sociocultural and political context in which quotas are introduced. In the specific setting of gender justice advocacy, my research findings indicate that the association of women’s rights promotion with government-related or royal-supported organisations may be problematic, especially when the role of the state is being discredited and challenged in the wake of the recent uprisings (2011 and 2012). Finally, in the context of gender equality rhetoric, I suggest that it might be more productive for practitioners and researchers to employ an intersectional approach that not only addresses women’s multifaceted and diverse gender interests, but also recognises that gender-based struggles are frequently linked to neoliberalism and neocolonial policies. 3 Acknowledgments After four years of PhD I would like to thank many people who have helped me in different ways during this enriching and formative process. Firstly, I would like to thank Fondazione Confalonieri in Milan, Italy, which granted me a post-graduate scholarship during the first years of the PhD. Moreover, without the support of the Council for British Research in the Levant, through a visiting research fellowship, my fieldwork in Jordan would not have been possible. I am extremely grateful for the time, patience and helpfulness of all the women and men I interviewed while in Jordan. Without their experiences and openness I could have never had written this PhD. In particular, I would like to thank Vanda Sawalha and Ahlam Nasser for their friendship and support as interpreters, but also for helping me to organise and schedule many meetings and interviews. During my time in Jordan I have been grateful to Hind al-Fayez, Lubna Dawani, Lamis Nasser, Muna Makhamreh, Nadia Shmarouk and Leila Hamarneh, for sharing their knowledge with me and for their encouragement. I also would like to thank all the people living with me at the British Institute in Amman, starting with the director Carol Palmer, who has always supported my research during and after my fieldwork. I would particularly like to thank Rebecca Gerome, Lucy Wadeson and Claire Thong for their insights, comments, and friendship, but also for constantly encouraging me through my ups and downs in Jordan and in the writing phase. Without a doubt this thesis would not have been written without the thoughtful guidance and support of my supervisor Nadje Al-Ali, to whom I am greatly indebted. She has always read my chapters and revisions meticulously, providing invaluable and constructive comments. She has always believed in me and in my capabilities. I cannot thank her enough for her guidance, encouragement and friendship. I am also thankful to my second supervisor, Deniz Kandiyoti, for sharing her knowledge and experience with me and for her insightful comments; and to my third supervisor, Leslie Vinjamuri, for her feedback. I would like to thank all the people working at and contributing to the Centre for Gender Studies at SOAS, where I have always found myself at ease both academically and personally. In particular, I would like to thank my friend and colleague Lara Momesso for our long and inspiring email- exchange and Skype calls, which have constantly helped me to find the right path 4 during and after fieldwork, and for her prompt feedback. Also, I am grateful to my friend and colleague Katherine Natanel, for making my life in London pleasant, for her constant encouragement during our chats and for her precious comments. Thanks to Leyli Behbahani and Afaf Jabiri for their friendships and invaluable feedback. I also would like to thank Merl Storr for proofreading this thesis and Claire Thong especially for her very last minute help with transliteration and proofreading. However, I am the sole responsible for any errors or inconsistencies within the manuscript. Lastly, I would like to thank my friends and family in London and in Italy, with whom I shared the ups and downs of these past four years. I would like to thank my husband’s family for their support and Laura in particular, for her reassuring words and advice. I am grateful to my brother, Luca, and to Christine for hosting me while in London, taking good care of me and reminding me that there is a life outside of the PhD. I thank my sister, Roberta, for her understanding, lively and constant presence in any moments while in Milan and in London. I am very thankful to my parents, Giorgia and Paolo, for their endless love, precious recommendations and for always being there in difficult times. Finally, I am extremely grateful to my husband, Luca, who has always been present with his caring and supportive words and suggestions. I thank him for his patience especially during my stressful and emotional moments of writing and for making my life more enjoyable; I thank him for transmitting his invaluable calmness and for always being positive. I dedicate this thesis to him, my parents and all the women I interviewed in Jordan. 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS Declaration for PhD thesis ......................................................................................... 2 Thesis Abstract ........................................................................................................... 3 Acknowledgments ...................................................................................................... 4 ACRONYMS ............................................................................................................. 9 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................... 12 Focus and significance of my research .................................................................... 15 Some theoretical clarifications ................................................................................. 18 Methodology ............................................................................................................ 20 Experiencing fieldwork ............................................................................................ 23 The use of interviews and participant observation .............................................. 24 Challenges and ethical reflections ........................................................................... 28 Structure of the thesis ............................................................................................... 32 CHAPTER ONE .....................................................................................................