War and Economic Challenges Intensify Gender Inequality in Israel and Egypt
Nathan Klabin’s article discusses the worsening financial, social, and political challenges faced by women in Israel and Egypt due to war and economic instability, exacerbating existing gender inequalities. In Israel, there is a low representation of women in government and a widening wage gap, while Egypt suffers from systemic barriers and high rates of domestic violence. Both contexts illustrate a growing crisis for Middle Eastern women.
Amid ongoing war and economic challenges, women in Israel and Egypt are facing heightened financial, social, and political disadvantages, which exacerbate existing gender disparities. Nathan Klabin’s article for The Media Line discusses the impact of these crises in both regions, highlighting the barriers that are pushing women out of leadership roles and making daily survival increasingly difficult.
In Israel, the war has exacerbated gender inequality, with women occupying only six of the 32 ministerial positions and declining representation in the Knesset. The gender pay gap has widened to 35%, compounded by budget cuts to childcare and vocational training initiatives. Many women, especially single mothers and caregivers, find themselves leaving the workforce, as Tali Nir, CEO of 121 – Engine for Social Change, notes, calling it “an invisible crisis.”
In Egypt, systemic impediments hinder women from achieving financial autonomy and legal safeguards. Domestic violence is pervasive, affecting 31% of previously married women, yet legal enforcement remains inadequate. The country ranks 140th on the Women’s Economic Participation Index, with a female unemployment rate of 17.8%. Noha Elkhouly from the Egyptian Center for Women’s Rights cautions that ongoing legal and institutional failures are undermining women’s rights and financial security.
Klabin’s article offers an in-depth examination of these pressing issues, illustrating how structural inequalities are compounding the difficulties faced by women in the Middle East. A detailed analysis of this expanding crisis is available in the full article.
The article effectively highlights the deepening gender disparities in Israel and Egypt due to war and economic struggles. In both countries, women are facing increasing obstacles to leadership, career advancement, and personal safety, severely affecting their overall well-being. Structural barriers and insufficient legal protections continue to undermine efforts towards gender equality, pointing to an urgent need for societal and institutional reforms.
Original Source: themedialine.org
