Yemeni Women
Gender-based discrimination is widespread in Yemen following strong patriarchal traditions and religious beliefs. Yemeni women are considered as inferior to men in most spheres of society: they have limited access to education. Yemen has one of the largest gaps in the world between Yemeni women and Yemeni men in primary school attendance rates, health care and economic opportunities. Less than 30 percent of Yemeni women are economically active and the majority of them are employed in the agricultural sector. The population is Muslim and several of the country’s Sharia-based laws contain provisions that are discriminatory against women, particularly in the area of family matters. Yemen’s overall poverty also contributes to the difficult situation of Yemeni women.
