Women and girls represent half of the world's population so it is manifest
that they will represent half of its potential as well. Gender equality, besides
being a basic human right, is essential for achieving peace in societies and
unleashing the full potential of society.
Moreover, empowering women has been shown to stimulate productivity and
economic growth. United Nations support for women's rights began with the
international framework proclaimed in the United Nations Charter.
Among the purposes of the United Nations proclaimed in Article 1 of the
United Nations Charter is "to achieve international cooperation to promote
respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all people.”
Woman’s Participation in Societies:
The participation of women in productive paid work is restricted by
patriarchal norms that hold the man as breadwinner and the woman as
housewife. When women work outside the home, they are often considered
suitable for limited occupations usually related to their reproductive role.
These stereotypes perpetuate the disproportionate burden of care work
placed on women and limit their ability to do or remain in paid work outside
the home. The lack of care facilities and safe transportation further hinders
women's access to work.
The mismatch between skills and market demand, as well as low wages and
a lack of attractive job opportunities, often compound the problems women
face in the world of work.
The social roles of the sexes in Egypt are taken for granted. Law No.154 of
2004 was issued for equality between men and women and the recognition
of their vital role in society.
These roles are closely related to the traditional formation of the family in
the Islamic concept, where the role of women is confined to the home, while
the role of men is related to public affairs outside the home.
The roles of each gender are determined in Society based on assumed biological differences between the sexes, which lead to sharp differences in life experiences and opportunities for individuals.
Egypt’s Ranking for Gender Inequality:
In 2011, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) ranked Egypt, in
the Gender Inequality Index. It was ranked 126 out of 148 countries, with a net score of 0.59, knowing that the ideal score is 1.0.
These indicators point to a clear imbalance in gender equality in terms of
reproductive health, the economic role, and empowerment in general.
Despite the adoption of favorable wage equality laws, disparities persist.
According to the annual report released by UN Women for the period 2011-
2012, 117 countries have adopted laws on equal pay.
But in most countries, women's wages are only 70 to 90 percent of men's wages, or even less in some countries in Asia and Latin America. Globally, 50.5 per cent of working women in 2011 held precarious jobs, often outside the protections afforded by labor laws, compared to 48.2 per cent of men.
Women are much more likely to hold precarious jobs than men, in North
Africa (55 percent versus 32 percent), the Middle East (42 percent versus 27
percent) and sub-Saharan Africa (85 percent versus 70 percent).
The Global Employment Trends Report 2012 Figures: Preventing a
Deepening Employment Crisis. More women still do housework and provide
unpaid care services than men in all regions of the world (Source: UN
Women Annual Report 2011-2012).
Women in Developing Countries
Women in developing countries represent the vast majority of the working
poor. In sub-Saharan Africa, for example, nearly 8 out of 10 women work in
vulnerable conditions. The number of women in part-time jobs is twice the
number of men according to the 2014 UN report.
There are many factors that contribute to this situation, including gender
inequality in family roles, the absence of adequate and accessible reception
structures for children and the elderly, and the important role of social
perceptions in women's participation in the work.
According to the International Labor Office, women are mostly employed in
the informal and agricultural sector.
Despite their major participation in the management, conservation and use
of natural resources, they are only paid for a limited amount due to their
lack of control over resources and production factors and their weak
participation in decision-making.
Women suffer from many forms of violence and are the first victims of
armed conflicts in which rape is used as a weapon of war.
It is estimated that 70 per cent of the world's women experience physical or
sexual violence during their lifetime, that is, one in three women between
the ages of 15 and 49 years have been exposed to acts of physical or sexual
violence, or both, committed by an intimate partner, and this is the case in
all Regions of the world.
Violence Against Women:
According to a study on homicide by the United Nations Office on Drugs and
Crime, it is estimated that half of the women who were murdered worldwide
in 2012 were killed by an intimate partner or family member.
Nearly 120 million girls worldwide (just over one in ten girls) have been
forced to have sex or participate in other sexual acts at some point in their
lives.
Millions of women and girls who are considered victims of human trafficking
are trapped in modern slavery. Globally, according to a 2012 ILO report,
women and girls represent 55 percent of those affected by forced labor and
98 percent of those affected by sexual exploitation.
There is another aspect of violence that directly affects the physical integrity
of the female fetus.
The social preference for males actually leads to the killing of females in some areas (in India, China and elsewhere), which causes an important imbalance in the population balance. For example, there are 112 cases of male births in Georgia for every 100 female births (UNFPA figures for 2015).
Written by - Mohammed Hassan
Edited by – Sandhya R
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