But, I also think that cultural norms need to adjust as well. As mentioned here, it took a lot of encouraging for the first women to take jobs and once others in the community (including the men) realized that this was a positive thing for the women and their families, others followed suit. For the children of these women, it will likely be much easier for them to work if they choose as there is a precedent.

In the United States, one of the things that boosted women into the workforce was that labor was needed in WW II and the men were off fighting – this necessity helped accelerate change of attitudes.

In India (and Pakistan as well), among the middle-class, women are expected to work outside the family; hence all the stuff that preceeds work, namely, getting educated and being skilled at something that would make you employable is happening. In fact, at least in the part of India I am from, if you are a young woman and not employable and don’t have a college degree, your chances of getting married these days are diminished quite a bit.

I could be wrong about this, I am not a sociologist or an anthropologist and I haven’t done a scientific study. But perhaps the key is the desire for the middle-class (and even lower middle) to have a better life.

Many of the comments by Audrey on women in Bangladesh rings true in parts of India, though. Mother-in-law is very important! 🙂

I read an article in Jordan Times for International Women’s Day which talked about the challenges for women in the workforce. On the one hand there are societal pressures – that when a woman marries (or becomes a mother), in many homes her role is at home instead of in the workplace. But, this article also addressed employer challenges as many companies are less likely to hire women (even if they are more qualified than applying men) because they fear that they will either quit if they marry or have kids (or, that they will take lots of leave to take care of family). Amman is quite different than the rest of Jordan though – what is possible there for women may not apply in most other parts of the country.

I’ve come across so many young, bright young women in Bangladesh studying at University. For the few that I’ve been able to ask about what they want to do with their degree or if they will work, the answer seems to depend on whether their mother-in-law (when they get married) will allow work – she is the decision maker. Difficult situation.

Speaking of women and Persian women specifically, I once read an anthropological study that explored the lives of women in Iran. The main focus of the study was the fact that so many women are encouraged to do well in school, compete fiercely to be admitted to universities, and graduate with degrees, but then they are still expected to marry and fulfill traditional female roles of managing the household and bearing and raising children; thus, not utilizing the education that they were encouraged to get and becoming frustrated and dissatisfied. An Indian friend of mine told me that Indian women were also strongly encouraged to get degrees, because men want intelligent women–but still to raise their children–not to have a career. I wonder to what extent the same thing happens in Jordan. I was subletting an apartment outside of downtown Amman near all the American chains (yuck), and I often saw young women at Starbucks, at Tche Tche smoking hookah, generally out having a good time, studying for class–granted, these women were probably from decently well-off families–but I wonder if most of them will grow up to be expected to raise families and not work…or maybe to work part time in a support role and not in something for which they actually studied. I know this comment is kinda long, but I wonder what this does to a society culturally, politically, and economically. There are plenty of women with the intelligence to work, but they are still kept out of the workforce. (Rhetorical, I don’t expect you to know) Are they taken into account in the huge unemployment statistics one hears about the Middle East? Do they want to work and societal norms keep them from pursuing that? How does a cultural paradigm shift begin? And I think that’s where the second story you related is important. A lot to think about.
Thanks again!

Have no fear – it is possible to ask for your coffee without sugar in Jordan. Our driver always did this and *most* of the time he actually got a sugar-free cup 🙂

@tripgirl6: Outside of Amman (i.e., city), women do make up less of the public and social space. The official women’s employment rate in Jordan is still quite low (like 15%), but you can still find women working and trying to create a beter life for themselves. And I imagine many of these women don’t make the official statistics.

@Kirk: Persia (Iran) is more conservative in terms of dress from Jordan, but I have quite a few Persian women friends who are not afraid to do and say anything. Really amazing. Just shows that you shouldn’t judge by the cover/dress.