Women stereotypes in Lebanon impede their access to labor market

In a tribute to the International Women’s Day, L’Orient Le Jour highlighted the serious low participation rates of women in the labor market in Lebanon influenced by stereotypes and discrimination factors. Citing the Global Gender Gap Index 2016 published by the World Economic Forum, L’Orient Le Jour said Lebanon came 135 among the 144 countries covered by the survey, with only 24% of working females in 2014. And according to a number of women interviewed by the newspaper, the first discrimination they face is in the stage of recruitment. Dima Jamali, a professor at Suliman Olayan School of Business- AUB attributed this to the stereotypical images of women portraying them as less loyal or less engaged in work given their family commitments, or the long pregnancy and maternity leaves they boast. And if they got the job, the post will be mediocre with a basic salary, Jamali expounded. While pointing that discrimination hits as well other sectors with an outstanding presence of women, L’Orient Le Jour talked to Randa Bdeir, head of card services department at Bank Audi to know more. Bdeir suggested that the government should enforce the appointment of one or two women in the corporate boards of directors in companies. However, the matter is problematic and sensitive and hence, requires a change of the prevalent culture which, also needs time, Bdeir maintained. In another feature, L’Orient Le Jour shed light on startups in Lebanon particularly those led and owned by women and the challenges they face. The chief of the Lebanese Businessmen Association, Fuad Zmokhal, told the newspaper that despite the growth of and the increasing interest of women in the sector, yet their representation is still shy. The enterprises founded by women are small, as they opt out of borrowing and prefer to be on top of their projects and manage them personally. (L’Orient Le Jour, March 3 and 7, 2017)