201: shift towards gender equality in Libya

Libya may not generally be thought of as a nation pushing the cause of women's rights, but that could be changing. As today's linked article from the BBC attests, the emancipation of women in Libyan society has come a very long way. Women now make up around 22% of the country's workforce, including in traditionally male dominated sectors such as aviation and the civil service. In the 1970s, by comparison, women made up just 6% of the workforce. Equality for women is protected by law, but expanding entrepreneurship and high-level support for equal rights (such as Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi employing female bodyguards) are also key factors. As the article suggests, traditional views of women's roles remain dominant - but the shift towards equality is perceptible, if gradual. (Photo of female pilot from BBC online.)

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