arab women in science & technology: the information society, greater opportunities for arab...

Arab women in science & Technology:

The information society, greater opportunities for Arab

Women

Presented by: Sana GHENIMA

TUNISIAAWO, university of Cambridge, September 2005

Contents

1. Introduction

2. Arab women: statistics

3. Involving Arab women in science and technology

4. The ICT challenges

5. Information society and gender caucus

6. Conclusion

INTRODUCTION

A thousand years ago, the Arab World made remarkable contributions to science.

Arabs introduced new methods of experiment, observation, and measurement.

Some examples of those inventions: Al-Khwarizmi invented algebra and the word

algorithm is derived from his name; Ibn al-Haytham wrote the laws of the

reflection and refraction of light and expounded the principles of inertia

Actual situation

Yet today, the number of original research papers published by scientists in Arabic countries is too small compared to the number published by scientists in Europe and the USA.

It is to be hoped that this trend is set to change, with many Arabic countries opening new universities and introducing a variety of educational and training programs to improve their capabilities in science and technology.

But even with these developments, there is still disparity between Arabic men and women when it comes to an education in science and technology subjects.

Gender descrimination

In many Arabic countries, gender-based discrimination, coupled with social and cultural barriers, limits access and participation of women in higher education.

Some people attribute these barriers to the teachings of Islam, but this is false as we saw yesterday.

Science & technology education

Science education in most Arabic countries begins between 6 and 7 years of age and is taught in all countries to both boys and girls until the age of 15.

The major science disciplines are then studied separately in the last 3 or 4 years of high school education.

Girls are then less enrolled in high school science curricula because the existing education structure encourages girls to study more arts and humanities.

Science & technology education

There are various reasons for this related to gender stereotyping, misleading perceptions that:

science and technology are subjects more suitable for boys

the failure of curricula to relate science and technology to the everyday life of women.

There is also self-inhibition and crystal barriers inside girls that affects:

Number of young women entering university to study science and technology subjects,

Employment involvement that inhibit women to introduce their own values and visions into a working world dominated by men.

Cultural disparities

Arabic countries vary greatly in their culture, traditions, and social systems, and there is a wide range of attitudes toward educating women at the university level.

Although women in many Arabic countries have the right to a university education, those in more traditional rural areas often do not have this chance, whether for social, economic, or family reasons.

Gross enrolment ratios in tertiary education in selected Arab countries (1998-2001)

Note:a) Data for Djibouti, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar and Saudi Arabia pertain to the year 2001/2002. Data for Tunisia pertain to the year 2000/2001. Data for Comoros and Yemen pertain to the year 1999/2000. Data for Algeria, Bahrain, Kuwait, Egypt, Syrian Arab Republic, Sudan and the United Arab Emirates pertain to 1998/1999.

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) databases

Scientific university studiesPercent female in SC Courses 1990-1991 in the Arab World

01020304050607080

Percent female

Source: UNESCO, The Higher Education System in the Arab States (1993).

BAHREIN Gender indicators

BAHREIN GENDER INDICATORS 2000-2001

0102030405060708090

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Source: ESCWA Social Statistics Information System

Gender Employment indicators

BAHREIN Employed population by Occupational group (%) (1991)

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SAUDIA Arabia


Saudia Arabia Gender Indicators 1997-1998

0

20

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Education Arts andhumanities

Business,law, social

science

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OMAN

OMAN University Fields of study (%) 2000-2001

0102030405060708090

100

Arts andhumanities

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science


Others(agriculture

andunspecified)

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OMAN

OMAN Active population by occupational group (%) 2000

0102030405060708090

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JORDAN Indicators

Jordon Women Studies 2000-2001

0102030405060708090

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JORDAN

JORDAN Employed Population by Occupational group (%) 2002

020406080

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LEBANON

LEBANON Gender Indicators 2000-2001

0102030405060708090

100

Education Arts andhumanities

Business, law,social science


Others(agriculture,services andunspecified)

Women

Men


LEBANON Employed population by Occupational group (%) 1997

0102030405060708090

100

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LEBANON

EGYPT

EGYPT Gender Indicators 1998-1999

0

10

20

30

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70

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EGYPT

EGYPT Employed population by occupational group (%) 1998

0102030405060708090

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Women involved in Sc & Tech

In certain disciplines, such as public health at The Lebanese University, and pharmacy in Syrian universities, there are more female than male undergraduate students.

Women tend preferentially to enroll in the life sciences and chemistry, with far fewer studying physics, mathematics, and engineering.

Women involved in Sc & Tech

This seems to be more the result of female students choosing these subjects than active discrimination by the education system.

This trend is also seen among U.S. and European female students.

For example, in the EU, women constitute more women undergraduates of natural science than of mathematics or computer and engineering undergraduates.

Cultures are changing!

Recently, there has been a noticeable shift in the type of scientific disciplines chosen by Arab women, with more female students selecting courses in engineering, physics, mathematics or computer sciences.

That examples were exposed in the figures I showed

Bu as we see this positive trend is here but it does not necessarily mean that greater career opportunities await women graduating in science subjects.

Some EGYPTIAN indicators

In Egypt, a survey by the Supreme Council of Universities for 1995-96 reports that:

in disciplines such as pharmacy and dentistry, more than 40% of the faculty are women;

in the sciences, 25% of the faculty are women,

but this decreases to less than 10% in departments of engineering and technology.

% Female Faculty members in EGYPT (1995-1996)

0102030405060708090

100

Med

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Faculty Women

Faculty Men

Once again, these statistics are very similar to those for U.S. universities or Europeen ones. So it seems to be a general gender problem.

Influent factors

There are a number of socio-cultural factors that limit career advancement opportunities in science and technology for Arab women.

Women are raised and educated in a male-dominated society with very traditional attitudes and constraints. These vary greatly not only from one Arab country to the next, but also between, for example, urban and rural areas of the same country.

Other Influent factors

Other factors, such as the challenges of combining responsibilities for a household and family with a professional career.

In addition, it is extremely difficult for a woman to re-enter the scientific workforce once she has put her career on hold to raise and educate children for many years.

Professional progress for women

Despite all the constraints and obstacles in Arabic countries, women scientists have achieved considerable professional progress within a short period of time.

Although there is an increasing pool of highly qualified women scientists in some Arabic countries, few women in universities and research institutes are presidents, directors of institutes, or heads of divisions or laboratories.

Professional progress for women

Very few women scientists are involved in the political life of their countries, although those who are involved have proved to be strong advocates for science and technological development.

It is important that more Arab women scientists are encouraged to enter politics where their voices will be heard.

Involvement in International Organizations

A few female scientists from Arabic countries serve on national and international committees where they have the opportunity to promote science and technology at both the national and global level.

Some enhancing initiatives are noticed every day

Arab network for women in science

A network for women researchers was launched this Year (February 2005 ) in Salmania, Bahrain, to promote gender equality in scientific programmes and institutions in the Arab world.

the network would be very important in promoting Arab women's access to careers in science and technology, and in correcting the gender imbalance in science that is present to varying degrees in Arab countries.

International Science awards

• Pr. Zohra Ben LakhdarLaureate 2005

• Professor of PhysicsLaboratory of Atomic-Molecular Spectroscopy and ApplicationsDepartment of PhysicsFaculty of SciencesUniversity of Tunis El Manar Tunisia

"For her experiments and models on infrared spectroscopy and its applications to pollution, detection and medicine."

The 7 th edition of the L’ORÉAL-UNESCO FOR WOMEN IN SCIENCE (March 2005)

HER Advice…… to the would-be female physicist

Professor Ben Lakhdar's advice reflects her struggles and the difficulties she has had to overcome. "Be aware of the importance of culture; be open-minded as a scientist and as a person. Seek independence. Understand how important it is to be a responsible citizen. And be optimistic: more and more women are becoming involved in the sciences, especially biology. Women are now more independent. Women's careers are becoming more important and more highly valued by society. The average age of marriage is now higher: 27 compared to 15 when I was that age. Be of good heart and be confident."

So what is the main idea?

In the words of Kofi Annan, as he launched a U.N. global initiative to educate girls, "Let us prove that a society which empowers its women is a society sure to succeed."

The Information society

Information and communication technology (ICT) is transforming the global economy and creating new networks that stretch over continents and cultures.

However, there remain noticeable disparities as to the extend in which access and skills are available.

The benefits of knowledge and technology are not available to the large majority of the world’s population.

Not only do these differences affect developing nations and disadvantaged communities, but within societies there are also significant disparities.

Digital Divide

Developing countries, in failing to respond to the transformation that the development of ICTs has produced, will be severely burdened when they participate in the global economy.

There are unequal power relations in our societies that contribute to differential access, participation and treatment for men and women vis-à-vis access to, and control of ICTs.

GENDER Digital Divide

Women find themselves in most cases, not only excluded from equal social and economic opportunities in general, but also in terms of the benefits offered by ICTs.

Without women’s participation in decision-making in all spheres of life and at all levels of society, poverty will not be eradicated, nor will fully democratic societies be created.

Limited access to ICT for women also has the effect of reducing countries’ competitiveness in the global market.

IT Can Take You Anywhere

If you study technology subjects it does not automatically mean you are headed for a geeky job in a back room or laboratory.

Technology is now part of every field of activity and mainly in business or industry.

It can literally take you anywhere from concrete things like e-Learning or e-commerce to Virtual reality with 3D effects in movies.

IT: A development mean

Definitely, IT gives us a lot of things for women or for men, regardless of gender.

The new technology has given us a new option, but still it is a tool.

As long as we learn how to use this technology, this is enabling all people, including women, to participate in business and other social activities as well.

But technology does not change everything, and we need to revisit obstacles for women.

IT: A development mean

To support our emerging economy in Arabic world, we need to reactivate our resources more effectively.

Nowadays women are invited to be more active in business, but we need to look carefully into what the Arab community has done for women.

We need certainly to develop more support systems for women in their communities, as men tend to have "automatic" expectations that women take care of family matters such as taking care of children.

Unless we develop such support systems in any country, opportunities for women will remain much less than those for man no matter how hard women work.

A concrete example

Tunisia established since 1956 a Personal Status Code that redeemed the place of the Tunisian woman in the family & in society.

In 1987, a new Era of deep constitutional, political, economic and social reforms were engaged in favor of Women.

Women are provided with specific mechanisms aimed to consolidate their achievements and promoting their integration as a full partner into dynamics of development.

Some indicators will give us more details

Tunisian gender indicators

Regarding 2004-2005 official statistics in Tunisia, women represent:

27% of the active population.More than 10.000 women head of offices but

mainly in classic economic branch.57% of students in universities33% of students in scientific branch49% of students in ICT fieldWomen represent 22,17% of the decision makers

in the public sector.women represent 15% of the government: 2

Ministers, 5 secretaries of state and 23% of the Parliament.

The Key of Success

How to ensure women involvement everywhere even in science & technology, in our countries?To continue the development of female human

resources mainly Education at the 3 required levels.To develop women’s empowerment and to promote

their opportunities for integration into the economic activities.

To reinforce the role of women in civil and political life and especially as a decision maker.

To reinforce the principle of equity in the legislationBut even with all these factors, we need essentially a

very strong political will to ensure equity and partnership between men and women at all levels.

My personal opinion

Because of the nature of my job, I often come and work with many European or American nationals, both men and women, and actually I don't feel that there are disadvantages for me as being an Arab woman to conduct business anywhere.

Some difficulties I experience here, as I experience in some other countries, are the language, stringent regulations, etc., but those are nothing to do with being a woman.

My personal opinion

If you as a woman want to be successful, you have to possess all the elements for success and you have to well prepare yourself, just like any successful man.

What are the key factors for success? You have to have the right attitude, skills, experience, education, self-confidence, stamina, commitment, etc., and at the same time you have to be in the right place at the right time to grab the opportunities.

Over my fourteen year's career life, I have never felt disadvantaged by being a woman especially because I born with great gender achievements in my country.

Sometimes I actually feel that I have some advantages of being a woman.

Some ICT advantages

For women, the advantages offered by ICT are appreciated since they allow, for all people, but especially for them:

More freedom regarding work timingMore mobility thanks to the e-work solutionsMore self confidence and fulfilling their potential thanks to

intellectual effort that gives same chance for both man and women.

Continuous training and improvement with e-learning solutions taking in account their specific familial constraint.

In the field of entrepreneurship there are enormous opportunities for women.

New rules for the 21st century Economy

The Internet and other advances in information technology have dramatically changed the playing field for women.

It has brought down barriers that kept women out of the work force by providing opportunities to telecommute and work from home.

It has also made it easier for women to start up businesses with very little capital and only a handful of employees.

The rules of the new economy also call for a different type of leadership, one that is based on team building and a flatter organizational chart.

That will open up more possibilities for women and men to work on an equal and level playing field.

More new Opportunities

We are at the beginning of potentially, enormously interesting new era.

We are entering this new phase, where we can all become more international, more global, etc. without losing specificity and rooteness in our countries.

These new technologies open up a field, where we can connect to each other as organizations, as entities, as projects across the world.

More new Opportunities

Information technologies give opportunities to women to enter spaces, political, economic, cultural spaces, etc., where before we were more excluded or had limited options.

There are enormous possibilities, but it will take initiative. It will take action. It is not going to fall from the sky. It is much more than simply knowing how to use the hardware.

There is an intervening set of cultures, economic cultures, political cultures, etc., that need to be developed and within which these technologies can really enable us.

WSIS & Gender Caucus

Strenuous efforts will be needed to capitalize on the opportunities offered by the World Summit on Information Societies (WSIS) to bridge the gender divide which is already apparent within the emerging information society.

To achieve this, we must foster the broadest possible participation of decision-makers, professional communities, and representatives of civil society, bilateral and multilateral partners, and the private sector.

WSIS & Gender Caucus

Together all will set out: to discuss ongoing initiatives on gender and ICT to raise awareness on gender-related barriers to ICT

access; to include women as leaders and decision-makers; to facilitate better understanding of the needs and

directions within the framework of gender and ICT, to render assistance, to support local solutions and content; and lastly also to take forward the commitments that

were made at previous UN conferences and summits.

Conclusion

So I just want to finish on this positive note and to tell to ALL WOMEN OF THE WORLD:

Welcome to Tunisia 16-18 November 2005 to take part to the WSIS and to build the

future together.

Thank you.

arab women in science & technology: the information society, greater opportunities for arab...

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