June 25, 2012

Arab Women and Men See Eye to Eye on Religion's Role in Law

Religious Arabs more likely to support women's right to initiate divorce

by Dalia Mogahed Gallup
http://www.gallup.com/poll/155324/Arab-Women-Men-Eye-Eye-Religion-Role-Law.aspx?utm_source=alert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=syndication&utm_content=plaintextlink&utm_term=Egypt

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Many observers of the Arab uprisings are growing
concerned about women's rights as Islamist parties that generally favor a
more assertive role for religion in public life gain influence across North
Africa. Gallup surveys in five Arab countries found Arab women are as likely
as Arab men in their countries to favor Sharia as a source of legislation.

Question: What role should Sharia have in legislation? Should it be the
only source of legislation, a source but not the only source or should
Sharia not be a source of legislation?

Egypt:
Men: Only source 50% A source but not the only source 37%
Women Only source 44% A source but not the only source 38%
Syria:
Men: Only source 18% A source but not the only source 31%
Women Only source 15% A source but not the only source 34%
Libya:
Men: Only source 39% A source but not the only source 40%
Women Only source 32% A source but not the only source 39%
Tunisia:
Men: Only source 16% A source but not the only source 66%
Women Only source 18% A source but not the only source 56%
Yemen:
Men: Only source 68% A source but not the only source 29%
Women Only source 58% A source but not the only source 32%

The majority of women and men across countries experiencing political
upheaval do want some level of religious influence in law, though people's
views of the specific role for Sharia vary widely from one country to
another. Those who want no legislative role at all for Sharia are in a small
minority in every country.

These findings are based on a newly released Gallup report, "After the Arab
Uprisings: Women on Rights, Religion, and Rebuilding," which examines
ordinary citizens' views on the issues vital to rebuilding after the
revolution. The report focuses on several countries that experienced
upheaval in 2011, exploring the perspectives of women and men on the role of
religion in legislation, women's rights, life perceptions, and the economy.

Religious Arabs Are Slightly More Likely to Support Women's Rights

Gallup finds few differences between those who rate religion as "important"
and those who rate it as "not important" in regard to their attitudes toward
women's rights. However, religious Arabs (69%) are more likely to support
women's right to initiate divorce than Arabs who say religion is not
important (46%).

Question: Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: Women
should have the right to initiate a divorce:
Among those who said religion not important: Agree 46% Disagree 51%
Among those who said religion important: Agree 69% Disagree 28%

Economic Troubles, Not Religion, May Negatively Affect Views of Women's
Rights

Across the Arab world, men's support for women's equal legal status and
right to hold any job they are qualified for was positively linked to men's
life evaluations, employment, and other measures of economic and social
development. Gallup also found that there is no link between men's support
for Sharia as the only source of legislation and antagonism toward equal
rights for women.

The more men support women's participation in the workforce in a given
country, the more women are likely to work in professional jobs. If the
economy continues to suffer, women's rights may as well. This suggests that
economic trouble may be a greater threat to women's rights than public
support for religious legislation.

Implications

Men's views of women's rights matter -- and Gallup's analysis shows far more
pragmatic factors than religion drive men's support for women's equality.
The more men are thriving, employed, and educated, the more they support
women's rights. Arguments for minimizing Arab women's roles in public life
and society, however, are often cloaked in religious rhetoric. Arab men and
women must work together to keep economic problems from turning into
religiously justified limits on women's rights.

For complete data sets or custom research from the more than 150 countries
Gallup continually surveys, please contact
SocialandEconomicAnalysis@gallup.com or call 202.715.3030 .

Survey Methods

This report focuses on gender differences in countries affected by the Arab
Spring, including analysis of data from Egypt, Bahrain, Syria, Tunisia,
Yemen, and Libya. In each country, Gallup conducted multiple surveys with
approximately 1,000 individuals each time, using a standard set of core
questions that have been translated into the major languages of the
respective country. For this study, supplemental, region-specific questions
were asked in addition to core questions. Interviews were conducted
face-to-face with adults aged 15 and older, with interviews lasting
approximately one hour.