Women Workers: The on going struggle with stereotypes and perception (Part 1) [Archives:2008/1125/Business & Economy]

By: Rasha Jarhum
[email protected]
According to the latest population survey of 2004, women economic participation accounted for only 9.3% in comparison to 67.7% that accounts for male economic participation. The statistical Report of Women and Men 2007, that was launched last Monday, justified the low percentage of women's economic participation to be a result of the social customs and traditions that restrict women economic participation to certain economic participation. Additionally, the report noted that the low levels of education among women in comparison to men plays another major role. Furthermore, a significant problem causing lower economic participation of women was accounted for the early marriage problem among women, more specifically after giving birth to children and providing child care and attending to domestic responsibilities. However, the bottom line of all these problems lies in our perceptions and stereotyping to the gender roles that is derived from our culture and more specifically customs and traditions. In this report, certain perceptions affecting women's economic participation were researched by interviewing different people representing both genders. The report is hence based on qualitative rather than quantitative data provided by the evidences based on examples of the participant's verbatim statements.

Priority in employing women:

Although the statistics provided earlier reflect a sad truth, It was found that men believe that women are giving a priority over men when it comes to employment. Women seem to agree but illustrating that this fact is restricted to particular economic sectors that are viewed as female jobs.

Kamal, a 28 year old employee, indicated “In comparison to the past years ..yes ..a woman receives priority in recruitment and the Yemeni reality is the witness

Huda, a 26 years old employee , partially agrees stating that “Yes [women receive priority in employment] in some jobs like secretary, receptionist and mainly in superficial jobs ..and I feel this is injustice..they don't give her a decision maker position and only give her a position that is for superficial appearances..”

Gender Diversity in the Organization:

Looking into the gender diversity issues and organizational hierarchy in terms of gender provided good insights on how women are valued in the organization. Sadly, It was found that almost all male employers value women workers according to their feminine assets, rather than to their qualifications or experience.

Ali, an employer in the private sector states ” [I encourage gender diversity] to a certain extent I think they [women] improve the working atmosphere of the institution..and make the organization look good before foreigners.. and sometimes the organization might need a woman's opinion for example about a socially sensitive topic ..we usually consult with a woman nd sometimes the background of women and her being a woman may provide us with interesting opinions and ideas

However, I felt that female employers may have understood the importance of gender diversity and valued women workers better.

Nadia, employer stated, “It is very important to have a gender diversity, especially in media because readers are both males and females and every issue has to be dealt with from both perspectives in order to maintain objectivity. Also having both males and females in a working environment will facilitate natural flow of information and communication and will neutralize the corporate culture and corporate jargons, without it being over masculine or too feminine.”

Perceptions towards Women's Decision to Work:

It was found that almost all women believe that it is their right to decide to work on their own. Most women indicated that opting to work was their decision. However, many thought that the opinion of the husband and family is important in work decisions. Some of them also stated that they will submit to their husband's wishes to discontinue working or will try to negotiate. I have also noticed that the more educated a woman is the more she is willing to defend her right to work.

Rana, employee in the private sector stated: “I think a woman as a free human being should make any decision by herself whether to work or for anything else..but I think a decision whether made by a man or a woman should always be discussed with the family and the partner .[however] the norm in our society is that the decision to work is in the hand of the family and the husband ..but for me it was my own decision and I have supportive parents..”

On the other hand, It found that almost all men believe that they have the right to order their wives, sisters, or females in their family to stop working. They believed that since they are the heads of the families and Maharem, they have the right to exercise any majors to protect the interest of the women and the family. It was also noticed that those strong views do not differ among males according to their education and that if they don't believe in the notion of letting women work, then that's it. However, It was also noticed that older men are more open minded and realize that the decision for women to work is an exercise to their basic rights.

Walid, employee in private sector indicated “I don't believe that women should work.. why should she work? ..she doesn't need to work..I will provide for her..she should stay with her dignity at home..I totally object”

Families who support their daughter's decision to work now insist on the husband by imposing a clause in the marriage agreement that he has no right to ask her to stop working.

Abeer, employee with the private sector states: “in our family we have put a conditions in the marriage agreement of my sister that her husband will let her continue to work and that the decision is hers to continue or stop working..”

Perceived Societal View on Working Women:

Many of the respondents whether males or females believe that the society's view is divided into two perspectives; those who reject the notion of working women and those who support it.

Soa'ad, employee in the government stated ” I think our Yemeni society is divided into two parts society with women's work and a society who rejects the notion of women work.. rom their point of view [the team that rejects women's work], women's work is not necessary and women are not capable to work and if she does work it does not reach up to the required quality level..and in their point of view letting women go out to work means letting her compete with them to get jobs, or compete to get promotions..all these characteristics are met in the rejecting team ut the other team are those who encourage working women but they are few whether they were decision makers or development planners or members of the society in general..this team views women's participation in the labour force as a vital necessity which goes inline with the developments and the cultural, social and economical changes that is happening in the world and looks at this issue with strategic perspective..”

Some women manage to blame other women for the negative view of the society.

Noha, employee in the government sector indicated: “I think 90% of the society have a bad view towards working women and no respect to her at all..and it might differ from a person to another and maybe the woman is responsible to define the look of the society through her behavior..”

The majority of single female employees believe that ones a woman get a job her chance of

social stability in marriage decline if it does not totally vanish.

Sawsan, employee in the private sector indicated “I believe the brave decision that a woman may take in her life is to work, make the society perceive her, as a trouble maker and potentially not obedient for her husband and therefore her marriage chances decrease

Kawthar, employee states: “my dad told me before I get employed: ' my daughter I want you to choose something either a job or a husband' and I told him why my father, and he said because in the Yemeni society if a girl get employed she never get married..and it proved right as all of my sisters got married except me

Many single men expressed that they want to get engaged to stay home wives. This view is also associated with the perception that a woman who stays home is respectable or easily controlled.

Hussain, employee , states: “I prefer a stay home wife…I will tell you I'm very selfish man and I want her for myself only..”

Indicating that It's almost like if a woman gets out of her house she becomes the propriety of everyone in the society, more specifically propriety of other men too, and that's why some men prefer a stay home wife.

It was found that perceptions and stereotypes associated with working women may cause them

to face problems at the time of recruitment or later on when they are already employed.

Women's Age and Material Status:

The majority of male and female employers expressed their preference towards hiring young women verses older women. They also expressed their preference to hiring single and unmarried women.

It was found that the perception of married women with overwhelming family commitment lead to believing that a woman will be overloaded with responsibilities and would not perform well at the workplace and hence might affect recruiting her.

Khalid, employer states: “I don't want older women who are unwilling to learn or understand the nature of the work and I also don't want a woman who have overwhelming family commitments ..”

Lamya'a , employee in the private sector indicates: “I think a woman who is not married may have a better chance to be recruited because she won't get pregnant and won't take many holidays..”

However, female employers in the government sector expressed their preference towards hiring older married women with independent children. Additionally, the male employers in the government sector did not identify a preferred age or material status for women.

A female government employer states: “I prefer to recruit a married woman who has grown and independent kids…from my personal experience, single women start working then once they are married, she gets pregnant and give birth and whether we like it or not the job gets behind ..and for a married woman who has young kids also has many problems and excuses..one time she wants to take them to school and bring them back from school..and one time the kids are sick and so I prefer a married woman with grown and independent kids…”

Many problems were identified by the respondents of both gender, those are: sexual

harassment, discrimination in rewards, and access to informal communication.

Sexual Harassment in the Work Place:

It was found that all the male employees in both the government and private sectors think that

the main problem that a woman faces in the workplace is sexual harassment. It was also found

that usually a man who thinks that women encounter sexual harassment prefer that women stay home and prefer that his future partner to be a stay home wife.

Hamdan , employee in the private sector indicated: ” …a woman may face immoral harassments from some of the guys that work with her or clients who might treat her impolitely..”

However, The was a low number of women reporting and perceiving this to be a problem at work and this could be due to the fact that Yemeni women are relatively shy and fear for their reputation, they might not find the courage to speak about any sexual harassment that they faced.

Enas stated: ” ou find them [men] stair and over stair ut thank god in my work place this doesn't happen..but it happens when we go to other working premises ..they just stair because they are not used to see women

Additionally, one female employee in the government sector reported that she witnessed one of her colleagues getting harassed by a male supervisor.

The respondent stated: ” .. I saw one of my colleagues getting harassed by her supervisor..and he's a playboy man..he married three times and he's not getting enough..she used to avoid him..but he still was bothering her..so she asked for a transfer to another department and she started wearing a face veil….”

Discrimination in Career Advancement Opportunities:

The majority of women employees reported that the main problems that they face persist in gender equality in terms of career advancement opportunities. They feel that they do not get promotions as fast as men if they get them at all. They also feel that although salaries may be equal, there's huge gap in financial rewards.

Lubna, employee in the government sector indicated: “…other difficulties may be in getting a promotion..even after a woman gets a job and even if she possess the necessary competencies, qualifications and potential, she will not have a chance to get promoted in comparison to the man he third thing is in rewards and not the salary because their could be equality in salaries but huge differences in rewards nd rewards are always given to the man whether in the private or public sector even if he doesn't not work ..even in our organization and I say it frankly..some men take much more than women who are dedicated to their work and those men are less qualified and less dedication and do not perform as women

In addition a relationship was found between the discrimination in financial rewards and promotion with the male employers' and employees perceptions of how working women spend their income.

Ali, employee indicated: ” I think they mainly spend on their cloths and make up and it's is very rarely that they spend for the interest of the house…”

Additionally, it was also found that the traditional gender roles associated with the man as the sole breadwinner and head of the household also have a relationship in discriminating against women.

Hani, employee in the private sector indicated: “A woman is the mother, wife, housewife, not working, gives more attention to house duties and family and the man is to work, an unemployed man staying at home is a loser….”

Salih, employer in the government states: “…we help the men [financially].. they have many responsibilities.. feed the kids… educate the kids…dress up the kids..”

On the other hand, women urged a change in this perception.

Sabah, employer in the private sector states: “…many women are head of households..they are either single mothers or have lazy husbands who rather spend on Qat rather than buy some food for their children nd I have plenty of friends who suffer from lazy husbands..”

Access to informal communication channels:

It was found that the Yemeni women employee and employer do not have access to a very important informal communication channel, which is the famous Qat sessions that usually take place from 3 pm to 6 pm. Those Qat session are exclusive to men where they gather to chew Qat and talk business or even discuss high government policy making.

A government female employee states: “everything is decided in Qat sessions whether it was a big issue or a small issue..and we find ourselves not having a say in anything..just following whatever is decided…”

*: Rasha Jarhum is a Social Scientist Working with Sisters Arab Forum for Human Rights.
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