From leather jackets to veils, the women blend the old and new. They reveal how far Qatar is willing to go in the reinvention of gender roles. Men and women can act and share in building society in their own ways. Being a respectable lady, it is not an issue. If you saw me on the day I met with women voters, I wore my veil and plain clothes.
Restrictions stem less from police authority than they do from family and social pressures.
The man is better than the woman here. I don't want women on the council. But the election has sparked debate about the region's sexual politics and forms of government. By having a democratic process, Qatar has posed a challenge for the region to consider. Kuwait is the only Gulf state to have an elected parliament, although women cannot participate in elections.