Women in the Workforce:Women in the Workforce:United StatesUnited States

FranceFranceEgyptEgypt

LER 554 – PresentationLER 554 – PresentationKatie LambertKatie Lambert

Jackie TateJackie TateNatasha RawalNatasha Rawal

Marc KatzMarc KatzNovember 4, 2008November 4, 2008

FRANCEFRANCE EGYPTEGYPTFast Facts

64,057,792 Population 81,713,520 Paris Capital Cairo French Language Arabic Euro Currency Egyptian Pd $32,600 GDP $5,000$27.91 M Labor Force $22.1 M 7.9% UE Rate 9.1% 0.96 Gender ratio 1.02

Country Snapshots

*Source: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/

History – U.S.History – U.S. In the early 19th century women were excluded from In the early 19th century women were excluded from

many employment opportunitiesmany employment opportunities Industrial Revolution and World War I & IIIndustrial Revolution and World War I & II

Increase of women working outside the homeIncrease of women working outside the home Labor Laws protecting womenLabor Laws protecting women

Pregnancy Discrimination ActPregnancy Discrimination Act Equal Pay ActEqual Pay Act Civil Rights Act - Title VIICivil Rights Act - Title VII

History – FranceHistory – France

Family PolicyFamily Policy Encouraged women to stay at home and serve as Encouraged women to stay at home and serve as

child care giverschild care givers Increase of women in the workplaceIncrease of women in the workplace l’égalité professionnellel’égalité professionnelle The Government’s Code of Action on EqualityThe Government’s Code of Action on Equality

Most recently, the French government created the Most recently, the French government created the first legal framework of gender equalityfirst legal framework of gender equality

History - EgyptHistory - Egypt

1952 Revolution1952 Revolution 1956 Constitution 1956 Constitution

Granted full political rights for womenGranted full political rights for women Increasing workforce participation of women since Increasing workforce participation of women since

the 1970sthe 1970s Some reactionary movements also began at this Some reactionary movements also began at this

timetime National Council on WomenNational Council on Women

US Federal LawUS Federal Law Title VII of Civil Rights Act of 1964Title VII of Civil Rights Act of 1964

Prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex (including pregnancy), Prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex (including pregnancy), race, color, national origin, and religion for any employment decisionrace, color, national origin, and religion for any employment decision

Recent developments: GLBTRecent developments: GLBT Most common application: Hiring/firing based on gender, sexual Most common application: Hiring/firing based on gender, sexual

harassment (quid pro quo and hostile work environment), retaliationharassment (quid pro quo and hostile work environment), retaliation Equal Pay ActEqual Pay Act (of (of Fair Labor Standards ActFair Labor Standards Act))

Where work is equal and performance requires same skill and Where work is equal and performance requires same skill and responsibility, employer cannot pay less than the they pay opposite sexresponsibility, employer cannot pay less than the they pay opposite sex

Family and Medical Leave ActFamily and Medical Leave Act Mandates that employers with 50 or more employees give employees Mandates that employers with 50 or more employees give employees

12 weeks per year of unpaid leave for: birth of a child, adoption/foster 12 weeks per year of unpaid leave for: birth of a child, adoption/foster care, serious health condition, care for spouse/child with serious health care, serious health condition, care for spouse/child with serious health conditioncondition

French Employment LawFrench Employment Law French Labor CodeFrench Labor Code, , Article L. 122-45 (1982Article L. 122-45 (1982))

No employment decisions (hiring, firing, promotion, recruiting, salary, No employment decisions (hiring, firing, promotion, recruiting, salary, etc.) can be made on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, origin, morals, etc.) can be made on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, origin, morals, pregnancy/family situations, race, nationality, genetic characteristics, pregnancy/family situations, race, nationality, genetic characteristics, political opinions, etc. political opinions, etc.

Incorporates older anti-racism statute that provides for both Civil and Incorporates older anti-racism statute that provides for both Civil and Criminal penalties for making employment decisions based on raceCriminal penalties for making employment decisions based on race

French Labor Code,French Labor Code, Section VSection V:: Women are entitled to a total of 16 weeks of Women are entitled to a total of 16 weeks of paidpaid maternity leave (6 maternity leave (6

weeks before, 10 weeks after birth) and additional 22 weeks if weeks before, 10 weeks after birth) and additional 22 weeks if complications.complications.

90% of base wage, paid out of social security90% of base wage, paid out of social security Men entitled to 3 days of paid within 15 days of birthMen entitled to 3 days of paid within 15 days of birth

Cannot terminate employee during leave or 1 month afterCannot terminate employee during leave or 1 month after Another major difference: No “at will employment”Another major difference: No “at will employment”

Egyptian Employment LawEgyptian Employment Law Women cannot work outside their home if husband is opposed Women cannot work outside their home if husband is opposed

to the activityto the activity Adopted the Adopted the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of

DiscriminationDiscrimination (political, economic, social, etc.) but only to (political, economic, social, etc.) but only to extent that it doesn’t conflict with Islamic Lawextent that it doesn’t conflict with Islamic Law Egypt makes “reservations” to these lawsEgypt makes “reservations” to these laws CEDAW has made significant strides to equality of womenCEDAW has made significant strides to equality of women

Maternity Leave: One-time 90 day full paid leave if woman Maternity Leave: One-time 90 day full paid leave if woman has spent 10 months working for company.has spent 10 months working for company.

Social Issues – U.S.Social Issues – U.S.

Challenges Challenges Work-life balance Work-life balance Cracking the motherhood ceiling – being pushed or opting out of jobsCracking the motherhood ceiling – being pushed or opting out of jobs Even today, pay discrepancy exist Even today, pay discrepancy exist Due to current crisis, percentage of working women has decreasedDue to current crisis, percentage of working women has decreased Struggle with getting optimal retirement plansStruggle with getting optimal retirement plans

Trends/ Improvements Trends/ Improvements Delaying marriages and having children laterDelaying marriages and having children later Searching for family-friendly companies Searching for family-friendly companies Flexible schedules emerging – 26% in 2007Flexible schedules emerging – 26% in 2007 Working from home and keeping connection with companyWorking from home and keeping connection with company Venturing into entrepreneurships Venturing into entrepreneurships

Social Issues - FranceSocial Issues - France ChallengesChallenges

On average, women are paid 20% lower in same full time jobsOn average, women are paid 20% lower in same full time jobs In top 5,000 French companies, women only account for 7% of In top 5,000 French companies, women only account for 7% of

executivesexecutives Family life and domestic chores seen as "affaire de femmes" (women's Family life and domestic chores seen as "affaire de femmes" (women's

responsibilities).responsibilities). Poor pension plans - According to a 2004 survey, women over 60 Poor pension plans - According to a 2004 survey, women over 60

receive monthly pension averaging $1,380 against $2,200 for men. For receive monthly pension averaging $1,380 against $2,200 for men. For women over 85, monthly pensions dropped to $1,070 versus $1,760 for women over 85, monthly pensions dropped to $1,070 versus $1,760 for menmen

Trends/ ImprovementsTrends/ Improvements Having children does not mean the end of a mother’s careerHaving children does not mean the end of a mother’s career Many women take on part time jobs after having children – 85% of PT Many women take on part time jobs after having children – 85% of PT

jobs in France are held by women jobs in France are held by women More academically qualified than men (high human capital) – More academically qualified than men (high human capital) –

however, do not receive the same job opportunities however, do not receive the same job opportunities

Social Issues - EgyptSocial Issues - Egypt

ChallengesChallenges Huge sexual harassment escalation – 10% of women are harassed Huge sexual harassment escalation – 10% of women are harassed

according to local survey results according to local survey results Combating negative female stereotypes Combating negative female stereotypes Skepticism about the government's capacity to improve women's lives Skepticism about the government's capacity to improve women's lives Fighting against Islamic views of womenFighting against Islamic views of women

Trends/ Improvements Trends/ Improvements More access to educationMore access to education Men gradually accepting female workers due to high cost of living and Men gradually accepting female workers due to high cost of living and

need for extra incomeneed for extra income Benefit of experiencing financial freedomBenefit of experiencing financial freedom Influence through mediaInfluence through media