Woman elected in Kuwait says gender in politics is 'history'

Matt Boguslawski

Aseel al-Awadhi knows that getting elected to the Kuwait Parliament is only part of the battle that she is going to face, the rest she will face actually in the male dominated Parliament. Awadhi is one of the four woman to be elected to the lawmaking Parliament. Only four years ago, women were given the right to vote and run for office. These elections were of great significance because it is quite evident with the turn out of four elected women that Kuwait is ready for change. For years Parliament was dominated by men and now women are having their say in the law making process in a country and region that has not always valued the rights of women. The question is whether other countries in the region in the near future will be willing to make and accept the changes that Kuwait has been able to.