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Why the Middle East Is a Good Place For Women Tech Entrepreneurs

pbahra writes "Conferences for start-ups and entrepreneurs often feature 'pitch contests,' slots in which aspiring entrepreneurs take to the stage to sell their ideas to the audience. Last month's ArabNet conference, held in the Lebanese capital, was no different. What was different, however, was the number of pitches from female entrepreneurs. The stereotype has it that women in the Middle East are subjugated, oppressed and barely let out of their houses. But if that is the case, how come 40% of the pitches were from women—a higher percentage than is typical in equivalent conferences held in Europe? Nor was this closer-to-equal representation of women unique to ArabNet--other conferences in the region boast similar ratios."

3 of 229 comments (clear)

  1. False choice fallacy by sideslash · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Both may be true -- that this conference was friendly to women running startups, and also that women in many parts of the Middle East are drastically subjugated versus women in at last European and American countries. Who wrote this summary, anyway, and with what agenda?

  2. Re:As Arab cities go... by operagost · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Correct. Islam is the main problem. The Qur'an says that beating women is a step in the process of obtaining obedience, and there are several references in the Hadith of women being inferior.

    --

    Gamingmuseum.com: Give your 3D accelerator a rest.
  3. Re:Soooo.... by Jawnn · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Troll? Seriously? Because the Middle East is such a hotbed of advances in the area of women's rights, I suppose.
    Yes, yes. It's not fair to paint the entire region with one brush, but to even remotely suggest that the region, in general, isn't still influenced heavily by ass-backwards, women hating, religious fucktards is to miss a stupendously obvious reality. I'd say the same about Tennessee, but I think women get a moderately better shake there.