Gendering the Costs & Benefits of the Arab Uprisings in Tunisia & Egypt

• In Event: 061 - Regular Session. Sociology of Middle East and Muslim Societies

Abstract

The literature on gender and the Arab “Spring” has documented female activists' role in the uprisings and analyzed the implications for women of Islamists’ electoral successes. However, little is known about how ordinary women have experienced the changes that accompanied the uprisings and how this compares to men. The removal of authoritarian rulers may have improved satisfaction with public institutions or decreased perceived corruption, but for some, the uprisings may have resulted in higher perceived or reported crime and deeper material hardship. This paper analyzes gender differences in Tunisians’ and Egyptians’ perceptions of prevailing economic and political circumstances using nationally-representative samples surveyed before, during, and after the uprisings of the Arab “Spring.” Descriptive results indicate that Egyptians’ rating of three indices of economic conditions are lower overall, although Tunisians perceive a steeper deterioration in economic circumstances in the post-uprising period. In both countries, these economic losses have not been compensated for by political gains, as measured by four indices. While women and men’s economic and political attitudes follow similar trajectories in each country, there are clear differences according to the gender of the respondent, particularly in political attitudes. This gender difference is largely confirmed by multivariate analysis. Women are more likely than men to report favorable economic conditions in both countries. In the realm of politics, Egyptian and Tunisian women express greater dissatisfaction with law and order and with national institutions. At the same time, men perceive there to be higher levels of corruption than do women in both countries.

Author

• Rania Salem, University of Toronto-Scarborough