Egyptisk politiker: Måste vara oskuld för att studera

Traditional gender roles in Egypt are prevalent and clearly defined. These roles are largely associated with traditional Islamic family structures, wherein women's roles are closely tied to the domestic sphere and men's roles tied to the public sphere (see: Women in Egypt). Gender roles are based on assumed biological differences between the sexes and can lead to dramatically different life experiences as well as opportunities and outcomes for individuals. However, when looking at a number of indicators, women often find themselves disadvantaged relative to men. In 2011, the UNDP's Gender Inequality Index (GII) rated Egypt 126th out of 148 countries, with an overall value of 0.59, where 1.0 is a perfect score. These indicators suggest strong gender-based disparities in areas of reproductive health, economic functioning, and overall empowerment. Reasons for inequalities are numerous; social norms and attitudes, economic pressures, religious beliefs, and structural forces all help maintain the status quo.