Women face differing conditions in Muslim countries - Building Gender Balanced Business

• 61% of Saudis, 85% of Iranians and approximately 90% of Indonesians, Turks, Lebanese and Bangladeshi agree that men and women should share the same legal rights.

• 90% of people in Malaysia support a woman’s right to work outside her home in any job for which a woman qualifies as do majorities in Turkey (86%), Egypt (85%) and Saudi Arabia (69%).

• Majorities are also in favor of a woman’s right to vote without any involvement from other family members: 80% in Indonesia, 89% in Iran, 67% in Pakistan, 90% in Bangladesh, 76% in Jordan, 93% in Turkey and 56% in Saudi Arabia.

• The situations in these countries are much more complex than the numbers would suggest, often filled with important differences between the sovereign states and paradoxical facts.

• In Egypt, women have access to top-notch education and work in positions with important responsibilities but, just a short time ago, had to get permission from a male family member to travel.

• In the Islamic Republic that is Iran, women are required to cover their hair and wear long-sleeved, ankle-length garb.

• At the same time, the country’s Vice President is a woman and women outnumber men in university classrooms.

• In Saudi banks, 70% of the savings are owned by women who also possess 61% of the country’s private firms yet women are subject to gender based discrimination and are confined to “appropriate” professions and are not legally allowed to drive a car.

• The countries’ populations appear ready for a change and evidence suggests that it is on its way but, as always, slowly.

Newsweek