Long fight for female candidates

Manama: As a devout Muslim, Fawzia Zainal likes Ramadan and all the spiritual and family bustle closely associated with it.

But as a candidate in the November 25 parliamentary elections, she resents the less than pious activities being undertaken by some male competitors.

"They are using the holy month to promote themselves as outstandingly religious people devoted to serving Islam and keen on fulfilling the citizens' needs," said the head of programmes at Bahrain Radio and Television Corporation.

It is easy for them, she said, because during Ramadan they have access to tribunes at mosques filled with thousands of worshippers and attend several majlises where hundreds of people conglomerate for up to four hours. The two all-male settings offer a unique opportunity to reach out to a high number of potential voters.

Women have no access to either of them and are at a huge disadvantage, said Fawzia.

Innovative

But the woman who is also the vice-president of the Bahrain Transparency Society is not a quitter.

She cannot attend the all-males majlises? Well, she sets her own majlis where women are invited to share views and news.

She cannot preach at the mosque? She does not miss a social occasion to highlight her electoral programme and stimulate people to endorse women.

Deep inside she knows that the struggle is particularly strenuous, but she is confident that she can move forward to the highly-coveted place.

So is Hoda Al Mutawa, a candidate whose confidence to take on her competitors in the singularly fierce second constituency in Muharraq Governorate, is making heads turn.

"I have outlined my manifesto to the societies that might endorse me, but if they hesitate, then I would move forward as an independent candidate."

Securing adequate housing, providing medical insurance, helping the unemployed and promoting the personal status law top the list of her actions.

"Bahrain needs a broader and wider vision that is not limited by local confines."

A change of attitude is also important for Ameenah Al Hassan, an independent candidate in the overwhelmingly religious sixth constituency in the Northern Governorate.

"Men have to understand that the parliament should be made up of both men and women because they are the twin pillars of society. Women today are well educated and contribute actively to the nation-building process," she said.

Unlike many others, she thinks that the 2002 experience, when only men won in the municipal and parliamentary elections, was beneficial for women.

"One woman reached the round-off stage, well ahead of many men. That is a good a sign. Now, we need to build on it and move forward, especially that the political empowerment programme by the Sup-reme Council for Women and the United Nations Development Programme is providing great moral and mental support."

Her enthusiasm is shared by Siham Al Bubshait who will be a candidate in the second constituency of the Southern Governorate.

"Many of my constituents are highly educated and hold leading positions, so I believe that they would support women," she said. Yet, she calls for a better education of women.

"We should have a group of women working on increasing awareness about the significance of political activities in general and elections in particular."

Analysts said that poorly-educated women and those in villages tend to follow their husbands' tendencies and vote for men.

"The constituency is blessed with moderate religious figures, although I must admit that there some people on the extreme. But their number is limited."

For Dr Jameela Al Sammak, from the second constituency of the Capital Governorate, financial assistance is a critical issue.

"Women need to have funds for their campaigns, but at the same time, there is the risk of adhering to the government's line of thought in case the woman accepts funds from the state. I believe that independent women who were enrolled in the political empowerment programme run by the Supreme Council for Women should be given financial assistance from the council," she said.

Dr Jameela refuses to consider women's bids in the 2002 elections as "failures".

"Women actively took part in the political reforms and in the reinforcement of the democratic process. This in itself is an achievement that would be used this time to boost women's chances. ... Today, they are better prepared."

But there is also a need to shift the focus, said Moza Sabt. "We need to get rid of the prejudice that men can deliver more and better than women," said the candidate in the seventh constituency of Muharraq Governorate. But she insists that funds and moral support are crucial. "The government has offered financial assistance to political societies, while independent candidates have to rely on themselves ... the Supreme Council for Women should offer them funds."

Moza is also wary of religious alliances that could block women's road to the parliament. "There should be no impediment .. unless, there are some forces that want to marginalise women because they do not trust their aptitudes," she said.

Ensuring support of religious leaders by the Supreme Council for Women is highly significant, Dr Amal Al Jowder said.

"The council can ask moderate religious leaders to actively involve in a campaign," said the candidate from the first constituency of the Central Governorate.

The negative memories of the 2002 experience are still so vividly etched in Dr Amal Al Zayani's mind that she has to ponder hard about participating. Her greatest concern is the wave of rumours and lies that could target her. "Some candidates ... adopt unethical tactics based on lies and rumours to discredit their competitors."

Woman should focus on communication

Manama: Election day will be inevitably portrayed as a battle between the sexes, and female candidates should learn to be flexible with the voters in their constituencies, Kuwaiti activist Rola Dashti warned.

"That should not put off women because they need to be confident about their personality, character, aptitude and competence as human beings," the Kuwaiti activist last week told female candidates at a majlis hosted by Shura (Upper) Council member Dr Bahija Al Jishi.

"Women should be close to the constituents and should particularly avoid official means to communicate with them.

"The focus during the communication should be on the issues that are really close to their hearts and minds," she said.

Economics expert Rola, who lost in the June parliamentary elections in Kuwait, said that women should limit their election campaign focus to five issues, warning that a higher number would be disastrous.

"You need to have deeper and focused insights. For instance if you talk about fighting corruption in general, it would not win you large audiences.

"But if you connect it with unemployment, then many would be listening to you," she said. "The whole idea is to involve the voter in the issues at stake."

She added that she was able to reach out to about 14,000 voters in her constituency. "But that was not sufficient, and I needed to be in touch with the 19,000 registered voters."