Political violence against Jordanian Politician women in Amman & Al Karak cities: A case study

Abstract

This study aims at revealing the reasons behind the political violence against Jordanian women. It also reveals its forms and the procedures which the Jordanian female politicians adopt to confront such political violence. The study employs the descriptive analytical approach as a case study. An intentional sample of 30 politician women aged between 28 to70 years old was chosen from the cities of Amman and Karak. These women have occupied the following political roles: municipal members, parliament members, political party members, senators, and ministers. The study reaches a number of substantial results: (1) the most prominent reason for political violence to which the Jordanian female politicians have been exposed to is related to patriarchal tendency. It is related to biological difference as well as social, cultural and political differences on which the gender roles are based on an authoritarian arrangement, either directly or indirectly; (2) economical inequalities and the fact that these women are more dependent on men (father, brother or husband) in meeting their publicity needs in the political field; (3) all women under study are exposed to various forms and degrees of violence such as psychological, economical, physical, and sexual. The study recommends that combating political violence against female politicians should be included among the government's political priorities. Moreover, national laws should be brought into line with conventions and treaties that guarantees women's right to full citizenship, and that special women's political centers should be established to report any violence against them.