“The domestic policies of authoritarian states rarely benefitted women.” Discuss with reference to two authoritarian states.

Candidates will give a considered and balanced review of the hypothesis that the domestic policies of authoritarian states rarely benefited women. While the focus of the response must be within the timeframe of this topic, the examples chosen need not be contemporaneous with each other. The states may or may not come from different regions. Candidates may refer to the condition of women before authoritarianism was established, and discuss the extent of benefit or otherwise, promoted by the policies of the authoritarian state. Candidates may, for example, discuss legal, social and economic equality, or the extent of female involvement in local and national politics. Familial relations, access to education and child care, and differences between social groups may also be discussed. The states may be considered separately or a thematic approach may be adopted.