It's the Women, Stupid

By: Pippa Norris and Ronald Inglehart

In this Essay, both Norris and Inglehart argue that Samuel Huntington was wrong on his views about why the Western and Muslim worlds clash. Huntington believed that it was due to the differences in government systems and because the Muslims do no believe in the Democratic system that is used by the U.S. government. This essay states otherwise, they say that there has been surveys done that ask many different countries about their thoughts of the democratic system and even predominantly Muslim countries agreed with the democratic system and believed that it would help their country. This does nothing for Huntington's case. Although they do believe that there is a clash they believe that it is in the traditionally of sexuality. In the Muslim culture they are staying very conservative as the generations persist but in the western cultures the younger generations are becoming more and more liberal. In the United States the younger generations are much more accepting about women being involved in jobs outside the home and much more OK with homosexuality than younger generations in Muslim societies.

This seems like a very logical explanation for our separation. Although this may be part of the fact why our societies collide so much, I feel as though this can not be the only reason for the attack of 9/11. They may not agree with the way we do things but it can not only be the difference in the way we treat women. This difference may keep them from choosing to go with a democratic system but I find it hard to believe that it would persuade some one to kill so many. It is true that the younger generations in America are becoming continuously more liberal and yet the Muslim generations stay conservative. This all just seems so strange that two different countries could have such different views on how to treat sexuality and equality. Although I guess if they feel as strongly about not allowing women to have jobs outside the home as we do about allowing women to have the same rights as men, they may feel like it is time for them to step in. They may feel as though it is time to "change" us. I have no idea who is right on this matter or if it even really does have to do with the women or if it just has to do with the fact that our values are so different. Either way, there is a dispute and it needs to be resolved in some way or another.