Naziha Boussaidi

Tunisia _ Laws,foremost among them law No.58 on combating violence against women, have remained limited in effectiveness because they haven’t been accompanied by a real change in prevailing patriarchal mentalities. Large segments of society still view women as inferior to men and grant themselves the right to exercise various forms of violence against them under any circumstances, while demanding that women be patient and sacrificial.

This mentality is embodied in speeches and statements issued by men who are supposed to be in a position to protect women’s rights and preserve their dignity. Degrading statements have been issued by prominent political figures, including the phrase of the late President Beji Caid Essebsi: "She's just a woman," even though his coming to power would not have been possible without the votes of Tunisian women.

Parliament also witnessed verbal and physical assault by deputy Seifeddine Makhlouf against deputy Abir Moussi, in addition to smear campaigns and symbolic violence against Professor Sana Ben Achour and the president of the "Beity" association. Nor should we forget the statements of other deputies, such as the one who described Olfa Hamdi as an "old maid," or the one who recently stated, in effect: why rape African women when Tunisian women are beautiful and available? A discourse that combines racism and sexism simultaneously.

Despite many laws

It is observed that Tunisian men internalize the patriarchal mentality that grows with them from childhood and is nourished by cultural and social heritage. Some mothers contribute to reinforcing this discrimination when they differentiate in treatment between male and female children. The girl is burdened with household chores and caring for her brother's needs, while the male is exempted from these responsibilities, sometimes only being assigned simple tasks such as buying some supplies from outside. Thus, unbalanced roles are reinforced, reproducing the same mentality across generations.

In this context, Abeer Al-Jalassi, a researcher and specialist in criminal law, says that women today suffer from outdated mentalities despite the existence of many projects, laws, and even judicial decisions that support women's freedom and rights, but "we are still far from applying the laws." She adds, "For me, the patriarchal mentality is embodied primarily in the behaviors I encounter on the road, from verbal violence to sexual harassment."

She pointed out that outdated mentalities are also embodied within the family in terms of gender-based discrimination. The patriarchal mentality also manifests in daily life when there are people who are aware of the law and legislation, yet they legitimize violence and classify women according to body and color. "We suffer in Tunisia from mentalities that want to take us backwards in our relationships, our connections, in our daily transactions. Therefore, we must think about solutions."

Regarding her opinion on this matter, she explained that "it must be emphasized that the feminist movement, or democratic women, do not seek to gain their rights by excluding men, taking away their rights, or belittling their status. What we demand is a relationship based on mutual respect." She affirmed that men must believe in the cause.

Religious reference

Taqwa Al-Khanchi, a student at the Faculty of Law, says, "Part of the patriarchal mentality has become entrenched in Tunisia due to legislation." She explained that "to this day, there are texts with religious reference in the Personal Status Code, such as inheritance, which applies what is in Islamic jurisprudence: the male gets the share of two females."

She points out that although the Personal Status Code "sparked a legal revolution and caused great controversy over rights and freedoms for women, especially with the Copenhagen Convention which opposes all forms of discrimination against women, we now have a culture that preserves that religious specificity and societal mentality where the man inherits more than the woman, and we have the universal rights system that speaks of equality between men and women and non-discrimination based on sex and race."

Change from within

For her part, Mounia Kouache, a feminist media professional, said that "changing mentalities must start from within, from our practices, our ideas, and from early upbringing. We must raise our children not to discriminate based on sex, because it is a comprehensive cultural and religious heritage that cannot be changed overnight, while we have the opportunity to change future generations and change their mentalities and their view of themselves and of women."

She pointed out that Tunisia still lacks effective feminist media. "Recently, when the parliament was discussing the early retirement law, a law condemned by the Association of Democratic Women, some women were surprised by the feminist movement's position; they even welcomed this law, considering it serves their interests. They wondered how democratic women could oppose such a decision."

She noted that the level of awareness varies from one woman to another; some still view things from a narrow perspective. She added that "Tunisian society has long lived under the weight of mentalities that take us backwards. We hear regressive statements from time to time."

Feminist media professional Mounia Kouache said that changing mentalities is not something that happens overnight but requires collective effort and continuous work day and night to bring about the desired transformation. She affirmed that this path also requires continuous awareness until reaching the stage of societal maturity.