us.cnn.com
MENA Region Seeks to Boost Women's Employment Through Care Economy Investment
Only 18% of women in the Middle East and North Africa are formally employed, far below the global average; a UN initiative aims to increase this by 5% by 2030 by creating 400,000 jobs in key markets and bolstering the care economy, which currently meets only 10% of demand, to address the disproportionate burden of unpaid care work on women.
- How do existing policies and initiatives in countries like Egypt and Jordan address the burden of unpaid care work, and what are their limitations?
- The low female employment rate in MENA is a systemic issue rooted in cultural norms and the lack of adequate care infrastructure. While some governments are taking steps, such as Egypt recategorizing nurseries as MSMEs and Jordan streamlining home-based nursery registration, broader investment in health, education, and social care is crucial to reduce the burden of unpaid care work. This investment is framed as crucial, with high return on investment in early childhood care and education shown by research.
- What are the primary factors contributing to the low female workforce participation rate in the MENA region, and what immediate actions are being taken to address this?
- In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), only 18% of women are formally employed, significantly below the global average of 49%. This disparity is largely due to traditional gender roles that burden women with unpaid care work, hindering their workforce participation. A new UN initiative aims to address this by bolstering the care economy and creating 400,000 jobs in growing sectors.
- What are the long-term economic and social implications of investing in the care economy in MENA, considering the potential impact on GDP growth, gender equality, and overall societal well-being?
- Increased investment in the care economy in MENA is projected to create jobs, primarily benefiting women. This would not only empower women economically and improve their overall well-being but also boost GDP per capita by 51% on average. The success of Saudi Arabia's policies, leading to a record-high 36% female workforce participation, demonstrates the positive impact of comprehensive care policies.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The article frames the issue predominantly through the lens of the challenges faced by women. While solutions are proposed, the narrative focuses more on the problem's severity than on existing progress or potential successes. The use of statistics like the low female employment rate in the headline sets a negative tone. However, the inclusion of positive examples like Saudi Arabia's progress and the UN initiative helps balance the overall framing.
Language Bias
The language used is largely neutral and objective, using statistics and expert opinions to support claims. However, words like "drastically undervalued" and "huge" may introduce slight subjectivity. The use of quotes from experts keeps the overall tone more neutral, avoiding emotionally charged language.
Bias by Omission
The article focuses heavily on the challenges faced by women in the MENA region but omits discussion of potential benefits or positive aspects of the current situation. While acknowledging the low participation rate, it doesn't explore successful examples outside the MENA region that could offer solutions or alternative perspectives. Additionally, the article briefly mentions the role of migrant workers, but a deeper analysis of their experiences and the ethical implications of their employment is missing. This omission prevents a complete picture of the issue.
Gender Bias
The article's focus is on gender inequality, but the analysis remains objective. It uses neutral language to describe the situations and avoids perpetuating harmful stereotypes. While the article highlights the burden of unpaid care work falling disproportionately on women, it also acknowledges the potential for cultural shifts involving men's participation in household responsibilities.
Sustainable Development Goals
The article focuses on the low workforce participation of women in the MENA region and initiatives to address this. The UN Women initiative aims to increase women's employment by 5% by 2030, creating 400,000 jobs. This directly contributes to SDG 5 (Gender Equality), specifically target 5.5 which aims to ensure women's full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life. The article highlights barriers to women's employment, such as unpaid care work and cultural norms, and proposes solutions like investing in the care economy and promoting gender-equitable policies. Improved access to childcare, flexible work options, and longer paternity leave are discussed as ways to alleviate the burden of unpaid care work and enable greater women's economic participation. The success of initiatives in countries like Saudi Arabia in increasing female workforce participation through targeted policies further supports this.