Two very contrasting results have been announced for 
female political candidates. While Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner swept to victory as Argentina’s first elected female president, there were no women elected in Oman.
It’s particularly disappointing because a record 21 women out of a total of 632 candidates competed for 84 seats in this year’s election for the monarchy’s consultative council that advises the ruling sultan and questions ministers on their performance. It had previously had two women members.
Some voters said women candidates failed to win seats because they were unpopular in the male-dominated society. It has also been said that tribal affiliation might have overshadowed voter’s choices.
Nevertheless, more women than men were reported to have voted at some polling stations, according to this Gulf News report.
However, one female voter said some women in the tribal interior of the country had problems getting to polling stations since they rely on their menfolk for transport. Some also follow their male relatives’ lead when choosing which candidate to vote for.
I really admire these courageous women from Oman for standing as candidates in a male dominated society. Perhaps Sultan Qaboos bin Said, who wants to modernise his country, could set a quota of women members on his council to give them a helping hand.
‘parently it’s a wierd system of putting candidates forward there and her husband nominated her – talk about keeping it in the family! Only Castro could top that.
Well thank goodness that didn’t happen here – we’d have got Cherie Booth – ARGHHHHHHHH!!!!
How sad, all that effort for naught. To lose the only two seats they had is even sadder. I don’t normally agree with quotas but perhaps a temporary one in this case would not be so bad.
[…] Holden Oliver wrote an interesting post today on Argentina and Oman’s contrasting results for womenHere’s a quick excerpt […]
Eat your heart out Hilary
That’s the way to get into The White House or The Pink House as the case may be.
Amazing though, the only comment from the US is that they hope she will put a damper on Argentina’s relations with Venezuela’s Chavez – eh? why?
I’m sure Chavez is chiffed for her.
supposed to read ‘chuffed’ for her
[…] Dr. Breus wrote an interesting post today on Argentina and Oman’s contrasting results for womenHere’s a quick excerpt […]
We need more women MPs in Muslim countries. It’s tough for them though. Look at Benezir Bhutto.
I’m glad we still can look at Benezir Bhutto given that they tried to kill the woman.
I wonder if a woman tried those tactics they would call her hysterical and unhinged but a man tries them and it seems to be acceptable politics!
In muslim countries? No, in muslim families everywhere if a woman puts a foot wrong she risks being murdered, however much she’s allowed to hairspray her headscarf back. Even here. Our own culture has been abolished.
Yes, because women depend on men for so many things that we take for granted in these societies, this was bound to happen. But perhaps we are seeing the beginning of change.
Women in the Sultanate of Oman are treated with fairness and respect .
Those who couldn’t go to vote in rural areas, probably did so, only cause their husbands couldn’t bring them : election day here is not a day off,is just like any other working day .
Tribal preferences on votes are not imposed by men, is part of the culture : it comes natural to vote for your representative if belonging to your same group .
His Majesty appointed 14 female members in the State Cuoncil, the other consultative body of Oman .
A person must gain respect for what she does, thinks and says, not just because she is a woman .