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The Middle East Beats the West In Female Tech Founders
PolygamousRanchKid writes with this except from the Economist: "Only 10% of internet entrepreneurs across the world are women, according to Startup Compass, a firm that tracks such things. Except in Amman and other Middle Eastern cities, it seems. There, the share of women entrepreneurs is said to average 35% — an estimate seemingly confirmed by the mix of the sexes at 'Mix'n'Mentor,' a recent gathering in the Jordanian capital organised by Wamda, an online publication for start-ups. Reasons abound, and they are not always positive, says Nina Curley, Wamda's editor. Although more than half of university graduates in many Middle Eastern countries (51% in Jordan) are women, the workforce is dominated by men (women provide only 21% of it overall, and a paltry 16% in Jordan). The internet, however, is a new space that is more meritocratic and not as heavily male. The technology also lets entrepreneurs work from home, making it easier to raise children."
I believe that most heterosexual intercourse i.e. PIV or penis in vagina sex, under patriarchy, is effectively rape. This sounds a controversial and extreme position. However, it perhaps appears less so when we consider the evidence.
Most women are educated into the idea that sex with a man = PIV. So sex without Penis in Vagina, is not full sex or not really sex. I, along with many women, was taught that I could choose whether or not to have sex with a man, but if I did, that would involve PIV.
I was taught that sex = PIV, through sex education classes, Hollywood films and the idea of virginity. All 3 present PIV as real sex, and everything else as foreplay or extras.
In addition, we have the existence of compulsory heterosexuality. This phrase describes how all of us are educated, forced or cajoled as children and teenagers into being heterosexual. At the extreme end there is forced marriage and child brides. But even when we think we have chosen heterosexuality, the reality is that our whole upbringing constantly told us as girls that we are heterosexual and that we will have a relationship with a man.
This is done by asking us as young girls if we have a boyfriend in a teasing manner, our mothers giving us advice about boyfriends before we are dating, books and films aimed at children where a girl or woman has a boyfriend, playing at weddings, etc. Girls are constantly told they are heterosexual and that they will have boyfriends.
So as women we have been often been educated or cajoled into being heterosexual. We are taught that we must have a male partner. And when we have, we are told that if we want sex, we must have PIV.
So can women really be said to consent under patriarchy to PIV sex? And if they don't meaningfully consent, would you call that rape?