Too, despairing and relenting are far easier that optimism and sacrifice.
Everyone calm down. As long at there is a regular vote, freedom of the press, and regular elections, the people won't be held down for long. When a politician stands up and says, "Women should be equal." and then some old school dude says "that's not Islamic," how long can that really fly in front of a glaring and curious media?
As long as there is regular elections and a free press (especially an international presence), some cleaver politician will eventually vanquish the defenders of this oppressive ideology. Just look at the history of freedom in this country. We had Martin Luther King and also the Women's Temperence Society (remember them from the 20's?) to get things fixed. Be patient. There are two truths in life. Water always finds a level and freedom always finds a way.