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Women in the
Arab World
by
H.R.H. Princess Basma bint Talal
Geneva, 26 March 1996 |
 Opening Statement
Women in the Arab World
Comments
IILS PUBLIC LECTURE
"Women in the Arab World"
by
H.R.H. Princess Basma bint Talal
Chairperson, Queen Alia Fund for Social Development, Jordan
Tuesday, 26 March 1996, 5.30 p.m.
Room II, ILO Geneva
OPENING STATEMENT by Padmanabha Gopinath
Director, IILS
Last year, there was an important evolution in global thinking on the role of women in development and civil society. 1995 was the year of the Copenhagen Social Summit as well as the Beijing Conference on Women. To appreciate their full significance, these meetings have to be set in historical perspective. The 1980s were a decade of contradictions, a decade of both promise and of threat for women. On the positive side, they saw an improvement in the legal status of women, and in their access to education and training. Development theory came to recognize that women were a potent catalyst of rapid economic growth in terms of education, health and demographic change. On the other hand, the burdens of structural adjustment weighed more heavily on women than on men. Female labour remained invisible in public accounts; there was a growing gender gap in wages and conditions of work; and a rise of indirect discrimination and of fundamentalism, both in the North and the South. And, today, we remain uncertain about the overall impact of globalization on the status of women.
The importance of Copenhagen and Beijing was that these conferences attempted to give policy direction to women's issues at a time of great flux. It is important to recall this, for there is the usual phenomenon of "fade-out" after major conferences, and because the complementarity between the Social Summit and the Women's Conference has been lost sight of. These meetings articulated global opinion on fundamental linkages between gender issues and the development process.
Since changes in our vocabulary reflect changes in our psychology, it is important to identify these emerging linkages:
-For the first time, social development was seen as the core of sustainable development itself - not as a trade-off, not as trickle-down, but as a development dynamic in its own right.
-Second, the participation of women, and of equality and equity between men and women, was placed at the centre of that dynamic.
- Third, in a carefully balanced statement on a sensitive issue, the family was recognized as the basic unit of society, which plays the key role in social development, and which requires to be strengthened with attention to their rights, capabilities and responsibilities of its members. This is of importance to women and development everywhere, and critically relevant to the Arab region.
- Fourth, the Beijing Conference was a recognition that women had a key role to play in the three major objectives of the international community as a whole: equality, development, and peace, a combination which is of particular relevance to the Arab region.
- Finally, in operational terms, both the Social Summit and the Beijing Conference took the notion of the empowerment of women beyond rhetoric, towards an integrated and synoptic programme to strengthen women's capacities to decide and to act.
These linkages mark a distinct evolution of our thinking. Public attention had already shifted from the reproductive role of women to the task of incorporating women's concerns into development strategies. Today, the conceptual horizon has moved beyond integration with existing patterns to shaping the dynamics of civil society itself. Women's concerns are not merely sought to be integrated with mainstream development. The gender perspective, by addressing gender relations between both men and women, and addressing the governance structure of society as a whole, enables change in the political economy itself.
These are paradigm shifts of the greatest importance. One needs to keep in mind that the implementation of even formal equality is both incomplete and uneven. Nor can we ignore the very real dangers of political amnesia or policy discontinuities. But thinking has changed, and the substance behind the rhetoric deserves to be emphasized, because a rolling horizon is a powerful incentive to action on the ground.
The new international approach to gender perspectives will face their major test in the Arab region. If women's employment is an expression of self-identity, it is also the key to a participative culture. The region provides a dramatic example of the triple challenges facing women: to respond to the demands of the market; to construct a new civil society; and to transform the policies of the state. All this has to be done in situations where social attitudes do not invariably coincide with formal legislation; at a time of political tension; and under the constant threat of violence.
Princess Basma bint Talal of Jordan is both personally and professionally committed to these goals. A country which has been in the forefront of the most protracted and difficult peace negotiations of this century. It is is also in the forefront of the struggle to achieve equitable social development in the face of daunting problems of natural resources, of population growth, and unemployment. As Chairperson of the Queen Alia Fund for Social Development, Princess Basma has been deeply involved in programmes which seek to make the underprivileged the agents of their own independence and prosperity. The Fund touches the lives of nearly a million people through its network of community programmes in agriculture, nutrition, health, and education. At the regional level, Princess Basma is the Chairperson of the Pan Arab Association for Women and Development, and of the Arab Consultative Council of the International Planned Parenthood Federation. She was an Adviser to the Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali for the Beijing Conference, and has been nominated the Ambassador of the United Nations for Human Development. WOMEN IN THE ARAB WORLD
I. Status of women in the Arab world:
The 4th Beijing Conference was a moving experience and an opportunity to help clarify the advancements women have made in the Arab World. These advancements are sadly often overlooked in the west, particularly by the media who tend to favour unrealistic and stereotypical images of Arab Women.
The Arab World is located within a large geographical area stretching from the Atlantic to the Arab /Indian Sea and from the east and south Mediterranean down to the edge of Sub-Saharan Africa. It is the eastern and western rim of Europe, covering an area of over 13.5 million square kilometres. It covers more that 10% of the world's land area, with a population of over 250 million people. Given such an extensive geographic area and large population, one cannot view the Arab World as a single monolithic community either in terms of endowments or in human development achievements.
With regard to the status of women, as well as their social and political achievements, a complex picture emerges across the Arab World. The purpose is not only to critically analyse the situation of women in the Arab world, but to address some of the underlying causes, as well as some of the positive trends that are now emerging in our societies.
In general, Arab women have high fertility, a correspondingly high birth rate, as well as a modest involvement in the labour force and in political life. The UNDP's Human Development 1995 Report on Women indicates a low labour force participation of Arab women which does not exceed 2017-c. This compares to an average of around double that for developing counties as well as for OECD countries. Literacy among Arab women is also modest at 40%. The same unfavourable situation exists with regard to Arab women's political participation in parliamentary life, as well as government affairs. It is low compared with any other world economic group or geographical location.
Arab society is a collective society in which family and clan relationships play a prominent role. This collective social approach has saved Arab women and their societies from much of the modem social strains that are common in other societies, including advanced industrialised countries. There is less hunger and starvation among the poorest Arab societies than in other regions. Drugs and prostitution is limited, rape almost non existent, single parent families and births outside marriage are also very few. Community violence exists, however at a lower level than most other societies; and polygamy, although it still exists among the less advantaged groups, is becoming more unusual. This collective social approach, however, did not greatly assist in spurring women to, work outside the home. The family, in most cases, provided them with shelter, basic necessities and a relatively secure future, which meant there was little incentive to look for a job or seek other remunerative sources of employment.
This to some extent explains the low percentage of Arab women in the labour force. As in other countries of the developing world, many Arab women are actively employed in local farms and agriculture and other domestic productive activities. Whilst their numbers are significant, they do not appear in the labour statistics. Illiteracy, early marriage and lack of employment opportunities contribute to high fertility among women. Fertility among Arab women is rather high, at 4.8 live births for every women compared to the developing countries average of 3.5 and a world average of 3. High fertility and high birth rate restrict women and reduces their mobility and chances of gaining remunerative employment outside the home.
All of these features: high illiteracy rate, high fertility and birth rates, as well as the collective social setup, have contributed towards the modest involvement of Arab women in the labour force and in political life. They have also contributed to a low average age of the population. Almost half the Arab women are fifteen years old or younger and outside the job market. Therefore, the ratio of dependant population compared to the working age population, is very high in the Arab world.
Due to the limited size of the work force and the large young population, the number of young people seeking employment is rapidly increasing year after year, at a pace which the labour market cannot absorb. Its ratio is higher than that of the population growth and in most Arab countries higher than economic growth. At the same time, there is great difficulty in creating job opportunities in the economy for the large number of annual entrants to the labour market. Unemployment in most Arab countries is high and in Jordan stands at 12.6% for men and 29.,4% for women. Young women have less opportunities at a time of active competition for new job opportunities, and this is another significant factor contributing to women's limited participation in the labour force.
II Achievements so far:
Having highlighted some of the main issues and underlying factors concerning women in the Arab World, looks at the strides that have been made over the last few decades as a way of anticipating future trends.
Literacy which is now 40% among Arab women was only 20% in 1970. There is every hope that this literacy rate may also double during the next few years to reach 80% in the year 2020.Some Arab countries, like Jordan, have already exceeded 80% literacy among women. Simultaneously enrolment rate of Arab women in primary and secondary education has more than doubled from 30% in 1970 to over 65% in 1996, pointing to a much better future for them. University attendance and young women graduates have become common features in practically every Arab society. In Jordan, where educational achievements have been the best, there are as many girls as boys in primary and secondary education. Most of school graduates seek further education in the higher educational institutions, where the number of the two genders are almost equal.
Presently in Jordan almost one third of all females in the higher age group category (18-23 years old) are in higher education or have completed it. This is one of the highest figures of women's participation in higher education anywhere in the world. It is an indication of a trend already taking place in other Arab countries. The ratio of Arab women enrolling for higher education has now become only second to OECD and Latin American countries, in all the world's regional groupings.
In spite of these encouraging trends, one primary concern is women's participation in the labour force, coupled with the acquisition of relevant work-based skills. Whilst the job market all over the world is becoming tight; in the Arab world unfortunately it is much tighter. How can women manage to compete in this very tight market and hope for a fair share of limited job opportunities in a society which is still conservative and mainly male dominated?
To start with, legally, in principal there is equal job opportunities for both genders in many Arab states. Applications from women and men of the same qualification, in theory are treated on equal footing in evaluating new appointments. There are also social perceptions as to which types of employment are particularly suitable to women and men. In the education and health sectors, for instance, there are increasing opportunities that are open to women as teachers, educators, doctors and nurses; the same applies to secretarial and social work as well as opportunities in the clothing and textile industries. However, women are anxious to venture into new employment areas such as science, engineering industry as well as the production sector, where competition is already severe and would escalate in the future
The task ahead is to contemplate new opportunities that can absorb the rapidly increasing number of young well-educated Arab women aspiring for work, who simultaneously would be raising or are already raising a family. Also, methods to find ways to assist a large number of Arab women from poorer communities whose families can no longer rely on the wages of a single earner.
The Queen Alia Fund (NGO) in Jordan, is trying to open job opportunities for women through vocational training and income generating projects. Through a self-loan scheme, many are able to start a small business and become profitably productive. The Women Entrepreneurs Unit is working with both rural and urban women, helping them to devise business plans and marketing strategies. Efforts in this regard does not only involve traditional cottage industries, but also the handicraft industry industry. The Fund not only trains, finances and encourages women to become small entrepreneurs, but also helps them with marketing opportunities and exporting outlets.
Being one example of what can be done, if replicated by other NGOs all over the Arab world it would have tremendous impact. Within traditional societies encouraging women to take up productive and income-generating projects is a huge step forward.
This is particularly true of rural communities, where culture is such that women prefer to give away their produce rather than sell it at the rural markets established through the Fund's Community Development Centres. Development of this nature requires time for attitudes and perceptions concerning the role of women to change. The same is also true of advancing the role of women in political, life. Political participation of women is limited but gradually improving. In the recent past, there was practically very little if any involvement of women in political life. This is now starting to change. Today, women are given the right to vote and be elected to the parliament. In the Cabinets of many Arab states women ministers are becoming common. Though, small in number it is a major improvement and an encouraging trend for the future.
In Jordan, there have been great advancements in the women's movement over the last few years. In 1992 the Jordanian National Committee for Women (JNCW) was set up as the largest national policymaking body for women in the country. JNCW was responsible for presenting the government with the Jordanian National Strategy for Women which it adopted in 1993 as its national strategy and plan of action. Thousands of women across Jordan contributed to the strategy and are now involved in its implementation through the Jordanian National Forum for Women (JNFW). This is the largest grassroots movement in Jordan comprising more than 16000 members who take part in activities organised by their local and Women's Committees. As a result of the work of the women's committees ten women were elected to the local municipal councils; one of whom was elected mayor. A major part of the awareness-raising efforts is informing women of their legal rights and encouraging them to take a more active role in decision-making processes. With this care has been taken to involve the men, rural leaders, religious authorities, as well as government officials. The advancement of women in the Arab world cannot be seen as the work of women alone!
III. Women and Islam
Vast majority of Arabs are Moslems; there is however a small -but significant Arab Christian minority. The impact of religion and religious beliefs on Arab women, has been considerable. However, Islam has tried its best to advocate and promote education among the two genders and therefore the present high illiteracy among women in the Arab World is alien to the spirit of Islam. Islam also advocated the preservation of the health of women and children through promoting a sort of a family planning based on allowing ample time between pregnancies in order for the health of the mother and child to recover. In the Holy Koran, as well as in all its teachings, Islam has advocated that women be treated with the same respect as men. As the Prophet Mohammed said women are full sisters of men. Any extreme behaviour by some fundamentalist groups is alien to the spirit and teachings of Islam. Extremism exists in all societies, and is a phenomenon that must be curbed. This requires the concerted effort of us all.
IV. Role of the UN and its agencies
During the last fifty years, particularly the last few years, the different UN agencies: ILO, UNDP, UNIFEM, UNICEF, WHO, UNESCO, have made considerable efforts to enhance sustainable development worldwide.
Many NGO's in the Arab World rely on cooperation and partnership with UN agencies. The Queen Alia Fund has received considerable support, technical assistance and training, which without which many of the programmes and activities particularly targeted towards women could not have taken place.
As a woman and an Arab women I have to thank you for your efforts and encourage you to continue the fruitful work.
Comments by Padmanabha Gopinath
Director, IILS
You touched upon a critical nexus: that between women's issues; the nature of Arab society; and religion. You pointed out that the collective nature of Arab society, the family and the clan, protect women, though it also limits their incentive to participate in the economy. The family is important not only because it ensures the proper allocation of resources at the household level in terms of health, nutrition and education, but also because it could draw upon the Islamic heritage of the education and emancipation of women. This seems to have two implications. First, the necessity of adjusting international gender perspectives to specific regional and cultural situations, and of avoiding cultural or moral absolutism. Second, it implies that the answer to fundamentalism and extremism is to be found in tradition and in history, rather than in their denial.
You stressed the work of grassroot organizations to enable women to participate in economic life, by providing education, training and infrastructure support. However, women's organizations such as the Queen Alia Fund, also have an important role beyond operational activities and the delivery of services. For example, they provide a legitimate social space for women beyond the home; they foster a sense of solidarity; and they mediate between the household on the one hand, and civil society and the state on the other. How can these functions be further developed?
Furthermore, you stressed the importance of involving men in the women's movement, particularly rural leaders and religious authorities. Advancement of women cannot be seen as solely the work of women. This is, I believe, entirely in keeping with the philosophy of gender perspectives which is concerned with society as a whole, and which avoids the pitfalls of targeting women's concerns in isolation. This danger was well expressed by a speaker who said at the end of a meeting on women's questions: "We have the movement, but they have the women."
Closing Remarks
I think I speak for all of us when I say that we have all been deeply impressed by the sincerity of your message, and by your determination to achieve the goals you have set yourself. We in the ILO assure you of our support and wish you every success.
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