This paper focuses on transformations of gender attitudes in a set of Arab societies covered by the Arab Barometer. We analyze age and cohort differences in thirteen countries using generalized additive modeling (GAM). We argue that stagnation or even retrogression of gender attitudes in some societies may be caused in part by an ideological shift of the 1970s–1980s, from largely…
Gender Issues
Gender Equality and MENA Women’s Empowerment in the Aftermath of the 2011 Uprisings
This paper examines gender equality and women’s empowerment in the MENA following the 2011 Arab Uprisings. The paper reports findings from the ArabTrans survey, a comparative public opinion survey carried out in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia in 2014. Around 1,500 respondents were interviewed in each country on a range of questions including a module on gender attitudes….
Gender Ideals in Turbulent Times: An Examination of Insecurity, Islam, and Muslim Men’s Gender Attitudes during the Arab Spring
Using Arab Barometer data (2011), the authors examine Muslim men’s gender attitudes in four predominantly Muslim Middle Eastern and North African countries (Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia, and Yemen) during the Arab Spring. They examine if living in insecurity – which may threaten men’s ability to attain masculine ideals – is related to male overcompensation, evident in strong support for patriarchal gender…
Explaining Egalitarian Attitudes: The Role of Interests and Exposure
Women’s exclusion from the workforce in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is a substantial problem. The Middle East has the world’s lowest rates of female labor froce participation — 26 perecent compared to 54 percent worldwide (USAID 2014) — and a gender gap in youth unemployment — 43 percent for females and 25 percent for males (Barnes 2013)….