However, in 2003 the rate of participation of Arab women was at six percent, which is lower than the rates in Asia, the Pacific, and sub-Saharan Africa [ESC14]. The Inter-Parliamentary Union ranked the Arab region as the lowest in terms the participation of women in parliaments [Sab14]. Regarding the ability to vote, different Arabic countries granted women the ability to vote at different times. The ability for women to vote in the United States was granted earlier than every Arabic country. For instance, women were able to vote in 1949 in Syria, in 1959 in Tunisia, in 1994 in Oman, in 2005 in Kuwait, and for the first time in 2015 in Saudi Arabia [Tho14]. Fortunately, the ability to hold office is spreading across the Arabic world as specific seats are being assigned only to women. Still, women hold less seats than men. For example, in 2005, the number of office seats available was 250 but women only held 30 seats. In Saudi Arabia, the number of office seats available was 120 but women held no seats [Int]. Saudi Arabia is an example of a country with a strong hold on patriarchy which forces women to be controlled by the dominant man in the family.
In contrast, in the United States, women have had more political rights, which lead to a more open-minded society and reduce male dominance in society and the government. Although in the past women in the United States were also pictured as housewives and caretakers, there has been a progression in society that led to a larger autonomy of women. The number of women in the United States is 161 million which accounts to about 50% of the population, similar to Arabic countries [USC14]. The contrast lies in the fact that women hold 18.5% of congressional seats and 20% of senators [Jud14]. The number, though not high, is higher than all of the Arabic world combined. There isn't a specific set of seats for women only but every seat is open for both genders instead.
