Local Approaches to Women's Rights Activism in Amman, Jordan (2013)

Undergraduate: Margo Balboni

Faculty Advisor: Nadia Yaqub
Department: Peace, War & Defense

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In recent years, Western feminism has at times come under fire for imposing a false globality on the movement for women's rights when in fact there is an enormous diversity in the vision, strategy and tactics of pro-woman activists across cultures. This case study of a thriving women's rights organization in Amman, Jordan analyzed the perspectives of a group of Jordanian activists, their relationship with the local community, and the strategies which make them effective in the specific cultural context of East Amman.
The organization¿s remarkably strong relations with its community are partly a result of the fact that FDA leaders frame their programs in a way that speaks to local sensibilities. By explicitly linking female empowerment to the well-being of families and key Muslim values, they are able to articulate their mission as a natural expression of local values rather than an imposition of foreign constructs. On a tactical level, the collectivist nature of Jordanian society is reflected in the holistic approach that FDA takes to serving individual women. FDA representatives engage directly and frequently with the family members, friends, and/or school directors of the women they serve.