Afrah Borji – Women in Development and Peace
Yemeni rural women are symbols of patience, resilience, and achievement. They face immense challenges in their daily lives, yet they consistently prove their ability to shoulder responsibilities and succeed in various fields. They carry heavy burdens, participating in government work, working in fields, and raising livestock, all while caring for their families. Despite these challenges, Yemeni rural women demonstrate a remarkable ability to balance work and family life.
A Vital Role (Examples of Women Working in the Government Sector)
In rural Yemen, women working in the government sector struggle with life’s burdens, facing difficult circumstances and constant hardship in government facilities, on farms, and caring for their families. However, despite these challenges, Yemeni women prove their ability to balance work and family, while also tending to their farm work, becoming a model of dedication and achievement.
Hayat Muhammad, a 35-year-old woman who is married with a son and daughter, exemplifies this. She works as a teacher in a government school in a rural area of Taiz governorate. She told the magazine Women in Development and Peace, “The role of rural women is important and sensitive at the same time, as she can balance working at home, working outside the home, and working on the land. I have livestock that I take care of on the land, and besides working in the fields, I raise my children, care for my family, and also work at school.”
She added, “Working women, whether in rural or urban areas, face great responsibilities. However, through cooperation and solidarity with those around her, she can overcome these challenges and achieve a balance between her different responsibilities. By sharing household responsibilities with her husband and family members, she can alleviate the pressures she faces and achieve a balance between her work and family. For example, the husband can help with farm work, and her mother can help her raise the children.
On the other hand, nurse Huda Kafi, who works in a government clinic in a Yemeni rural area, confirmed that her work is important and humanitarian. This role is particularly prominent in rural areas; where basic health services are sometimes lacking and there are no hospitals close to these areas. Therefore, I pay a lot of attention to my work to alleviate the pain experienced by members of the rural community, despite my responsibilities towards my family, land, and livestock.
She said, “I feel a great responsibility towards my work, and responsibilities towards my home and family as well, especially since I am the only daughter of my mother and father. I have no one to help me, and despite that, I try to do my work to the best of my ability, while pursuing my dream of being independent and having my own business.”
In the same context, Aliya Husain, 40 years old, married with 3 sons and a daughter, spoke about the role of rural women in work and their responsibilities towards the family. She said, “I work at a women’s guidance center because I believe that the role of women is very important in the institutional field, especially in places that require working women who can interact with community members, especially women, within the framework of their work.”
She explained that her role in the work revolves around educating women in many areas of life, and she was able to balance her work and family responsibilities; as her children are now old enough not to need much care, and her husband is understanding of her work style that requires her to work long hours that extend into the evening.
Challenges Faced by Rural Women in Yemen
Rural women working in Yemen face numerous challenges that hinder their professional advancement and reduce their opportunities for success. These challenges are even more pronounced when working in the government sector, where they encounter a conservative and complex work environment, coupled with a lack of support and services available in rural areas.
Some of the most prominent challenges include gender discrimination; the traditional view of rural women in Yemeni society persists, diminishing their value and abilities. Their role is often confined to the home and raising children. There is also a shortage of basic services; rural areas continue to suffer from a severe lack of essential services, such as clean water, electricity, transportation, and paved roads, which pose a significant burden on working women.
Furthermore, there is a lack of childcare centers, forcing women to leave their children with relatives or neighbors. This situation often leads to significant problems. Moreover, the infrastructure in rural areas, especially within government institutions, suffers from resource and equipment shortages. Cultural norms and traditions also impact the career paths of women working in rural government institutions, as they often face opposition from their families and communities.
Despite these challenges, rural women in Yemen are proving their ability to overcome adversity and achieve success in various fields, including the government sector.
Hayat Muhammad, says: “The most important challenges faced by rural women while working as teachers is the lack of appreciation and assistance and taking into account their family circumstances.”
On her part, the nurse indicates that the difficulties she faces include a lack of appreciation from the relevant authorities and those responsible at the clinic or even the public health office. They do not consider the general conditions faced by a working woman in a rural area governed by customs and traditions, where she has other responsibilities.
Aliya, another rural worker, shares her perspective: “The challenges I face include the lack of attention from authorities regarding facilities and government institutions in rural areas. They also disregard the conditions and well-being of employees. The current income is insufficient to meet basic needs and provide for a family.”
Sima Ahmad, a resident of a rural area in Yemen, highlights the key challenges faced by working women in the countryside: the distance to workplaces due to rough roads and low salaries that barely cover a fraction of their responsibilities.
Sima continues, “Although there is occasional recognition of the efforts women put forth in government institutions, whether in the private or public sector, they still face numerous difficulties, especially in finding time for breaks and leisure, and balancing their work outside the home with their responsibilities within it.”
Proposed Solutions
Among the proposed measures to alleviate the suffering of women working in government institutions is the activation of programs that empower and economically support rural women. These efforts come from both governmental agencies and numerous non-governmental organizations. They involve implementing awareness and education programs to change the traditional perception of women, enhance their roles in society, and provide training and qualifications to develop their professional skills. Additionally, establishing childcare centers helps women balance work and family responsibilities. Equal opportunities should also be made available for them to participate in various aspects of life.
According to teacher Hayat Muhammad, there are recommendations to assist rural women in their work within government institutions. These recommendations include providing dedicated childcare facilities, avoiding additional tasks that put pressure on them, being understanding about legitimate absences, and ensuring coverage during difficult circumstances.
Nurse Huda Kafi believes that recognizing and supporting women’s work both financially and emotionally, while considering their circumstances in cases of absence or delay, serves as the greatest motivation for them.
On the other hand, Aliya suggests that providing suitable employment opportunities aligned with the rural woman’s environment will greatly enable her to work comfortably and peacefully in government institutions, allowing her to enhance her capabilities and competencies.”
The Official Role
The official role of government institutions is influential and crucial in providing facilities for women working in the public sector. In this regard, Hanaa Al-Sharjabi, the director of a shelter affiliated with the Yemeni Women’s Union in Taiz Al-Shamayatin, highlighted that the lack of facilities provided to working women in Yemen, especially in the government sector, poses a significant challenge that hinders their professional progress and diminishes their opportunities for advancement and success. Unfortunately, most of these facilities are absent, such as childcare services. There are no dedicated places within government institutions to care for the children of working women.
Furthermore, among the necessary facilities, flexibility in work hours is essential. Women sometimes face delays due to family responsibilities, but unfortunately, their efforts often go unappreciated. Additionally, maternity leave is not always adequately granted, and administrative obstacles can arise.
Al-Sharjabi also emphasized the challenges faced by those responsible for registering rural women working in the government field. These challenges include the lack of training for women, the absence of implemented facilities in most government facilities, and instances of administrative control due to the absence of specific laws protecting working women’s rights.
She continues:” In conclusion, from my perspective, the best work environment for women would involve places that provide childcare services and consider women’s circumstances, especially in rural areas. Failing to provide such facilities would negatively impact their work, leading to a decline in their performance and overall job satisfaction.