The Role of Children in Family and Society in the M iddle East: Cases from Cairo and Syria
The Role of Children in Family and Society in the Middle East:
Cases from Cairo and Syria
Mary Keath
Arabic 920 Cultures of the Middle East
Dr. Abdelrahim Salih
March 2005
2
The Role of Children in Family and Society in the Middle East:
Cases from Egypt and Syria
Introduction:
This paper provides a brief overview of the traditional role of children in the family and society in the Middle East. It asks the questions of how these roles made some children vulnerable to harm and poverty as the region changed in the 20th century, and what can happen in the 21st century to equip children for life as adults.
Today, in the Middle East children are seen working long hours in jobs as varied as shining shoes, selling tissues in coffee shops and on the streets, and serving as apprentices in craft shops. Children, who not so visible, weave carpets, perform domestic chores, and sift through garbage as part of the labor force. Many children show the effects of poor nutrition and unsafe environments. Children do attend schools in rural villages and crowded cities; young Quranic students recite the Quran from the rooftops in the very old sections of Cairo; and young girls eagerly seek more knowledge of mathematics. What Are the Characteristics of the Traditional Family?
In the Middle East, the family is the traditional basic socioeconomic unit. It is mainly patriarchal, hierarchical (with respect to sex and age), and extended. This holds true in rural, urban, and tribal structures. The structure of the extended family guarantees the maintenance of proper social protocols, and determines the social ranking and roles and responsibilities of each member. A critical role of this structure has been to ensure the continuance of the existence of the extended family/ tribe and its rights
(including those to water, land, and mutual defense) and ensure the welfare (protection, economic assistance, and general support) of each member. Norms, which
Cases from Cairo and Syria
Mary Keath
Arabic 920 Cultures of the Middle East
Dr. Abdelrahim Salih
March 2005
2
The Role of Children in Family and Society in the Middle East:
Cases from Egypt and Syria
Introduction:
This paper provides a brief overview of the traditional role of children in the family and society in the Middle East. It asks the questions of how these roles made some children vulnerable to harm and poverty as the region changed in the 20th century, and what can happen in the 21st century to equip children for life as adults.
Today, in the Middle East children are seen working long hours in jobs as varied as shining shoes, selling tissues in coffee shops and on the streets, and serving as apprentices in craft shops. Children, who not so visible, weave carpets, perform domestic chores, and sift through garbage as part of the labor force. Many children show the effects of poor nutrition and unsafe environments. Children do attend schools in rural villages and crowded cities; young Quranic students recite the Quran from the rooftops in the very old sections of Cairo; and young girls eagerly seek more knowledge of mathematics. What Are the Characteristics of the Traditional Family?
In the Middle East, the family is the traditional basic socioeconomic unit. It is mainly patriarchal, hierarchical (with respect to sex and age), and extended. This holds true in rural, urban, and tribal structures. The structure of the extended family guarantees the maintenance of proper social protocols, and determines the social ranking and roles and responsibilities of each member. A critical role of this structure has been to ensure the continuance of the existence of the extended family/ tribe and its rights
(including those to water, land, and mutual defense) and ensure the welfare (protection, economic assistance, and general support) of each member. Norms, which
Bibliography: New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2001. Delvin, John F. Syria: Modern State in an Ancient Land. Boulder, Boulder: Westview Press Inc., 1983. El Deeb, Bothaina. “Social Statistics in Egypt.” United Nations Statistics Division. 88/32 (28 April 2003). Hopwood, Derek. Egypt: Politics and Society 1945-1984. 2nd ed. Boston: Allen & Unwin, 1985. Mayer, Ann Elizabeth. Islam and Human Rights: Tradition and Politics. 3rd ed. Boulder: Westview Press Inc., 1999. __________. “ Defending Human Rights Worldwide.” retrieved on February 7, 2005, http://www.hrw.org/reports/2001/egypt/Egypt01.htm. ____________. “At a glance: Egypt” . retrieved on February 9, 2005 http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/egypt_statistics.html ____________. “At a glance: Syrian Arab Republic”. retrieved on February 9, 2005, http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/syria_statistics.html ____________. “Looking at Health Car”. retrieved on February 16, 2005, http://www.settlement.org/cp/english/syria/health.html. ____________. “Looking at Health Care”. retrieved on February 16, 2005, http://www.settlement.org/cp/english/egypt/health.html.