About the role of women in the societies as described in the selections by Djebar, Rifaat, al-Idlibi and Ayyoub, these women have been struggling to gain their rights in their country and are still trying to do so in order to cope with other conflicts they encounter. The female characters were at odds with their roles in their societies.
The role of the women was seen in the call by the women for equal rights. Theirs was a cry for equal rights and freedom just as the men had. In the society, women could be treated harshly. Some even got married off to older men against their will. Some, were sold into slavery. In addition, the women did not have power as the religious communities suppressed them further. Thus, the women could express their concerns through protesting and handing of memos of demands.
