2012 is the year set by the Iraqi government to begin implementing new hiring quotas regarding government workers. The new system would require that 50% of hires in the Ministries of Health and Education be female, as well as 30% of hires in all other government ministries. This echoes Iraq’s already existing quota of 25% female elected officials in parliament and has been impatiently awaited by the highly educated, ambitious women of Iraq.
Iraqi women have historically been represented well in the work force. Women began entering prestigious career paths as early as the 1920′s. During times of war they were often called upon to fill gaps in the workforce. Laws that protect their rights in the work place have been on the books since 1969. They are legally protected from discrimination and sexual harassment, as well as guaranteed maternity leave, time off to care for sick children, and equal pay and benefits.
Although women currently hold jobs in all areas of Iraqi society including universities, hospitals, the army, and the police, the government is, by far, the largest employer in all of Iraqi society. The required quotas are an important step for the entire country because women now outnumber men, and women are solely providing for their families at greater rates than ever before. Imposing a quota on all of the government ministries would open the door for qualified female candidates to enter the public sector and might even give preference to widows with children over men.
Widows, or female heads of households, account for almost 10% of the women in Iraq. Imagine if 10% of the women you know were widows. In a country where men are usually the main breadwinner, widows sometimes struggle to make ends meet. Furthermore, when women enter the work force, they sometimes face difficulty obtaining a position, discriminatory practices from their employers, or hitting a glass ceiling.
Critics of the quota argue that the plan does not explain how it will enforce these quotas, however, many are hopeful that Iraq will once again have the success of its own not-so-distant past. From the 1950s to the 1980′s, Iraq’s system of universal, free education was the envy of the Arab world. Iraq was also the first Arab country to have a female cabinet minister and was known for its high number of female teachers, professors, doctors, and civil servants. Iraqi women had successfully campaigned for the right to vote, the right not to wear the veil, and the right to travel abroad without a male relative (revoked under Saddam Hussein).
Many professional women lost their positions or left the country during the recent decades of sanctions and conflict. But the new quota system is an opportunity to fight discrimination and give smart, educated women a chance at the meaningful employment that has been promised to them and could set the stage for the next generation of working women.
We at EPIC believe in the potential of Iraqi women and girls. By partnering with Iraqis and Iraqi community organizations, together we can create opportunities for young women to mature into the strong, confident professionals and leaders that Iraq needs.
Jamie Biglow is a recent graduate from SUNY New Paltz where she studied Medieval Islamic and European art history and American history and foreign policy. Born and raised in New York State, she now lives in DC and is excited to be part of the EPIC team.
