Women's Experience In Bahrain: A Complex Reality

Women in Bahrain have made significant strides in recent years, with increasing representation in politics, business, education, sports, and other fields. They have gained the right to vote and stand in elections, and the country has established initiatives to promote gender equality and empower women. However, despite these advancements, women in Bahrain still face gender inequality and discrimination in various aspects of their lives. While they are provided with freedoms and opportunities, traditional societal norms and the complex interplay between secular and religious laws create a complex landscape for women's rights in the country.

Women's safety and protection

On the other hand, there are still concerns about women's safety in Bahrain. The country's laws and societal norms present challenges to women's protection. For example, there are no specific laws in place to protect women from domestic violence or gender-based violence, which is a significant gap in the legal system. While the SCW and other organizations work to address this issue, the lack of legal protection leaves women vulnerable to abuse.

Furthermore, traditional values and interpretations of Islamic law can restrict women's freedom and safety. Women in Bahrain are expected to conform to conservative standards of dress and behavior, and deviations from these norms may lead to unwanted attention or harassment. While the country is relatively liberal compared to its neighbors, societal expectations about women's roles, such as staying at home and focusing on family, can limit their opportunities and expose them to social pressures.

Additionally, women in Bahrain face challenges in the workforce, despite having equal legal rights in this area. They may encounter discrimination in hiring and career advancement due to traditional gender roles, and they are underrepresented in certain sectors. The government has implemented incentives to encourage the employment of women, but social pressures and the lack of educational opportunities in high-demand fields hinder their full participation in the economy.

In conclusion, while Bahrain has made progress in promoting women's safety and protection, there are still areas where improvement is needed. The country's commitment to addressing domestic violence and supporting women's empowerment is commendable, but the lack of legal protections and persistent societal norms that restrict women's freedom and opportunities remain concerns. Further legislative reforms and cultural shifts are necessary to ensure that women in Bahrain are fully safe and protected.

Women in politics

Women in Bahrain have had the right to vote and stand in national elections since 2002, making it the second country in the GCC to do so. However, women candidates in the 2002 municipal elections—Bahrain's first since the change in law—were all unsuccessful, with all 31 women losing to male candidates.

In the same year, four women were appointed to the Consultative Council: Mariam Al Jalahma, Bahia Al Jishi, Alees Samaan, and Mona Al-Zayani. In 2004, Dr Nada Haffadh became the country's first female cabinet minister when she was appointed Minister of Health.

In 2006, Bahrain was elected to head the United Nations General Assembly and appointed lawyer and women's rights activist Haya bint Rashid Al Khalifa as President. This made her the first Middle Eastern woman and only the third woman in history to head the world body.

In 2006, Lateefa Al Gaood became the first female MP in Bahrain, winning by default after her opponents dropped out. The number of female MPs rose to four after the 2011 by-elections.

In 2014, a small number of women were elected to both houses of parliament. However, as of February 2021, only 15% of seats in parliament were held by women, indicating that there is still work to be done to achieve gender equality in Bahrain.

Women's rights and the law

Women in Bahrain have made significant progress in terms of rights and representation in various fields. However, they still face gender inequality and widespread discrimination in many areas of life.

Political Participation:

Bahrain granted women the right to vote and stand in elections in 2002, and the country elected its first female minister in 2004. While this was a significant step forward, women continue to be underrepresented in decision-making positions and face challenges in getting elected.

Education:

Bahraini women are the most liberally educated in the MENA region. They dominated the student population in universities, comprising 72% of students at Arabian Gulf University and 67% at the University of Bahrain in 2007. However, they often face unemployment due to limited career options stemming from the unavailability of certain subjects for female students.

Employment:

Women in Bahrain have a strong presence in various fields, including health, education, sports, the judiciary, and ICT. They are also encouraged by the government to join the workforce, and incentives are provided to employers. Despite this, women only make up around one-fifth of the working population due to social pressures to stay at home and traditional gender roles.

Legal System:

Bahraini law is a mix of royal decrees, civil and criminal codes, and Sharia law, which creates a complex dynamic for women's rights. While the secular part of the law advances women's rights, the religious aspect, with its interpretation of Islamic law, holds them back. For example, there are no laws protecting women from domestic violence, and spousal rape is legal.

Initiatives for Change:

The Supreme Council for Women, a semi-governmental body, has been instrumental in promoting women's rights and empowerment. In conjunction with NGOs, they have advocated for change, resulting in initiatives like the National Strategy to Protect Women from Domestic Violence and the first personal status law in 2009, which granted women more rights in marriage.

International Commitments:

Bahrain's commitment to international treaties, such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), has had a positive impact on women's rights. However, the country's adherence to Sharia law prevents it from fully embracing certain social reforms promoted by these treaties.

In conclusion, while Bahraini women have made strides in various fields and enjoy freedoms in many aspects of their lives, they continue to face challenges due to the complex legal system, societal norms, and discrimination in Bahrain.

Women in the workplace

Women in Bahrain have a strong presence in many fields, including health, education, sports, the judiciary, and ICT. They have defied odds and played a major role in the country's advancement and development.

Bahraini women have a long history of contributing to the workforce in various sectors. They have been participating in municipal elections alongside men since the early 1930s and actively took part in the first elections for the Central Municipal Authority in 1951. In 2002, Bahrain granted women the right to vote and stand in elections, becoming the first nation to grant universal female suffrage. Despite this, women still face challenges in getting elected and are underrepresented in decision-making positions.

Women's participation in the workforce has been steadily increasing, with Bahraini women forming an average of 32% of the total workforce from 2010 to 2019. They comprise 18% of public sector employees, 54% of governmental entities, and 35% in the private sector. Additionally, Bahraini women have made notable contributions to business, with an average of 43% of all active individuals' commercial registers being owned by them between 2010 and 2018.

The Bahraini government has implemented several initiatives to encourage women's participation in the workforce. For example, hiring a Bahraini woman is considered the same as hiring two citizens, helping companies increase their indigenous employment ratio. The government has also formed Equal Opportunity Committees in both the public and private sectors to promote equal opportunities and address the needs of women in the workplace.

Despite these advancements, women in Bahrain still face gender inequality and discrimination in many areas of life. They are pressured by societal norms to stay at home and take care of their families, as is customary in Islamic tradition. Additionally, certain subjects in schools are unavailable to female students, limiting their career options. Technical subjects, for instance, are typically only available to male students, while textile classes are often limited to females.

While Bahrain has made significant progress in women's rights and continues to strive for gender equality, there are still areas that need improvement to create a more inclusive environment that fosters greater balance between genders.

Women's education

Women in Bahrain have had opportunities to move away from traditional roles and pursue education and careers in a variety of fields. The country has a long history of providing women with freedoms and liberties in all aspects of their lives, and this is reflected in their access to education.

Bahrain was the first Gulf state to introduce education for women in 1928, with the establishment of the first secular school for women, Al-Khadija Al-Kubra. Since then, women have been able to study abroad and take on roles such as teachers and school principals. The country also opened its first hospital-based nursing school in 1959, and women were able to study medicine and related fields in neighbouring countries.

In recent years, women in Bahrain have had access to free education through the secondary level, and a law passed in 2004 made education compulsory for children aged 6 to 15. This has resulted in impressive enrolment rates for girls in primary and secondary school, at 97% and 93% respectively. In tertiary education, women outnumber men in most colleges, and while few women study the sciences, this appears to be due to a general lack of focus on the sciences rather than gender imbalance. In 2006, women made up 72% of students studying sciences and 75% of those studying medicine. However, they only comprised 32% of those studying engineering, one of the few fields where men outnumber women. Despite these academic achievements, women face discrimination in hiring and a lack of opportunities to learn vocational skills like their male counterparts.

The Bahrain Constitution provides for equality and equal opportunity in education, but these laws are not always enforced. While women have the right to own, sell, and rent land, they often allow male relatives to manage their property. Additionally, while there are laws mandating maternity leave, the government has not taken action against employers who are guilty of gender discrimination.

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