A Study on Gender Inequality among the Selected Middle East Countries: with an Emphasis on Iran's Position

Gender inequality in accessing different economic، social، and political opportunities is an important challenge for the Middle East countries. Empirical interstate evidences show that gender inequality disturbs economic performance of the states، reduces their capability in taking advantage of their capacities، and ultimately decelerates their economic growth and mileage. This study which has been conducted in a documentary and secondary analysis method، aims at describing and analyzing gender inequality among 13 selected states in the Middle East، specifically Iran’s position in this respect، using data from “Global Gender Gap Report” of years 2006 to 2011. Furthermore، data obtained from “Gender Gap Index” attached to Human Development Report (2011) and “Global Competitiveness Index” report were used to examine the relationship between gender inequality and human development as well as the rate of economic competitiveness of the states. Results indicate that gender inequality in our country is not satisfactory altogether، among selected Middle Eastern states between 2006 and 2011، despite proportional improvements in some other areas; so that in 2011، our country has been placed seventh in economic participation، ninth in educational achievements، sixth in health and survival، and tenth in political empowerment in the area of gender equality. Further analyses show that among the selected Middle Eastern states، gender equality has a positive relationship with the human development index and the rate of the economic competitiveness of the states. Finally، a number of suggestions have been proposed in order to enhance gender equality in relation with each one of the above mentioned indices.