i Avivah, C. Future of Women Leaders in the Middle East. Retrieved from http://www.20-first.com/1493-0-future-of-women-leaders-in-the-middle-east.html ii Easton, N. The real revolution in the Middle East: Women in business. Retrieved from http://management.fortune.cnn.com/2012/04/16/middle-east-women-business/ iii Easton, N. The real revolution in the Middle East: Women in business. Retrieved from http://management.fortune.cnn.com/2012/04/16/middle-east-women-business/ iv Easton, N. The real revolution in the Middle East: Women in business. Retrieved from http://management.fortune.cnn.com/2012/04/16/middle-east-women-business/ v Easton, N. The real revolution in the Middle East: Women in business. Retrieved from http://management.fortune.cnn.com/2012/04/16/middle-east-women-business/

How Women's Rights Relates to Business Practices in the Middle East

The media usually paints a dark picture of women’s rights in the Middle East with things like honor killings and child marriages. Moreover, this adversity that women face is highlighted in the business world. Women in the Middle East share the common struggle of women across the globe when it comes to ascending to the top levels of their respective industries and careers i. These social and legal barriers do not share the new demands of global competition so the neglect of women in the working world only hinders the economy. However, there is an external push on the Arab Spring to question ridiculous laws like how women may not drive alone, work in segregated facilities, and were only recently granted the right to vote and run in municipal elections ii.

There is no question that these women are skilled and have the potential for professional, high paying jobs. 67% percent of university graduates in Kuwait are women, 63% in Qatar, and 57% in Saudi Arabia are women which is higher than the male percentage in each of those respective countries iii. However, in Saudi Arabia 28% of the adult female population is economically active which is the lowest in the world iv. These countries continue to carry a stigma where women are less capable and rational, and better suited for the household. This bias is also seen is for women who wish to start a venture where especially one survey found women as sole owners of just 13% of firms, less than half the world average v.

There is room for progression of female professionalism in the Arab business world and the following articles are of our analysis into the issue of how women’s rights affects business practices in the all-powerful Middle East. Enjoy. - Michael Rychlewski

Iran Demographics: 2

Iran Economy: 3

Iran Holidays and Traditions: 4

Saudi Arabia Business Laws: 5

Saudi Arabia Gender Roles: 6

Turkey Arts and Culture: 7

Turkey Politics and Government: 8

BUSI 2702B November 6, 2013

Presented By: Asia Production

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female enrolment is around 86 % of the male rate.3

Since the 1980s, Iran has experienced the largest and fastest drop in fertility ever recorded — from about seven births per woman to fewer than two today. This is because Iran’s leader, Khomeini, issued fatwas, making birth control widely available and acceptable to conservative Muslims. The fatwas gives more choices to Muslim women.

Overall, Iranian woman

have fewer legal rights than men and are limited in which jobs they can hold and what they can wear. Today, more women are attending universities and postponing childbirth. In public universities, female students

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now outnumber males 65% to 35%, leading to calls in parliament for affirmative action for men.4

When it comes to the economy however, the income level is upper medium.5 This is a summary of the GDP in Iran in the last 3 years:

$997.4 billion (2012 est.) $1.007 trillion (2011 est.) $986.8 billion (2010 est.) [note: data in US dollars6]

In conclusion, women in Iran in 2013 are experiencing more rights, both legally and socially, than before however, there is still a gender gap where men have more economical and financial positions.

1 “Population; Female (% of total) in Iran”, Trading Economics, http://www.tradingeconomics.com/iran/population-female-percent-of-total-wb-data.html. 2 Mehdi Moayedi, “Statistical Glance at Women’s Employment in Iran,” Pars Times, No. 39-40, http://www.parstimes.com/women/glance_womens_employment.html. 3 Faezeh Samanian, “The (Slow) Rise of Iran’s Women,” The Diplomat, September 22, 2013, http://thediplomat.com/2013/09/22/the-slow-rise-of-irans-women/. 4Kenneth R. Weiss, “Iran’s birth control sent birthrate tumbling,” Los Angeles Times, July 22, 2012, http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/population/la-fg-population-iran-20120729-html,0,4861001.htmlstory#axzz2isUaxLnO. 5“Iran, Islamic Rep.” World Bank, http://data.worldbank.org/country/iran-islamic-republic. 6 “Iran Economy Profile 2013”, Index Mundi, http://www.indexmundi.com/iran/economy_profile.html.

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Iran, like so many other developing countries, has a high unemployment rate for women. Women make up49.29% of the 74 million people in the country1, yet they make up a small percentage of the workforce. This is due to three major points: (1)illiteracy or lack of sufficient education and skills, (2) lack of legislative support for women workers and (3) the number of Iranian women who are housewives. The unbalance of men to women in the work force in Iran is changing. In 1976, before the Islamic Revolution, the literacy rate of women was around 35%. By 1986, it had risen to 52%. Today, girls between the ages of 15 and 24 are experiencing a near universal literacy. This is partially due to the increased enrolment in educational institutions. The female enrolment for primary education is higher than males with the same graduation rate as males. In secondary education, the

Demographics in Iran

An As i a A dm in i st r ati o n Fe at ur e

This graph shows the employment ratio in Iran by sex. As you can see, the employment rate for men is extremely higher than that for women, as

a result it is evident that Iranian men hold the majority of jobs.

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In Iran, women’s status in the economy is going through changes. Though women constitute about 30% of the workforce, they are always the first people considered when employers need to lay-off workers.7 Women are also the last to be hired by many employers. Many women leave their jobs due to violence, lower wages and other inappropriate working conditions. In Iran, women hardly have any legal protection. Manufacturing is highly reliant on female labour since it is much cheaper than male labour. Culturally women hold a caretaker role in their families and are required to obtain permission from their husbands to search for work outside their homes.

Employers in Iran generally see women as less dependable than men. Recently, women’s rights and economic status have improved over the past decades. For example, the percentage of women that contribute to the economy has increased significantly from 6.1% to 13.7%.8 The literacy levels have also increased greatly over the past few years and women are in university at higher rates than men.

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A very high percentage (82%) of the women in Iran work in the education sector while the majority of the remaining women (18%) work in the administrative, financial and medical sectors.9

On June 15th, 2013 Iran elected a new president, Hassan Rouhani. The new government plans to even the playing field for both men and women. There have been mixed responses to the new president’s promises. Rouhani said, “Everybody is talking about whether they’re committed to it or not, but this shows that everyone, including within the government, recognizes that women’s equality and inclusion is a priority and demand, which requires responsiveness. The onus is on us as the women’s movement to make sure that this responsiveness translates into achievements and guarantees for women.”10

Even though there is huge room for improvement, the Iranians are becoming more progressive and women’s rights issues are coming to the forefront. We can expand to Iran and hire both men and women without issues. We shouldn’t pay women less because it is unethical, even though it reduces costs.

7 Iranian Women Labor Woes." Iran Labor Report. http://iranlaborreport.com/?p=895 (accessed Oct 31, 2013). 8 Moghadam, Valentine M. . "Where Are Iran's Working Women?." Payvand Iran News. 10 Feb 2009. http://www.payvand.com/news/09/feb/1110.html (accessed Oct 31, 2013). 9 Afshar, Haleh. "Women And Work In Iran." 21 Sep 2012. (accessed Oct 31, 2013).

A Europe Production Feature

Economy in Iran

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11 "Countries and Their Cultures." Culture of Iran. http://www.everyculture.com/Ge-It/Iran.html (accessed October 29, 2013). 12 "Customs, holidays and traditions of the Iranian people." Central asia, Middle east, Far east, Hot News, Analytics. http://easttime.info/reference_info/iran/customs-holidays-and-traditions-iranian-people (accessed October 29, 2013). 13 "Customs, holidays and traditions of the Iranian people." Central asia, Middle east, Far east, Hot News, Analytics. http://easttime.info/reference_info/iran/customs-holidays-and-traditions-iranian-people (accessed October 29, 2013).

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Successfully expanding into foreign countries with contrasting cultures is difficult due to the opposing gender roles that exist between host and home country. Expanding into Iran from a Canadian perspective requires one to understand the differences in traditions and women’s rights between the two countries. Despite Iran’s male dominated society, women have always had a strong role in Iranian life, albeit rarely a public role. In addition, women’s rights have been accelerating in the past decade. Women have served in the legislation for the Iranian government since

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the 1950’s. Recent improvements in women’s rights include the closure of the gap between the literacy rate of women and men. Education for girls is steadily increasing and women are now marrying at a higher average age of 21. Women are however still underrepresented in government and in business management.

Social

interaction in a business context in Iran may be troublesome due to Iran’s socially conservative society. A common western form of greeting would be the shaking of the hands, which is forbidden between males and females in Iranian society.

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Furthermore, two members of the opposite sex cannot be in a room together alone unless they are husband and wife. One must remember that Iran’s culture revolves around religious questions of female modesty.11

Another point of friction regarding expanding into Iran would be the differences in working days, holidays and work traditions. Iranians have dissimilar holidays in comparison to Canada as they celebrate Islamic holidays and have public holidays celebrating historically significant days such as April 1st, the Islamic republic day marking the 1979 revolution.

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Additionally, Iranians celebrate the new years on March 21st with 13 days of celebration. Businesses and shops are usually closed during this time period. Another important holiday in Iran would be Ramadan, which is celebrated on the ninth month of the Islamic Calendar. During Ramadan, work hours are typically reduced to 4 hours as fasting affects the productiveness of employees. Employees are known to be moody and distracted during Ramadan and business lunches are out of the question.12&13

A Europe Sales Feature

Holiday’s and Traditions in Iran

Notable example of progression of women’s rights in Iran: Iran's first woman judge, Shirin Ebadi, won the Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts in promoting human rights.

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• Women’s rights

worldwide have developed since the last half-century. However, there are still many countries that restrict women’s social standing, such as Saudi Arabia. This restriction limits them to the point where it becomes a disadvantage to be a woman. For instance, Saudi Arabia prohibits women from voting, being elected in political office, and driving.14 It seems that these laws hinder human rights. Nevertheless, this country is slowly trying to change their ideologies. Recently, a female law graduate became one of the first successful female lawyers in Saudi Arabia and was also one of the first women to study law at her university. She was “treated as an equal like any of her men colleagues.”15

According to the statistics of business

laws and practices in Saudi Arabia, only nineteen percent of women are currently in the workforce. Even though women are eligible and certified to work, equality is not met. In fact, in any government or property agency, they must wear a Hijab (a black scarf that covers the face) and be with at least two males as witnesses.16 With these norms, it seems very difficult for women to be successful in business and shows great adversity when trying to pursue their careers.

14 Dawson, Stella. "Saudi Arabia worst on women's legal issues -report." Reuters. http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/24/us-women-law-worldbank-idUSBRE98N0RJ20130924 (accessed October 30, 2013). 15 Watson, Katy. "Winning the case for women in work: Saudi Arabia's steps to reform." BBC News. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-20697030 (accessed October 30, 2013). 16 Dawson, Stella. "Saudi Arabia worst on women's legal issues -report." Reuters. http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/24/us-women-law-worldbank-idUSBRE98N0RJ20130924 (accessed October 30, 2013). Other Sources: "Trading Saudi Businesswoman." The Economist. http://www.economist.com/news/business/21586615-challenge-teaching-leadership-women-androcracy-managing-under-abaya (accessed October 30, 2013).

An Asia Production Feature

How Women’s Rights Affect

Business Laws in Saudi Arabia

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An Asia Sales Feature

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In Saudi Arabia women have less rights than men, which significantly affects the way women are treated in business. However, digging deeper, it is the gender roles set up by the culture that creates a paradigm in which women have less opportunities than men.

In Saudi Arabia, there is a gross imbalance of power between men and women. Economic statistics show that 75% of women work in the catering or cosmetic industries, and there are fewer opportunities in contracting, sports and agriculture as they are traditionally “male” fields.17 There are no laws stopping women from going into theses industries, however it is part of a traditional way of thinking and frowned upon. Even men, who support women working, feel that there are jobs more suited for women and jobs more suited for men.

Since it is still difficult for local women to find a great job, it is also difficult for western women with business VISAs, travelling in the country, to have the same opportunities they would be allowed in their home country.18

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Western women are also encouraged to act and dress more conservatively, in order to respect local cultures. It is said to be slightly easier, as foreigners are treated differently, yet there will always be some barriers which come from a long history of gender role stigma.

Many women are trying to change that by breaking into the male dominated industries. A few examples of this is a woman who currently runs a caviar farm which is said to be the largest in the Middle east. Another example is a woman who owns the first sports centre for women. A final example is the first woman to be involved in the contracting sector in eastern Saudi Arabia. Within this group of women, many “male monopolies” have been broken which is opening new doors for other women.17

All of these women and their male supporters are aiming to increase the gender parity in Saudi Arabia and create opportunities for all women in the Middle East.

17 Iman Al Khataf “Saudi women challenging male business monopoly” last updated 29 October 2013, taken from http://www.aawsat.net/2013/10/article55320649. 18 World Business Culture “Women in Business in Saudi Arabia” last updated 2012, taken from http://www.worldbusinessculture.com/Women-in-Business-in-Saudi-Arabia.html.

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19 Encyclopedia Britannica. "Sultans of the Ottoman Empire." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/434996/Ottoman-Empire/300768/Sultans-of-the-Ottoman-Empire (accessed October 30, 2013). 20 "Join Academia.edu & Share your research with the world." Women in the Ottoman Empire. http://www.academia.edu/193378/Women_in_the_Ottoman_Empire (accessed October 30, 2013). 21 "Join Academia.edu & Share your research with the world." Women in the Ottoman Empire. http://www.academia.edu/193378/Women_in_the_Ottoman_Empire (accessed October 30, 2013). 22 "..:: REPUBLIC OF TURKEY MINISTRY OF CULTURE AND TOURISM ::..." ..:: REPUBLIC OF TURKEY MINISTRY OF CULTURE AND TOURISM ::... http://www.kultur.gov.tr/EN,31822/cultural-life-in-the-ottoman-empire.html (accessed October 30, 2013). 23 "Harriyet Daily News | Haber Detay." Harriyet Daily News | Haber Detay. http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/women-in-ottoman-society-.aspx?pageID=238&nID=15651&NewsCatID=438 (accessed October 30, 2013). 24 "Harriyet Daily News | Haber Detay." Harriyet Daily News | Haber Detay. http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/women-in-ottoman-society-.aspx?pageID=238&nID=15651&NewsCatID=438 (accessed October 30, 2013).

Arts and Culture

in Turkey

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Women’s rights in Turkey have varied throughout history, although never failing to affect the world of Turkish arts and culture. During the Ottoman Empire in Turkey, spanning from 14th to early 20th centuries, Sultans ruled from Hungary in the north to Somalia in the south, and from Algeria in the west to Iran in the east.19 Islamic women were protected by Ottoman law, providing security to pursue the arts in a way that they never had before. It provided the emergence of many famous Turkish women in theology, poetics, and architecture.20 Although women’s rights in Islamic culture were historically suppressed, scholars’ resources showed that Ottoman women had “a wide field of action...despite an inherited gender system that prescribed women’s subordination to men”21 Sultans of the Ottoman Empire

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were the leaders of the empire; however, Sultan’s daughters’, as well as other women who entered the imperial harem, were educated thoroughly about Islam culture and tradition including the Turkish language and skills such as reading, calligraphy, history and geography.22 Women who showed certain talents would be trained in that art. For example a girl who showed exceptional musical talent would be trained to use instruments and to sing and dance. Women who did not acquire these specialized talents were often given other duties such as serving the Sultan’s family and supervising the administration of the harem. When women fulfilled their time of service, usually by the age of 25, a sum of money would be given to them and they would be married to a palace member who was assigned a job outside the court.23 Post Ottoman Empire,

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women in Turkey gained certain rights regarding inheritance, marriage and divorce. Although men had authority over women, women now had the right to go to court to challenge actions that deviated from religious script.24 Women’s rights in Turkey have revolutionized over the centuries to create a safer and more just culture for women to live in. Today, it provides Turkish women with equal business opportunities upon realizing their prominent skills in the past. In particular, the Ottoman Empire has provided a strong history, which has affected the formation of arts and culture for women in Turkey including today’s business practices where opportunities for men and women are equal and respected.

Harem in Topkapi Serail. A contemporary reproduction of the harem of the sultans, with wax figures in traditional costumes. Source: "Photographium | Historic Photo Archive." Arab of the Shammar Tribe, Arab of the Zobeid Tribe, Married Muslim Woman of Baghdad: Istanbul 1873. http://www.photographium.com/arab-of-the-shammar-tribe-arab-of-the-zobeid-tribe-married-muslim-woman-of-baghdad-istanbul-1873 (accessed October 30, 2013).

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As the Ottomans rose to power, the role and position of women within society evolved as well. Source: Harriyet Daily News | Haber Detay." Harriyet Daily News | Haber Detay. http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/women-in-ottoman-society-.aspx?pageID=238&nID=15651&NewsCatID=438 (accessed October 30, 2013).

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In the 1990’s Turkish women began participating more actively than ever before in business-politics. This attributed to the rapid modernization and eradication of the patriarchal, traditional social structure.25 Since then, Turkey’s social democratic party has organized and begun to implement certain measures to deal with the gender role inequality. Such measures include, proposing a National Women’s Rights Charter and a National Women’s Right Council to promote gender role empowerment as well as create opportunities for women in the workforce. A National Women’s Data Centre in the capital, Ankara, is also set to be built and pave the way for women’s participation in policymaking. Since Turkey’s membership in the European Union, is a main vision for almost all parties in Turkey, the Justice and Development Party is complying with most of the suggestions and solutions that the social democratic party has proposed. This is because gender equality and women’s

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rights are one of the core criteria in becoming part of the European Union.26

While the European Union is busy discussing ways to increase the number of women in top positions with a gender quota, Turkey's largest companies have already set the pace with an impressive number of successful women executives in top corporations. Females make up approximately 35% of the business executives in Turkcell; a Turkish communication giant, and the overall rate of women employees is approximately 50% within the company. Gender equality and equal pay is a long-established rule in the company, and a norm in almost all Turkish companies. In spite of these motivating figures, overall female workplace participation in Turkey ranks at the bottom in Europe.27 Also, the total female employment rate has dropped from 35% to 25% in the last 10 years, which is the lowest than any European country.

While Turkey is

An Asia Sales Feature

Women’s Roles in Politics/Government in Turkey

25 “Political Participation Patterns of Turkish Women”, Burcak Keskin, Last Accessed October 30, 2013, http://www.library.cornell.edu/colldev/mideast/womtur~1.htm. 26 “Gender Equality in Turkey”, EurActiv New division, Last Accessed October 30, 2013, http://www.euractiv.com/socialeurope/gender-equality-turkey-policy-pr-analysis-502879. 27 “Turkish Businesswomen Make a Difference”, Deutsche Welle, Last Accessed October 30, 2013, http://www.dw.de/turkish-businesswomen-make-a-difference/a-16557565. 28 “Political Participation Patterns of Turkish Women”, Burcak Keskin, Last Accessed October 30, 2013, http://www.library.cornell.edu/colldev/mideast/womtur~1.htm.

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taking the appropriate measures to improve their current condition, the fact that women’s roles in rural areas and urban areas constitute around 25% of the workforce population remain a cause for concern for the nation’s gender role development. According to the United Nations Development Program, Turkey ranks 101 out of 109 countries based on gender empowerment. Since 2004, Turkey has been in a “severe regression” due to the highly conservative views of the Justice and Development Party.28

"We see women as a rich untapped talent in this part of the world," says Joe Chalouhi, HR director for GE Energy in the UAEvi. Making women more business literate is crucial for development in the Middle East and a push to improve social stigmas must be made from external factors. The Middle East give individuals the resources and tools needed to live up to new professional and cultural expectationsvii.

Civil disputes within recent years show that the Arab world does not respond well to cultural change but after simple analysis, a reform is almost necessary. A highly regarded journalist from Vital Voices (a global partnership for Women’s rights said "By shifting to the focus to economic issues, business women will be positioned to better push for reform. To conclude, the Middle East is only hindering their economic growth because they choose to hold these paradigms of women in business. If they wish to advance in society and business, changes must be made.

A Letter from Michael Rychlewski:

vi Easton, N. The real revolution in the Middle East: Women in business. Retrieved from http://management.fortune.cnn.com/2012/04/16/middle-east-women-business/ vii Rubin, J. Arab women: The key to middle east progress? Retrieved from http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/wp/2013/09/18/arab-women-the-key-to-middle-east-progress/