Question

• Do you think inequality and discrimination are significant problems today for women in the middle east and north Africa?   

Answer 1

Women's emancipation in the MENA came with the rapid industrialization of government policies, achieved primarily by large-scale state-owned enterprises and public sector enlargement. Since men work at almost equal levels across countries, increasing the workforce can be done primarily by encouraging women to work outside the home. This meant, however, that women had to reconcile their dual roles as home-builders and employees, and that the work environments had to be respectful and worthy. A host of protective laws were passed, ranging from family policies such as maternity leave and childcare services, to limits on the type of work that women could do,

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict continued to fan radicalism among Arabs. Consequently, nationalist movements gained ground from Afghanistan to Morocco, as they offered a valuable weapon for people to unite against enemies. It was further strengthened by the vast quantities of financial funding from Wahabi sources that further etched austere, misogynistic theological thought at its heart.

Earlier methods centered on claims based on rights. It was best expressed at the 1995 Beijing Conference when the then-first Lady Hilary Clinton said that women's rights are human rights, and that women's rights are freedoms. Building on the idea, the emphasis today is to measure the economic cost of discrimination based on gender – the loss of benefits to society as a whole – as they fail to understand their potential and are held back. This approach offers new resources, fresh ideas and creative ways of establishing a fair playing field for all.

It is not enough merely to train and introduce women into the workforce. Only when women are active at all levels of decision-making and leadership will the real benefit from gender equality be achieved as they bring fresh and specific perspectives and insights based on their experiences and needs. Such experiences can lead to better business decisions and better public policies that eventually can lead to more successful social outcomes. Fortunately, women have progressed in governmental and business positions in many MENA countries and it seems optimistic that they will have more opportunities to influence policies and structures for more inclusive societies.

Nonetheless there are optimistic signs in the Arab world. Since cracking the glass ceiling, many countries have named women ministers with important portfolios. And, in Saudi Arabia recently, women were given the freedom to drive, fly with a mahram 's permission, and take part in elections. Maybe the women in the area are actually turning the corner with all of the ups and downs, forward and backward. He has come a long way for Muslim women. They 're not where they were, they 're not where they needed them to be and they need to be.