RAMADI, IRAQ — The women received their first paychecks a few weeks ago – about $500 for a month’s work as police officers.
They paid rent, bought food, wiped out debts. But the seemingly simple transaction has left at least one woman in fear for her life, another threatened with divorce.
The strict tribal and religious culture of Iraq, particularly in its western Anbar province, strongly discourages women from working outside the home and brings shame on men who allow it.
“Right now, our province is safe and peaceful. But anything could shake that up and we could be in danger,” says Genan, 37, a mother of three who’s seven months pregnant.
She and four other women who graduated in early October from five days of police- academy training agreed to speak to The Associated Press on condition that only their first names be used for fear of reprisals. They work in the west Ramadi police station.
The U.S. military is recruiting men into the police force and military in droves, anticipating the day when Iraqis take full control of security responsibilities. That effort is going particularly well in the Anbar provincial capital, where the number of police officers has increased from fewer than 200 in the spring of 2006 to about 8,000. Fourteen Ramadi women have joined those ranks.
When they learned recruits were being sought, Genan, Kadmia, 35, and Fatma, 27, said they jumped at the chance.
“In Iraq, a woman’s job is to stay home and be a housewife. Men and women are not equal,” said Genan, the others nodding in agreement, as she tried to explain through a translator why she signed up.
One of their trainers, 2nd Lt. Kristy Goddard, 29, of Oscaloosa, Iowa, said she and her colleagues weren’t ready for the women to be so well prepared and enthusiastic.
“They studied ahead of time,” she said. “They were way motivated. They knew there would be a lot of obstacles to overcome, and they wanted to do it anyway.”
