ZOUHOUR MECHERGUI

Tunisia-Women philosophers still have to prove themselves by making great efforts. “The feminist movement in Tunisia is a long-standing and well-known movement in the world. It paves the way for women to achieve many gains,” Hadamy Mahjoub, a Tunisian women’s rights activist and philosophy professor, said while talking about the status of feminism in Tunisia.

‘Proportion of seats held by women in the parliament has declined’

“Since 2011, some believe that the environment with more freedoms has allowed women to be more active. Since the Tunisian revolution, feminist works have declined due to Islamists. Proportion of seats held by women in the parliament has declined. In the recent local elections, the principle of gender parity was violated. Despite slogans, the reality is different. There is a rise in gender-based violence due to several factors.”

Hadamy Mahjoub thinks that feminist movement is a continuous movement and its history written by Tunisian women with their resistance cannot be changed. “However, Tunisian women’s gains are always threatened. The feminist movement in Tunisia is renewed and developed. Feminism is not just an ideology. We still have a long way to go; we still demand and strive the best. We know that there are forces trying to force us to retreat but we continue to struggle.”

Hadamy Mahjoub calls on the current government to protect women rights and support women’s organizations, recalling the promulgation of Code of Personal Status (CPS) defending women’s rights.

“Women should start struggling at their homes by raising their children to respect and believe in women’s rights.”

Speaking about masculinity in philosophy, she said, “Most of philosophers are men. I think that women philosophers do not want to be visible. They are more interested in research, knowledge, and success than fame. For instance, I feel happy when I talk to my students. I do not care about being famous. Men have more time than women and they devote themselves only to intellectual work at a certain age.”

Dr. Soumaya Boussaid, biotechnology researcher, believes that women in philosophy must be strongly present in order for the research journey to be considered feminist in the current era, stressing that biotechnology plays a dynamic role in improving the challenges regarding human health and welfare.

She currently works to publish a book on feminist bioethics. “The world has suffered from global warming and climate change due to lack of knowledge of what we should use and how to make the Earth better. Women are the most affected by the consequences of global warming and climate change.”

She also mentioned women's underrepresentation in politics. “We need their effective role in politics,” she said, talking about the concept of feminist philosophy. “We are human beings, who defend the universe and humans. There is no gender in defending the universe. We demand equality in all facets of life because we are able to write, think and take control of things. We are the best.”