Women in Lebanon

According to a 1997 statistical survey, the percentage of working women in relation to the total number of women from all age groups was 14.9 %, compared to 9.5% 30 years earlier. In the survey, women who pursue salaried jobs are mainly found in the age group of 25-29 and represent 34.4 % of the total female labor force; this percentage decreases from that age on. However, this tendency does not apply to men whose activity in the same age group amounts to 91.3 % and continues to increase with age. Moreover, it seems important to note that 52% of the women who work are single.

The existing income gap is largely linked to gender; it is estimated that men’s wages are 27% higher than those of women. Women do not work too, under the same conditions as men in terms of career mobility and of revenue. And for the same occupation, most of the working women hold a university degree or a higher education certificate, while the majority of men may have only completed primary or secondary education.

Discrimination against women also exists within the social security system. Benefits are unequal, which is due to the traditional perception of the role of women: the female is viewed as a dependent wife and similarly her earnings represent an addition to the family income. This situation persists despite the change that has taken place in the social structure of the family: an increasing number of households lead by women and families that rely on two incomes.

In the rural region of Akkar, the situation of women is exacerbated due to poor education. The educational infrastructure was never rebuilt after the civil war. Because there are no adequate public education facilities and private schooling is expensive, rural families are unable to educate their children (especially since the average nuclear family consists of 8 members). Naturally then, the education of women is not considered a priority.

The RMF began its social development activities, in 1993, with projects targeting women. These activities have focused on:

vocational training of rural women in, for example, sewing, hairdressing, and foreign languages

gender awareness training

literacy campaigns

computer technology training

Sexually transmitted diseases (STD) and AIDS education

political participation

In 2004 and 2005, through the RWIGAT project, RMF worked with local women's cooperatives for the improvement of rural women's socio-economic status. Targeting 400 beneficiaries, the project offered trainings and workshops, marketing and local produce exhibition opportunities.

In 2005 and 2006, through the CoopNet project, RMF is providing organizational development for and creating a network of 25 rural women's cooperatives to address their marketing and sales needs. Bimonthly meetings and various workshops are being conducted.

The GEWAMED project (2006-2010) is contributing to the mainstreaming of gender dimensions in the Integrated Water Ressources Management (IWRM) in the Mediterranean Region. RMF is the national coordinator for Lebanon within this regional project.