One of the few pioneering scholars of Middle Eastern Studies in the early 1970s, Professor Nikki R. Keddie is still making a splash authoring a new book.
On Tuesday, Keddie, professor emeritus of Middle Eastern and Iranian history, gave an intimate lecture discussing her book, titled “Middle Eastern Women: Stereotypes and Struggles.”
Keddie summarized two of the main stereotypes she examines in her book, challenging the common belief that the status of all Middle Eastern women is basically the same, as well as the idea that Islamic politics suppress the rights of women everywhere in the Middle East.
Though Keddie said she believes Islamic politics are responsible for much of the oppression of women in the region, she noted that women’s lives in the Middle East vary by time, place and circumstance.
Susan Slyomovics, a professor of anthropology who spoke with Keddie, said the professor has had a great impact on the field.
She highlighted Keddie’s numerous awards, as well as pointing out that before Keddie, Middle Eastern studies was an area that was largely unexplored, especially in terms of women’s studies.
Rocio Rosales, a graduate student in the sociology department who helped coordinate the event, reiterated Keddie’s influence.
“Because (Keddie) is emeritus already, she doesn’t do a lot of public lectures. There was quite a response from grad students to make this happen. (Keddie) is a pioneer in Middle Eastern studies,” Rosales said.
Keddie said she believes that there has been significant progress in certain areas of women’s rights in the Middle East.
“There has been a widespread increase in education (in the Middle East) ““ literacy rates are on the rise. Health is also improving, and there has been an increase in family planning. People are having less children,” Keddie said.
Keddie said she believes that beyond all else, attitudes are what really need to be targeted in terms of instituting change.
“Changing attitudes (toward women) is not emphasized enough. Turkey is the only country that I know of that actually has government investment in trying to change attitudes in terms of male superiority, male dominance in marriage and … over kids. We need educated people to go in and work amongst the common people ““ and secular people at that, instead of only Islamic politicians,” Keddie said.
Keddie is the author of several books and articles, including “Women in the Middle East: Past and Present” (2007), “Modern Iran: Roots and Results of Revolution” (2006), and “Iran and the Surrounding World: Interactions in Cultural Politics” (2002).
The lecture was sponsored by the Center for Near Eastern Studies, the sociology department’s Gender Working Group and Race and Ethnicity Working Group.