Survey: Arab women and decision-making
Regional, Culture, 10/29/2003

A recent survey was conducted by the center of Arab Women for Training and Research CAWTAR, which has Tunis as a headquarters, on Arab women's contributions to decision making.

The survey covered a sample of 6 Arab states: Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Syria, Kuwait, Palestine -- three from the north African subregion and another three from the Middle East. The main objective assigned to the survey was to detect the mechanisms for women's participation in decision- making.

To this end, it was agreed to identify for each concerned country, a number of women holding decision- making positions and ask them to fill in a questionnaire hinging on a number of variables, including: the socio- demographic situation; profession and activity area; success factors, difficulties in discharging functions, effects on the family, interest in women's issues and perspectives.

Based on a correlation between the different variables, it was possible to compile a matrix showing a number of interesting aspects, in more ways than one.

Indeed, based on survey results and analyses it was possible to bring to light the following tendencies: In general, women holding decision- making positions are married, over 40 years ago, with less than three children; Most have been to college, hold a post graduate degree and work in the public sector ( government institutions).

In terms of professional success, women respondents state that they have been successful and say they have a considerable level of satisfaction.

Difficulties are essentially related to two factors: male hegemony in the workplace and family duties. While in the first case, this could be attributed to the pattern of social organization, in the second case, a degree of ambiguity prevails. Indeed a relative dominance has been observed within the couple when both spouse have similar educational level.

Women respondents admit of positive effects on their family life, particularly in terms of children's education and health.

To address such difficulties, women suggest adjustments in the work schedules and a wider participation of the spouse in household duties.

Concerning the emergence if a second generation of women, they suggest fostering their promotion in the workplace, enhancing their educational level, especially in the sciences and in technical areas.

Those women holding political positions were most outspoken for the promotion of second- generation women.

Women are not present in large numbers in decision-making bodies as opportunities become open to women in the light of technical skills and competence. Hence the focus should be placed on education and training and also on a number of dominating values.

Difficulties encountered in terms of integration into the decision- making sphere are essentially related to the dominance of males, to tradition, and to inadequate legislation.

Moreover, their perception with regard to the situation of women in other Arab states is significant in more ways than one, in as much as it reveals their ignorance of the objective circumstances prevailing in these states; each thinking that her own country offers more opportunities for accessing decision- making positions than other countries.

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