[Billthedrill]

Every single country, without exception, where women and men (and everyone else) are relatively equal and afforded equal human rights, legal rights etc. IS MORE PROSPEROUS...

That is perfectly correct. The single biggest reason Bernard Lewis cites for the nearly universal impoverishment of latterday Islamic culture it the disenfranchisement of women. Where these are most able to participate - Turkey, for example - their countries are most wealthy.

Many people cite Japan as an example of a country that is wealthy but still subordinates women. This is an error. In Japan the women control a higher percentage of the overall spending than they do in any Western country including the United States. I mention this to highlight the difference between empowering women and making them figureheads. Only the former will help. Sticking a Hillary in office just because she is a woman (I believe) is a futile gesture.

[wimpycat]

Excellent observations.

On a similar note, if and when Iran ever shakes off its theocratic dictatorship, Iran has the potential (the potential, mind you, if not the will) to be a really successful, relatively prosperous country. I believe that universities in Iran have at least a 50% female enrollment.

Iraq also has the potential to throw off its 3rd world fetters. The raw material is there--all they need is the will to go for it.

[fr_freak]

That is perfectly correct. The single biggest reason Bernard Lewis cites for the nearly universal impoverishment of latterday Islamic culture it the disenfranchisement of women. Where these are most able to participate - Turkey, for example - their countries are most wealthy.

This does not necessarily mean that participation of women causes prosperity. It simply may be that societies that repress women are more repressive in other ways as well, and true prosperity would be difficult to achieve in such an atmosphere. The Islamic societies are the perfect example of this.