It's 2017 and Egypt's still questioning women's employment rights

It's 2017 and Egypt's still questioning women's employment rights
An Egyptian newspaper conducted a very sexist poll asking men whether they would like their partner to work after marriage – the results were truly shocking.

2 min read
12 Jan, 2017
47% of Egyptian women between the ages of 15 and 29 are unemployed [Youm7]
An Egyptian newspaper has run a poll on its Facebook page, revealing shocking misogynistic attitudes towards women in the workplace.

Youm7 asked its readers if they thought it was acceptable for women to find jobs after they tie the knot – and the response was terrifying.

"Would you like your wife to work? Click heart for no and angry face for yes," an image posted on the popular tabloid's Facebook page last week said.

Thousands of votes poured in and a whopping 65 percent of readers said they were opposed to their better halves leaving the home to work.

However, an additional 4,000 users, seem to have misunderstood the instructions apparently, pressing the like button.

Thousands of votes poured in and a whopping 65% of readers said they were opposed to their better halves leaving the home to work

Male social media users gave varying reasons for their aversion to their wives going off to work such as free mixing of genders and the possibility of their wives being sexually harassed by colleagues.

"It's not because I don't trust her; it's because society has become so awful that you can't be sure she will be safe while she's alone," said one user.

Another user said: "If work was just left for men we would have no unemployment crisis. Women only have the right to work as gynaecologists and teachers for girls."

On the other side of the spectrum, many people also come to the defence of women's right to employment.

"I have no problem with my wife working. This is not because I am a wimp or cannot provide for her. My wife has dreams of a future in her field of work and I have to be her biggest supporter and not crush her freedom so that feel like 'a man in control'," said one user.

Many commenters said that they did not mind their spouses seeking employment as long as they did not "neglect their duties at home".

According to official Egyptian government statistics, 47 percent of women between the ages of 15 and 29 are unemployed, whereas only 27 percent of men the same age are out of a job.

In Egypt's battered economy more women finding employment could be the solution to the dire situation, said Ghada Barsoum.

The sociologist argued in an opinion article published last year that more women in the workplace would increase the country's GDP and also help curb the issue of overpopulation.