Tunisia's rural women are organising for change

In the rural village of Balta Bou Aouane in Tunisia, women toil as agricultural day workers, enduring long hours and low pay. President Kais Saied's visit to the area highlighted the struggles faced by rural women, especially on Tunisia's National Women's Day. Despite Tunisia's progressive personal status code, which outlawed polygamy and granted women equal rights in marriage and divorce, rural women still face significant challenges, including illiteracy and limited access to healthcare.

Women like Salsabil Kouki and Chadlia Ayari are leading the charge for change in their communities. Kouki, president of a local development association, has fought tirelessly for basic amenities like public water. Ayari, an activist against domestic violence, emphasizes the importance of education in empowering rural women. However, despite their efforts, rural women's rights often remain neglected by the state, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation and marginalization.

Jendouba, Tunisia. 2020.

“If we didn’t go out to work in the fields we wouldn’t be able to feed our kids” says Faouzia Khimiri, 53. She lives in Bulla Regia, a village built atop Roman ruins just outside Jendouba city. Bulla Regia, Tunisia. 2020. - Paula González Gavilanes
“If we didn’t go out to work in the fields we wouldn’t be able to feed our kids” says Faouzia Khimiri, 53. She lives in Bulla Regia, a village built atop Roman ruins just outside Jendouba city. Bulla Regia, Tunisia. 2020.
Faouzia rises at 4am each day to graze her sheep, the fleece from which she sells to help support her family./ Bulla Regia, Tunisia. 2020. - Paula González Gavilanes
Faouzia rises at 4am each day to graze her sheep, the fleece from which she sells to help support her family./ Bulla Regia, Tunisia. 2020.
Woman sheperds in the outskirts of Jendouba City. Rural women in Tunisia usually keep on working until they are no longer phisicaly available to do so. - Paula González Gavilanes
Woman sheperds in the outskirts of Jendouba City. Rural women in Tunisia usually keep on working until they are no longer phisicaly available to do so.
Salsabil Kouki is a rural woman and president of the local branch of the Association of Community Development and Citizenship. Women like her are trying to get more attention from local authorities./ Balta Bou Awan, - Paula González Gavilanes
Salsabil Kouki is a rural woman and president of the local branch of the Association of Community Development and Citizenship. Women like her are trying to get more attention from local authorities./ Balta Bou Awan,
“The road was paved and the municipality extended public water to us. But only after countless sit-ins, and after numerous complaints to the Governor’s office.” Explains Salsabil regarding Balta Bou Awan. Through it’s fields, his eldest son runs. - Paula González Gavilanes
“The road was paved and the municipality extended public water to us. But only after countless sit-ins, and after numerous complaints to the Governor’s office.” Explains Salsabil regarding Balta Bou Awan. Through it’s fields, his eldest son runs.
Rajeh Balti and Hakima Ghedr are dropped off a truck near their village. They are day farmers. Work often begins around 4am and they are paid around ten dinars per day, the equivalent of around three and a half dollars. - Paula González Gavilanes
Rajeh Balti and Hakima Ghedr are dropped off a truck near their village. They are day farmers. Work often begins around 4am and they are paid around ten dinars per day, the equivalent of around three and a half dollars.
After coming back from the fields, Rajeh and Hakima keep on working. They own a couple of sheeps which they take to the fields to be fed. - Paula González Gavilanes
After coming back from the fields, Rajeh and Hakima keep on working. They own a couple of sheeps which they take to the fields to be fed.
"There are women in the mountains who can't read, like I once couldn't. Their eyes are closed to possibilities," says Chadlia Ayari, an activist working to eliminate domestic violence against rural women and their children. She herself has overcome violence. - Paula González Gavilanes
"There are women in the mountains who can't read, like I once couldn't. Their eyes are closed to possibilities," says Chadlia Ayari, an activist working to eliminate domestic violence against rural women and their children. She herself has overcome violence.
Despite representations of Tunisia abroad as a regional champion for women’s rights, especially since the Arab Spring, the reality for rural women can be brutal. - Paula González Gavilanes
Despite representations of Tunisia abroad as a regional champion for women’s rights, especially since the Arab Spring, the reality for rural women can be brutal.
“If we didn’t go out to work in the fields we wouldn’t be able to feed our kids” says Faouzia Khimiri, 53. She lives in Bulla Regia, a village built atop Roman ruins just outside Jendouba city. Bulla Regia, Tunisia. 2020. - Paula González Gavilanes
Faouzia rises at 4am each day to graze her sheep, the fleece from which she sells to help support her family./ Bulla Regia, Tunisia. 2020. - Paula González Gavilanes
Woman sheperds in the outskirts of Jendouba City. Rural women in Tunisia usually keep on working until they are no longer phisicaly available to do so. - Paula González Gavilanes
Salsabil Kouki is a rural woman and president of the local branch of the Association of Community Development and Citizenship. Women like her are trying to get more attention from local authorities./ Balta Bou Awan, - Paula González Gavilanes
“The road was paved and the municipality extended public water to us. But only after countless sit-ins, and after numerous complaints to the Governor’s office.” Explains Salsabil regarding Balta Bou Awan. Through it’s fields, his eldest son runs. - Paula González Gavilanes
Rajeh Balti and Hakima Ghedr are dropped off a truck near their village. They are day farmers. Work often begins around 4am and they are paid around ten dinars per day, the equivalent of around three and a half dollars. - Paula González Gavilanes
After coming back from the fields, Rajeh and Hakima keep on working. They own a couple of sheeps which they take to the fields to be fed. - Paula González Gavilanes
"There are women in the mountains who can't read, like I once couldn't. Their eyes are closed to possibilities," says Chadlia Ayari, an activist working to eliminate domestic violence against rural women and their children. She herself has overcome violence. - Paula González Gavilanes
Despite representations of Tunisia abroad as a regional champion for women’s rights, especially since the Arab Spring, the reality for rural women can be brutal. - Paula González Gavilanes
This story was published in The National. To read it CLICK HERE - Paula González Gavilanes
This story was published in The National. To read it CLICK HERE
Este reportaje fue publicado en Español en El País. Haz CLICK AQUÍ para leerlo. - Paula González Gavilanes
Este reportaje fue publicado en Español en El País. Haz CLICK AQUÍ para leerlo.

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