"Women in Lebanese Politics"

This documentary film features the challenges and successes to increase women's participation in current political life in Lebanon. We learn about programs and efforts encouraging women to run and vote. A 30% women's quota was proposed at the Lebanese parliament by some women's organizations and government officials, but was rejected.

We follow female political activists from the Lebanese Association for Democratic Elections (LADE) and learn about what prompted them to be active in political life, in comparison to some of the apathetic youths.

Lebanon Elections 2009
Filming continues in Lebanon this May-June to focus on the progress made since 2005. We will interview proponents and opponents of the women's quota. Visit the BLOG for updates

Lebanon Elections 2005
The first production trip to Lebanon took place during the parliamentary elections of June 2005. I followed young female activists from the Lebanese Association for Democratic Elections (LADE). Amongst various programs of the organization are efforts to encourage women to participate in political life.

Background:
The Lebanese Parliament has 128 seats. Members of Parliament are voted in by popular vote and they in turn vote for the President of the Republic. Between 1975 and 1990, no elections took place due to the the civil war in Lebanon.

Women have been voting since 1952, in fairly equal proportion to men, but only a handful officially run for elections. The number of women in the Parliament went up from three to five in the June 2005 elections. The female Members of Parliament included: the sister of a former Prime Minister, two widows of slain presidents, the wife of a militia leader who was in jail, and a technocrat who won due to her affiliation with one of the major political parties.

Lebanese women generally have equal legal rights, with the exception of a few arcane constraints. They are considered more modern and liberated compared to women within the region. Women in the major cities of Lebanon tend to be highly educated, hold jobs and managerial positions, and have freedom of movement and dress. Men and women in rural areas tend to me more conservative and endure social and political pressure to vote homogenously according to their affilitation to a local clan, leader or party.

The Lebanese Association for Democratic Elections (LADE) is a non-governmental organization focusing on election reform, civil society and democracy. Amongst its various programs, LADE organizes workshops and media campaigns encouraging women to vote, run and participate in politics.

In 2005, LADE organized an unprecedented media campaign addressing women through TV spots and billboards. The billboards featured two well-known female political show hosts from two major TV networks. The messages included "Raise your Voice," "Justice is Feminine," "Democracy is Feminine."

The young female activists in LADE are progressive in their political involvement, leading protests, potentially being groomed for running themselves for political seats in the future.

A short clip screened at the Luna Fest, Young Women Task Force Halloween event, and an American University Anthropology Seminar, in Washington, DC.