Gender bias links Arab world and West, says report

Discrimination issues within the Arab world are essentially no different to problems in the West, according to a report published by Women in Business International on the developing role of women in the Arab world.

The report, a copy of which Gulf News had obtained, was formerly released in the House of Commons this week, by its Parliamentary Patron Christine McCafferty MP.

The report's co-authors, Lema Hamed and Ahmed Suleiman, state that the issue of women's economic empowerment in the Arab world has become politicised but not necessarily for the right reasons. For example, they say, that the 'glass ceiling' issue is just as big a problem in the Arab world as it is in the West.

Suleiman said: "Arab Nationalism and post World War-II history in the Arab world is a case study of individual leadership races rather than a common approach. In the case of women's rights we find champions emerging for the rights of women whose credentials may not necessarily be the best."

According to Hamed, it is important that role models are role models and not gate keepers preventing development across social divides within their country.

"Social and economic democracy for women is one thing to espouse but in practice it must include women from all sections and economic classes of society," adds Hamed.

The economic realities facing many Arab countries is an increasing work force of women that has to be integrated as part of the main work force.

The report warns that economic empowerment will raise expectations amongst women in other areas of society and the whole issue must be looked at as part of a global approach to wom-en's issues.