Women’s Agency & Economic Mobility in MENA: Examining Patterns & Implications

Key Findings:

  • Opinions regarding women’s rights and their roles in society are progressing unevenly in MENA.
  • While citizens of Arab countries are more approving of women’s right to education, work and holding political office, there is far from universal agreement that women should have equal rights in all areas.
  • Moreover, there is little agreement that women should have equal roles in public or private life, with majorities saying that women are less able to take on roles of leadership or make decisions compared with men.
  • Higher education is not an only important tool to improve women’s economic conditions in the Arab world, but also to empower women in their social and family lives.