67741 March 2012 – Number 60 OPENING DOORS: GENDER EQUALITY IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA Tara Vishwanath1 millions of women turned out to vote in the recent parliamentary elections but eventually made up Introduction: Many countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region are undergoing a profound transformation. From Morocco to Yemen, Box 1 – The Younger generation is full of popular movements have called for reforms to make Aspirations government more inclusive and more accountable, Rahma* comes from a region of Yemen where it extend social and economic freedoms, and boost is often said that "to educate a woman is wrong employment opportunities. Young men and women because she has no place but her husband's have been at the forefront of these calls for change, house." But over the objections of her neighbors reflecting their desire to participate actively in the and community leaders, Rahma became the first political sphere. As new governments are being female in her town to complete high school. She was also the first to take a job at a private formed in Tunisia and Egypt, and elections are medical clinic, and the first to participate in a underway elsewhere in the region, people continue one-year healthcare training program in Sana'a. to demonstrate for meaningful change. It is now Rahma has since returned to her town, married, clear that the rapid transformation that seemed so and now delivers babies from a special room close at the start of the Arab Spring is in fact likely to added to her house. The community has grown be a process of gradual change that will take to admire and respect her, and other girls are following in her footsteps. Rahma's younger months, if not years. sister is now attending the Health Institute in nearby Ibb City. An Uncertain but Hopeful Future: How the region's societies will change in the wake of these revolutions Very few women currently work for pay in of varying degrees remains an open question. Facing Rahma's mountainside town. Yet, when asked in a focus group what they hoped to be doing when popular pressure to be more open and inclusive, they were 25 years old, adolescent girls transition governments in Tunisia and Egypt are declared: "A teacher. A lawyer. An engineer. A considering electoral and constitutional reforms to broadcaster." The girls also plan to marry and deepen democracy. These reforms present an raise families, but many aspired to work in a opportunity to enhance women's economic, social professional setting where they can apply their and political inclusion. However, the outlook "hard work, diligence, excellence [and] morals, with confidence and with education and remains uncertain. Tunisia mandated that an equal responsibility.� Similarly, in their focus group, number of men and women run as candidates on the the boys hoped to "get married, make my wife electoral list, and women have secured a quarter of happy, and find a good job," and they also the seats in the constituent assembly. In Egypt, expected to have to "work hard and persevere" to realize their dreams. In a neighborhood in Gaza, a 24 year-old who 1 Tara Vishwanath is a Lead Economist in the MENA region’s PREM graduated from university says she wants to unit and the TTL of this report. This Quick Note was cleared by Bernard continue on for "a Master's degree and then Funck, Sector Manager, Poverty Reduction and Economic Management open a private enterprise with my friend," while Department, Middle east and North Africa Region (MNSPR), The a young man from that community reports, "I World Bank. want to be an architect." only two percent of the lower house of parliament. sector as a source of jobs resulted in higher levels of Throughout the region, there is a concern that efforts unemployment and lower productivity for the to advance women’s rights may be halted, and even region, its further expansion is increasingly fiscally reversed, as new governments come to power. In unsustainable, especially in the labor abundant, oil- this context, it will become increasingly important to poor countries. safeguard the gains from past reforms, at the very Moreover, job creation in the private sector has so least. At the same time, the world has acknowledged far been too limited on its own to absorb the large the power of Arab women as catalysts of change, and growing number of young job-seekers. Even recognizing Tawakel Karman with the Nobel Peace within that limited sphere, women are unable to prize. She is the first Yemeni, the first Arab woman, compete on an equal footing due to several and the youngest recipient of this honor. interrelated factors. Women in the region continue to face significant restrictions on mobility and This Quick note is based on a report which agency; these are underpinned by the legal complements the 2012 World Development Report framework, social and cultural norms, and (WDR) on Gender Equality and Development, regulations that restrict work and political focusing on challenges and reform priorities for participation. There are persistent obstacles related gender equality in the MENA region. Following the to the quality of education and critical skill approach of the WDR 2012, the report draws on mismatches between what is studied in school and economic analysis of quantitative data from what the private sector demands. Finally, employers countries in the region, qualitative research and often perceive women as more costly and less other international evidence. productive, while women have concerns about reputation and safety in private sector jobs. This Across the region, young men and women are full of report places primacy on these incentives and aspirations (Box I-1). Education is seen as a pathway constraints generated by the economic and to a meaningful career, through which young people institutional structures that prevail in the countries can contribute to their communities and build an in the region. identity. Through work, young men and women alike aspire to achieve great things and in turn The time for change is now. Given the growing inspire their peers. But these stories also labor, demographic and fiscal constraints, and the demonstrate that success in economic and political changing aspirations in the region, policy reforms life does not need to come at the cost of family life are urgently needed to boost job creation for all. But and traditional values. this alone will not address the myriad constraints to women’s participation in the workforce. Arguably, The Paradox of Gender Inequality in the MENA greater economic empowerment can stimulate a Region: This report will argue that there is a virtuous circle for broader empowerment. Therefore, paradox in gender equality in the MENA region: targeted and coordinated efforts are needed on while, for the most part, MENA countries have multiple fronts to increase women’s participation in made admirable progress in closing gender gaps in the public sphere, and these must be specific to education and health outcomes, these investments in country context. These include policies to secure human development have not yet translated into women’s equality under the law, address the commensurately higher rates of female participation remaining human development challenges, redress in economic and political life. the skills mismatch, and promote women’s civic and political participation. Mere changes in laws will do Women and Employment Issues: With higher levels little if there is an insufficient number of jobs or if of education and lower fertility rates, women in the few women possess the requisite skills that jobs region are increasingly looking for work. The public demand. Neither will a continuation of policies that sector has long been the dominant source of increase subsidies, public sector pay and benefits or employment, especially for women in the region, employment help. On the contrary, it will further who typically earn significantly more than they distort the incentives for private sector job creation would in the private sector. And women’s fields of and for women to seek work outside the public study are geared towards employment in the public sector. In consultations held across the region, sector. Not only has this dependence on the public women affirmed their desire to work and the lack of March 2012 · Number 60 · 2 job opportunities, reiterating the constraints posed Contact MNA K&L: by the legal and regulatory framework and Laura Tuck, Director, Strategy and Operations. conservative social norms. Grave concern about MENA Region, The World Bank regression in the women’s rights and in laws that govern women’s ability to exercise choice, move Regional Quick Notes Team: freely, and exploit opportunity was a recurrent Omer Karasapan, and Roby Fields Tel #: (202) 473 8177 theme in these discussions. In the face of this popular sentiment, the countries of the MENA The MNA Quick Notes are intended to summarize region can no longer be complacent. This lessons learned from MNA and other Bank Knowledge opportunity to improve productivity and social and Learning activities. The Notes do not necessarily cohesion by giving women the chance to participate reflect the views of the World Bank, its board or its fully in the public sphere cannot be missed. member countries. March 2012 · Number 60 · 3