Honor Bound: Exploring the Disparity of Treatment of Women in Kurdistan, Iraq

The purpose of this dissertation was to explore the disparity of treatment of women in Kurdistan, Northern Iraq. The primary focus of this feminist, ethnographic research was to explore the conflicting perceptions of women in Kurdistan, Iraq, and the resulting disparity in the treatment of women. This research examined the socio-cultural backdrop of Kurdish society then narrowed in focus to explore the narrative descriptions of three women leader’s experiences in Kurdistan in order to describe their efforts to navigate often conflicting roles and multiple identities. Conclusions of the study are followed with proposed areas of reform for women in Kurdistan compiled from various sources. Themes that emerged from this study that contributed to the participants assuming their current roles include family, education, personal motivation, socio-cultural status, and governmental support through laws enacted to support women. The results support the idea that numerous personal and professional factors must be present in order to provide opportunity for leadership positions and empower women to assume those leadership roles with some measure of autonomy. Further, in this study, women in patriarchal societies who attempt to break through traditional roles face numerous personal and professional obstacles as they traverse borders of identity and conflicting societal expectations.