Social Norms and Female Labor Force Participation in Egypt
Within the framework of the activities of the Egypt National Observatory for Women (ENOW), that are conducted in cooperation between the National Council for Women, the World Bank, and Baseera Center, a report on “Social Norms and Female Labor Force Participation in Egypt” was launched.
The study of social norms stems from the interest of the Egyptian state in confronting the negative values that are unfavorable to the empowerment of women, as Egypt National Strategy for Women Empowerment emphasized the importance of changing the culture of society towards women. The strategy also pointed to the gap between the academic excellence of Egyptian women and their absence from participating in economic activity. The strategy attributed that to the ruling system of values that constitute an obstacle to women's economic empowerment.
Overall, the study showed results that can be used in the design of media and awareness interventions (including media messages, television drama, and messages on social media). This includes reconsidering some of the prevailing constants, re-prioritizing work in the field of enlightenment, designing interventions and messages that distinguish between social segments and designing interventions and messages for all segments of society.
Link to the full report in English: https://documents.worldbank.org/en/publication/documents-reports/documentdetail/099061823220039155/p17968608f6dd00350b350081904da12d91