Two female entrepreneurs are helping Arab women to grow professionally and overthrow gender stereotypes by sharing their stories in public, writes May El Habachi.
As strong advocates for gender equality in MENA, entrepreneurs Samar Alshorafa and Noha Hefny believe that it is important to support women professionally to create a more inclusive and prosperous society. Driven by this conviction, they co-founded She is Arab in March 2019, creating the UAE’s first dedicated speakers’ platform for Arab women.
“We want to change misperceptions, advance knowledge and become enablers for unleashing the power of women in the field of public speaking,” explains Alshorafa.
Aside from reducing gender bias, providing women with speaking opportunities will help position them as thought leaders and industry experts in their fields, which, in turn, will develop their leadership skills and create new business opportunities.
CLOSING THE GENDER GAP THROUGH STORYTELLING
Over the last few years, women in the Middle East have made huge strides in closing the gender gap in education, political representation and labour force participation. However, many still struggle with finding work and climbing the corporate ladder. According to data compiled by the World Bank, female participation in the workforce is at only 25% in MENA compared to about 50% globally.
Regardless, women’s economic and social development is topping government reform agendas in the Middle East. Contributing to this momentum, She is Arab highlights the successes and achievements of Arab women to enhance leadership and workforce participation as well as provide positive role models for future generations.
“We believe in the power of storytelling,” says Hefny. “We aspire to deliver impact by echoing the voices of our speakers to thousands of people and audiences around the world to demonstrate the power of Arab women and to reduce stereotypes and misperceptions about what Arab women are capable of achieving.”
They do this not only by providing women with speaking opportunities but by building their personal brand and thought leadership profiles and offering professional and leadership development opportunities.
She is Arab also works with governments and corporations as an advisor on gender balance and women-related issues.
FIGHTING STEREOTYPES AND BIAS
Bias is rife across many organisations and countries around the world, and the Middle East is no exception. Although women in business are more prominent than ever, many remain underrepresented in management and senior-level positions.
Globally, 29% of senior management roles were held by women in 2019, the highest number ever on record, according to a recent Women in Business report.
“Arab women, like many other women around the world, including ourselves, have encountered and continue to experience unconscious bias in the workplace and in public life,” says Alshorafa. “The problem with such biases is that they hinder opportunities for growth and development, and in the workplace specifically, they may eliminate opportunities for being hired, promoted, rising to the C-suite or being considered for a board position.”
Through the platform, the founders aim to challenge these stereotypes and demonstrate how women have persevered and overcome barriers in their rise to leadership.
“There are numerous role models in the history of the region who have demonstrated the capabilities and power of Arab women,” Hefny notes. “However, these success stories are not sufficiently covered in the media, so She is Arab is looking to break down these inaccurate perceptions by showcasing positive efforts taking place in the region and highlighting the brilliant Arab women who have delivered exceptional achievements across every sector.”
Today, She is Arab has about 100 registered speakers and has successfully matched speakers with speaking opportunities in the UAE.
However, since public speaking is not always a paid opportunity in the region, and many women still struggle with asking for payment, She is Arab is raising awareness about the value of public speaking and acting as a mediator between women and organisations. “This helps address any cultural or societal barriers that women may experience in requesting compensation,” says Alshorafa.
To continue its growth, She is Arab is working to build partnerships with public and private sector organisations, foundations, media groups and academic institutions to advance women’s leadership and professional development in the UAE. It also has plans to expand across the MENA region and beyond in the near future.