Jordan Times
Wednesday, March 30, 2005
Women's studies come
under the spotlight
By Rana Husseini
AMMAN — HRH Princess Basma on Tuesday said the women's studies programme at the
University of Jordan should be instrumental in encouraging social, economic and
social analysis to bring about the necessary changes in scientific thinking.
“The Arab academic family, until now, considers research by Arab women as
something alien... Even those who accept women's research, do so reluctantly.
That is why the women's studies programme should be pioneering... to make the
necessary scientific changes,” Princess Basma said.
The Princess' remarks were made during a one-day event organised by the women's
studies programme/faculty of higher education at the University of Jordan (UJ).
“The programme has been through many phases since its establishment and I feel
it has reached the level of maturity that requires serious thinking of what the
programme can offer to Arab women's studies,” the Princess told the gathering.
Hanan Ibrahim, supervisor of the programme, said there had been many extremist
ideas emerging that criticised academic institutions to impose their own
beliefs.
“The most dangerous thing about these notions is that they oppress women's just
causes in particular and development and modernisation in general,” Ibrahim said
in her opening paper.
She also pointed to attempts made by some individuals to use traditions, culture
and strong religious beliefs to suppress women's causes.
“Our academic institutes and our programme could play an instrumental role in
developing a balanced and practical dialogue for all,” Ibrahim stressed.
HRH Princess Wijdan Ali, who chaired the session on humanitarian topics, told
participants that Arab women would not be emancipated until they got rid of the
idea of collective sacrifice.
“I do not think that women should sacrifice themselves in order to bring up
their children... Sacrifice for the sake of groups is one of the fiercest
enemies of women,” Princess Wijdan stressed.
Professor Wafa Khadra addressed the issue of women's representation in the staff
of academic institutions, noting that 4.85 per cent of full professors at the
Kingdom's public universities were women. In Ireland, the percentage of women
professors is five, in the UK nine, in Finland 18 and in the United States 20
per cent.
She added that women serving the post of dean in the country's universities
constituted 12 per cent of the total, while 18 per cent of those heading
academic sections were women.
“There is an urgent need to amend laws governing academic institutions in order
that women can assume more leadership and administrative posts,” Khadra said.
Initiated in 1998 by Princess Basma, the women's studies programme at the UJ is
one of the joint masters programmes based at the faculty of graduate studies.
The programme offers a wide range of disciplines including social science,
political science, law, psychology, education, literature and nursing.
It seeks to expose students to women's challenges across different cultures;
promote self-understanding and understanding of the other, male or female;
provide a means of connecting with the academic world, as well as local
institutions and organisations; raise awareness on women's rights; and encourage
a culture of dialogue.
Over 40 students have graduated since the programme's establishment.