Progress Amid Resistance

216 WOMEN’S RIGHTS IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICAF Professional associations and political parties should take steps to en -sure that women have full and equal opportunities to participate asmembers and leaders in their organizations.F The government and parliament should reform the voting system forChamber of Deputies elections to improve the odds of success forfemale candidates, and consult with women’s NGOs and other expertsto devise the best possible model. The potential benefits of a singletransferable vote system should be examined as part of this process.F NGOs should organize lectures and training activities, including leadershipinstitutes and debate classes, to encourage women to join andlead political parties.F Domestic and international NGOs should initiate programs to trainfemale campaign managers on how to effectively run political campaignsfor women candidates. They should focus on campaign strategiesthat have proven successful for women in other Arab countries.SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTSSocial tension between women’s rights and family obligations continues toimpede the advancement of the status of women. Some within the conservativeestablishment fear that calls made by women’s groups for equality,independence, and the right to work might lead to the destruction of thefamily unit. As a result of these dominant cultural attitudes and the dividebetween public and private life, Jordanian women face particular challengesin obtaining full social rights.Women are legally free to choose their own physicians, visit health clinics,and make decisions about most aspects of their health care. However,they face a number of social and financial restrictions on their independence.According to customs prevalent in rural areas, many women donot visit the doctor alone, especially if they are unmarried. Moreover, amajority of women are financially dependent on their husbands or fathers,who must pay for their medication. Most women, particularly those whodo not work, are beneficiaries of their husband’s or father’s employmentbasedhealth insurance, though working women enjoy full health coverageif their employer provides it.Female civil servants are eligible for health insurance for themselvesand their dependents if their husbands are not also public employees. 31