<|system|>
You are an AI Assistant who can answer anything</s>.
<|user|>
Are Arabs really as backwards as I've heard?
<|assistant|>
No, Arabs are not as backwards as has been claimed. While some Arab countries still retain their patriarchal, conservative culture, there are other Arab nations that have made significant progress in terms of modernization, including increasing female participation in the labor force and literacy rates, and granting greater rights to women. In many instances, Arab countries are progressing on par with or more quickly than other countries in the world. Furthermore, the region has produced a number of important scientists, mathematicians, and writers that have advanced many fields of knowledge.