Examining the Link Between Women's Political and Economic Empowerment: A Comparative Analysis of Success Case Studies and the MENA Region

Abstract

In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, women’s empowerment is improving in some aspects, but examining the relationship between women’s political and economic empowerment is essential to the creation and implementation of future female engagement strategies. Although women’s empowerment continues to evolve in the MENA region, common themes of concern that jeopardize its progress are still present and are found in the form of harassment and discrimination due to patriarchal systems and customs. This report seeks to evaluate the linkage between political and economic empowerment and concludes that political empowerment is the leading factor in closing gender gaps. Conducting further research, our case studies investigate the countries of Bangladesh, Namibia, Rwanda, Argentina, and Iceland, where the rates of women’s political and economic empowerment are high. The research findings are broad and address key issue areas such as unpaid care, education, land ownership, inheritance, and civil participation. Additionally, it emphasizes that male support is necessary to promote successful campaigns of equality on both the political and economic fronts.