Gender equality and women empowerment have been two of the most crucial cornerstones in modern day feminism. There have been endless conversations about the lack of women representation in the workforce, corporate world and especially leadership roles. When looking globally, we find that MENA region scores the lowest when it comes to representation of women in top leadership and management roles. Women in the region have been struggling to break the glass ceiling for several years. Unfortunately, the region also suffers from a severe lack of women in the labor force.
In the specific context of Qatar, women face an uphill battle in terms of joining the workforce. Based on the 2018 statistical portrait released by the Planning and Statistics Authority of Qatar, approximately 41.5 percent of Qatar's total female population is economically inactive. On the contrary, only four percent of Qatar's total male population is economically inactive. There exists a stark divide in both genders. Surprisingly, when it comes to secondary and higher education achievement, Qatari women are at par if not ahead of the men in the region. However, this number does not translate to the field of business and work.
This disheartening phenomenon can be attributed a series of factors and barriers that women in Qatar have to face. Social structures and norms are the primary concern. There still exists a serious lack of acceptance for women in the workplace. They also face familial restrictions which makes it even tougher to join the workforce. For the handful of women who do decide to join the workforce, there exist a host of legal challenges along with complex registration processes for starting a business.
As they say, when the going gets tough, the tough get going. Qatari women are striving hard each day to overcome these biases to craft a niche for themselves in the business world. Take for example Aida Remach, founder and Managing Director of Qatar based AR Brand Consulting. She undertakes a determined approach towards work, which helps her tailor the best possible solution for her clients.
Similarly Laura Brennan, the Founder of EcoSouk, a Qatar-based social impact company, is on a mission to providing a range of sustainable alternatives to everyday single-use plastic. She finds it exhilarating meeting people like her who are desperate to live more sustainably in Qatar.
"Whether in politics, technology, medicine, sports, engineering, we are seeing more and more women setting great examples of exceptional successes and leadership skills around the globe. It is unfortunate that the percentage of female leaders in the Middle East and Part of Africa are not comparable to those in Europe, Canada, and the Americas. However, there has been a noticeable increase", says an optimistic Silvana Bahsounhas, the Managing Partner at TNG Trading and Commercial Services.
Women like Silvana, Laura and Aida remind us that nothing is out of one's reach if one is determined to work hard. These women of mettle are setting a great example for the next generation of women leaders in Qatar.
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