Women in the Middle East still face many barriers when it comes to advancing in the workplace. Women's participation in the workforce has risen to 28 percent in 2000 from 24 percent in 1980 in the Middle East, but this is still the lowest rate of any region in the world. The Middle East has been resistant to greater equality for women due to cultural differences and the presence of Islamic fundamentalism which stresses a women?s obligation to her family as her most important role.
See "Mideast businesswomen keep up the fight for respect", Amy Teibel, Chicago Tribune, July 27, 2004