Public Policy on Gender Equality in the United Arab Emirates: A Critical Appraisal

18 Pages Posted: 9 Mar 2021

See all articles by Andrea Hesketh

Andrea Hesketh

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Jeremy B Williams

Zayed University

Date Written: February 20, 2021

Abstract

Empowerment of women and girls is firmly on the political agenda in many countries around the world, including the UAE. This paper evaluates public policy to date with a focus on the extent to which historical and cultural factors have helped or hindered progress towards gender equality, and how contemporary influences are serving to advance or impede its progress. It begins with a review of the various composite indicators used for international comparisons and the risks of over-reliance on a single index number as a ‘catch-all’ measure of gender equality. This leads into a comparative case study analysis of the journey of the UAE alongside that of Rwanda, one of the highest-ranking countries in the world for gender equality. The main contribution of the paper is to propose six guiding principles for evaluation of public policy on gender equality that are consistent with the promotion of a sustainable society.

Keywords: gender equality, SDGs, gender indices, United Arab Emirates, Rwanda, public policy

JEL Classification: Q01, J16, J18, N35

Suggested Citation

Hesketh, Andrea and Williams, Jeremy B, Public Policy on Gender Equality in the United Arab Emirates: A Critical Appraisal (February 20, 2021). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3798367 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3798367

Andrea Hesketh

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Jeremy B Williams (Contact Author)

Zayed University ( email )

P.O. Box 19282
Dubai
United Arab Emirates

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