How does Israel treat women?

Answer 1

Israel is one of the most Westernized countries in the Middle East and women are treated slightly less equal than they are in westernized countries, such as the United States. Facts concerning the status of women in Israel Women in the Labor Force: In 2000, 45.44% of the labor force were women, of whom only 15.8% worked full time, compared to 34.1% of the men. The average monthly salary for women was 60.18% of men's wages. The average wage-per-hour was 80.5% of that of men. In the Arab sector, the participation of women in the labor force is significantly lower - only 22%, and the rate of unemployment is higher than in the Jewish population -11.7%. The average salary of Arab women is only 71% of that of Jewish women. In general, women work mostly in lower-paying jobs, in services, education, health, welfare and clerical positions, and are significantly less represented in prestigious and lucrative occupations such as hi-tech, management and engineering, Poverty: The economic gap between rich and poor has deepened during recent years. 16% of the women in Israel today live in poverty, compared to 14% of the men. The difference may lie in the fact that most single famlies are those of single women. Violence against women continues to be a serious problem, ranging from domestic violence, sexual violence, sexual harassment, incest, trafficking in women for prostitution and honor-killing or femicide (mostly in the Muslim sector). It is estimated that about 200,000 women are suffering from domestic violence. At present there are 13 shelters for abused women and their families which during 2000, sheltered some 715 women and 882 children. There is also one hostel for battering and violent husbands. In recent years, minimum punishment for sex offenders and perpetrators of domestic violence was legislated. A recent bill, which makes reporting of domestic violence mandatory, is in the process of evaluation. In 1991, the Domestic Violence Prevention Law was enacted, empowering family courts to issue protective orders against violent spouses. In 1998, Israel adopted a comprehensive Sexual Harrasment Prevention Law, which defines sexual harrassment, makes it a criminal offence and also cause for a civil suit against the perpetrator and his employer. Education: Measured by years of schooling in the Jewish population, there is no educational gap between men and women. But many more boys study in the technical tracks that prepares them for well-earning professions. Among non-Jewish groups there is a slight difference between men and women in years of schooling, which is, however, closing swiftly. In the Bedouin community, there is a high drop-out rate for girls. While 57% of all academic degrees are earned by women, and 46% of the doctoral students are women, only 22% of senior faculty members and 7.8% of full professors are women. Health: Israel ranks among the leading nations in term of the health of its population. However, there are significant health differences between men and women that reflect the relatively disadvantaged status of women in society. For example, the basket of services covered by the National Health Insurance (which became effective in 1995) does not include papsmears, mammography, contraceptives and bone density scans. In 1998, life expectancy at birth was 80.3 years for women and 76.1 years for Jewish men. The life expectancy of non-Jewish women was 77.7. The leading cause of death for women is Heart disease, followed by cancer. Breast cancer incidence in Jewish women is among the highest in the world: one out of eight women will contract the disease in the course of her life. Women and the Armed Forces: Although service in the IDF is compulsory for both men and women, inequality does exist. The exclusion of women from many military professions and all combat units guaranteed that the highest positions were closed to them. In 2000, Israel's Parliament adopted an amendment to the Security Service Law, opening all military professions to women. Recently, this change has met with strong objections from religious institutions and politicians. [http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/MFAArchive/2000_2009/2001/8/The%20Advancement%20of%20the%20Status%20of%20Women%20-%20Israel%2020]