ABSTRACT
Women in formal groups are only acceptable when they conform to the cultural ideals established by the state. Women could hence be targeted for special programmes and informal groups could be made into those which were more formal. Many urban women in the Middle East are very poor but by setting up the informal groups where members are related by kinship or affinity, they are able to help each other apart from male scrutiny. The colonial narrative on the women and the Islam became the focus of the nation and, beginning in the twentieth century, several responses arose. There was the modern intellectual approach (liberation of the women through the removal of their veils and the reform of marriage and divorce laws). The formation of some women's groups, whether formal or informal will give employment to the educated and well-placed women.
