One Stride at a Time

Abstract

Gender inequalities are a worldwide phenomenon hindering women's progress in higher education and the workforce. To fully grasp the current manifestations of this problem, it is crucial to examine the reasons behind it and shed light on the changes in policies that have moved toward overcoming it. This chapter focuses on women in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region; it specifically explores the roles of women in pursuing higher education and employment, as the two are intertwined in the complexity of advancing women in different disciplines and professions. The chapter also highlights how traditional and patriarchal societies in the MENA region place an unconscious bias on women, placing an expectation on them to be homemakers and caretakers for their families. Finally, the chapter presents how, despite more work to be done, the MENA region has advanced in promoting more women in higher education and the workforce but that a call for more collaboration in the region is needed.