perception of women’s political leadership in yemen

Arab Women’s Leadership Institute

Perception of Women’s Political Leadership in Yemen

Quantitative Data: December 2 – 15, 2014

Qualitative Data: January 13, 2015

Detailed Methodology

2

• The survey was conducted December 2 – 15, 2014.

• Research was conducted by Arab World for Research and Development (AWRAD) and Percent Corporation for Polling Research

and Transparency Promotion.

• Sample size: 1,100

• The quantitative survey was conducted by 18 researchers using face-to-face interviews.

• The sample was based on a multi-stage national random sample, therefore the sample was distributed to provinces according

to their respective population based on statistics obtained from Yemen’s 2004 census and population growth estimates for the

period of 2005 – 2025.

• A Kish Grid was used to select individual respondents in the same house in order for the sample to be representative.

• Data collection was done via tablet devices, which allowed the average face-to-face interview to last 12 minutes in duration.

• The response rate in the survey was 77 percent. In counting for non-response rate, the net number of interviews was 1,100.

• A primary sample was replaced with another sample unit in Sanaa for security reasons.

• Margin of error: Plus or minus three percent.

• Two Focus Groups with 16 participants (11 females, five males) were conducted on January 13, 2015. Participants included

five home caretakers, three employed in government or the private sector, four university students and four recent college

graduates. Age of participants ranged from 21 to 40.

• Research was sponsored by the International Republican Institute’s Arab Women’s Leadership Institute through assistance from

the National Endowment for Democracy.

• The information in this report has been compiled in accordance with international standards for market and social research

methodologies.

• Charts and graphs may not add up to 100 percent due to rounding.

http://www.awrad.org/

https://twitter.com/percentyemen

http://www.iri.org/

http://www.iri.org/

http://www.arabwomensleadership.org/

http://www.ned.org/


Support for Women as Decision Makers Falls Short

Since the 2011 revolution, do you believe things are moving in the right direction or wrong direction for women’s political

participation in Yemen?

4

41%

33%

26%

68%

21%

11%

Right direction Wrong direction Don't know/No response

Men Women

If two equally qualified candidates, one man and one woman, are running for parliamentary elections, who would you vote for?

5

80%

11%8%

2%

47%

30%

22%

<1%

The man The woman No difference Don't know/No opinion

Men Women

Have you ever voted for a woman for elected office?

6

7%

93%

1%

6%

93%

1%

Yes No Don't know/No opinion

Men Women

If yes, for what position?

7

(n = 71)

19%

0% 0%

39%

0% 0%

25%

17%

0%

11%

3%

0%

26%

0% 0%

14%

17%

29%

Member ofparliament

Political partyleader

Mayor Local councilmember

Minister Judge Union leader Civil societyleader

Other

Men Women

As you may know, the National Dialogue Conference proposed that Parliament be made up of 30 percent women. Do you support or

oppose this women’s quota for parliament?

8

21%

38%

16%18%

7%

50%

25%

9%

12%

5%

Strongly support Somewhat support Somewhat oppose Strongly oppose Don't know/Noresponse

Men Women

Would you support the inclusion of this quota in the constitution?

9

18%

38%

18%19%

8%

51%

25%

10% 9%

6%


Men Women

If no, do you believe women candidates will be elected to important positions without a quota?

10

24%

51%

25%

40%

44%

16%

Yes No Don't know/No response

Men Women

(n=313)

For each position listed, please indicate if you strongly support, support, oppose or strongly oppose qualified women to obtain the

following positions:

11

6%

13%

21%

60%

1%

14%

19%

25%

39%

2%

Strongly support

Support

Oppose

Strongly oppose

I don’t know

Pre

sident

7%

24%

19%

49%

1%

19%

31%

23%

25%

2%

Strongly support

Support

Oppose

Strongly oppose

I don’t know

Pri

me M

inis

ter

Women Men



12

11%

53%

12%

24%

1%

35%

41%

13%

11%

<1%

Strongly support

Support

Oppose

Strongly oppose

I don’t know

Mem

ber

of

Parl

iam

ent

8%

31%

24%

36%

2%

24%

34%

22%

18%

2%

Strongly support

Support

Oppose

Strongly oppose

I don’t know

Am

bass

ador

Women Men



13

6%

26%

28%

38%

1%

20%

26%

31%

22%

2%

Strongly support

Support

Oppose

Strongly oppose

I don’t know

Politi

cal Part

y L

eader

6%

19%

33%

41%

1%

21%

27%

30%

22%

<1%

Strongly support

Support

Oppose

Strongly oppose

I don’t know

Mayor

Women Men



14

11%

49%

15%

25%

1%

37%

39%

13%

12%

<1%

Strongly support

Support

Oppose

Strongly oppose

I don’t know

Local Council M

em

ber

10%

49%

14%

27%

1%

38%

34%

16%

12%

1%

Strongly support

Support

Oppose

Strongly oppose

I don’t know

Min

iste

r

Women Men



15

8%

31%

20%

40%

>1%

25%

28%

24%

22%

1%

Strongly support

Support

Oppose

Strongly oppose

I don’t know

Judge

10%

47%

15%

27%

2%

39%

32%

16%

11%

1%

Strongly support

Support

Oppose

Strongly oppose

I don’t know

Unio

n L

eader

Women Men



16

10%

57%

9%

22%

>1%

43%

35%

11%

9%

1%

Strongly support

Support

Oppose

Strongly oppose

I don’t know

Civ

il S

ocie

ty L

eader

4%

11%

15%

69%

1%

11%

18%

23%

46%

2%

Strongly support

Support

Oppose

Strongly oppose

I don’t know

Hig

h R

ankin

g M

ilit

ary

Pers

onnel

Women Men



17

5%

20%

16%

59%

1%

13%

22%

23%

41%

2%

Strongly support

Support

Oppose

Strongly oppose

I don’t know

Hig

h R

ankin

g P

olice F

orc

e M

em

ber

Women Men

What are the main challenges facing women’s political participation in Yemen today? Select the two greatest barriers

(first selected)

18

20%

6%5%

38%

<1%

5%

17%

2%

8%

24%

8% 8%

32%

2%

6%

19%

2%<1%

Lack ofeducation

Lack of money Islamic law Tribaltraditions

Economicindependence

Security fears Familyresistance

Lack of desireto participate

Don't know/Noresponse

Men Women

What are the main challenges facing women’s political participation in Yemen today? Select the two greatest barriers

(second selected)

19

10%10%

5%

24%

2%

6%

19%

4%

21%

8% 8%

6%

29%

3%

13%

24%

4%

5%

Lack ofeducation

Lack of money Islamic law Tribal traditions Economicindependence

Security fears Familyresistance

Lack of desireto participate


Men Women

What challenges do women face running for political office? Select the top two barriers (first selected)

20

13%

25%

8%

16%

4%

21%

13%

8%

33%

20%

17%

5%

15%

3%

No political partybacking

Lack of support fromfriends and family

Insufficient funding Threats frommembers of the

community

Negative media Slander anddefamation


Men Women

What challenges do women face running for political office? Select the top two barriers (second selected)

21

8%

11%

13%

19%

7%

17%

26%

4%

16%

17% 18%

7%

30%

9%

No political partybacking

Lack of support fromfriends and family

Insufficient funding Threats frommembers of the

community

Negative media Slander anddefamation


Men Women

Do you support women’s participation in political parties?

22

20%

40%

13%

24%

2%

40%

30%

17%

13%

<1%


Men Women

Would you donate money to support any political campaign?

23

42%

53%

5%

52%

42%

7%

Yes No Don't know

Men Women

Would you donate money to support a woman’s political campaign?

24

35%

60%

5%

60%

33%

7%

Yes No Don't know

Men Women

Do you know a woman running for political office?

25

24% 24%

76% 76%

Men Women

Yes No

Do you believe women were fairly represented in the National Dialogue Conference?

26

48%

24%27%

<1%

37%

33%30%

<1%

Yes Somewhat No No response

Men Women

To what extent do you feel that women political figures are able to be effective in their respective bodies?

27

17%

51%

22%

10%

43% 42%

9%

5%

Large extent Some extent Not at all Don't know/No opinion

Men Women

To what extent do you feel that their (women political figures) opinions are heeded by other members?

28

6%

52%

32%

11%

21%

58%

19%

3%

Large extent Some extent Not at all Don't know/Noresponse

Men Women

Qualitative Insights on Support for Women as Decision Makers Falls Short

29

“Most people will not even consider electing a woman for president; even if a woman is

qualified, the mentality of people will not be amenable to electing a woman as the top

leader.” (Female, 31)

“No way that women win a presidential position; it is still a huge struggle to win a local

council seat.” (Female, 25)

“Women will not run because they have no support from the sheiks of tribes of the

political parties or powers.” (Male, 24)

“If women were given real opportunities, they would lead in all sectors; but it is

difficult for women to beg in high leadership positions because of social and political

obstacles.” (Female, 31)

“Women don’t have the needed experience to lead especially in high positions; with time

that might change.” (Male, 26)

“Women have no real resources to run a campaign; even if they are allowed by their

families, they will not have the financial resources or the experience.” (Female, 34)

“At the local level, it is even more difficult, women can’t compete with the local sheiks

of tribes who see that local councils are exclusively theirs.” (Male, 23)


Groups Committed to Women’s Political Leadership Must be

Strengthened

Do you think that women’s organizations contribute positively towards improving women’s economic livelihoods in Yemen?

31

31% 32%

24%

13%

59%

23%

15%

4%

Yes To an extent No Don't know/Noresponse

Men Women

Do you think that women’s organizations contribute positively towards improving women’s political participation in Yemen?

32

29%

32%

24%

16%

48%

23% 22%

7%

Yes To an extent No Don't know/Noresponse

Men Women

Do you know of any organizations that work in the field of women’s political rights?

33

18%

7%

82%

94%

Men Women

Yes No

In your opinion, does media promote a positive image of women in general?

34

28%

37%35%

47%

29%

24%


Men Women

Do you believe that the government in your country is promoting policies and programs to support the rights of women?

35

27%

36%37%

40%

33%

27%


Men Women

Qualitative Insights on Groups Committed to Women’s Political Leadership Must be Strengthened

36

“This is a good indication; women are more active on Facebook than

men who are involved in politics; this will be important in the future.”

(Male, 23)

“Most young people will know of the activism of political women

through Facebook.” (Female, 21)

“The people who vote and especially women are mostly illiterate and

they have no access to Facebook; these are the ones that we need to

reach.” (Female, 30)

“Active women are now only saying things on Facebook, but doing

nothing in reality.” (Female, 34)


Social/Cultural Context

To what extent do you feel that men are allowed to freely participate in all aspects of society?

38

87%

11%

1% 1%

93%

7%

1% 0%


Men Women

To what extent do you feel that women are allowed to freely participate in all aspects of society?

39

17%

45%

26%

10%

28%

47%

20%

5%


Men Women

Do you support women working outside the home?

40

30% 30%

11%

28%

<1%

55%

24%

8%

13%

0%

Yes, it's their right Yes, in certaincircumstances

Yes, as long as itdoes not affect their

familial role

No, women shouldstay at home

Don't know/Noopinion

Men Women

Do you feel that men and women enjoy the same access to employment?

41

30% 30%

11%

28%

55%

24%

8%

13%

Yes To an extent No Don't know/Noopinion

Men Women

If two equally qualified applicants, one man and one woman, are being considered for employment, who would you hire?

42

72%

16%

12%

47%51%

2%

The man The woman Don't know/No opinion

Men Women

Do you feel men and women receive equal wages, if completing the same work?

43

34%

16%

44%

6%

45%

17%

37%

2%

Yes To an extent No Don't know/No opinion

Men Women

Do you believe women have the same access to education as men in Yemen?

44

Primary Secondary Post-Secondary85%

14%

1%

67%

31%

2%

55%

43%

2%

84%

16%

0%

62%

38%

<1%

41%

58%

<1%

Yes No Don't know Yes No Don't know Yes No Don't know

Men Women

If no, why? Please select the top two barriers (first selected)

45

(n = 568)

29%

17%19%

4%

9%

7%

14%

2%

22%

18%

15%

4%

13%

6%

23%

1%

Cultural norms Poverty Childhoodmarriage

Householdduties

Family No money Lack of schools Securitysituation

Men Women

If no, why? Please select the top two barriers (second selected)

46

21%

18%

20%

10%

8%

10%

7%

3%3%

16%

14%

17%

8%

18%

9%

10%

9%

0%

Culturalnorms

Poverty Childhoodmarriage

Householdduties

Family No money Lack ofschools

Securitysituation

Don'tknow/Noresponse

Men Women

(n = 568)

Qualitative Insights on Social/Cultural Context

47

“I first must find take care of the economic needs of my family; how would I care

about participation in the community of politics if I couldn’t find enough resources

to feed my family?” (Female, 35)

“Women have no control over their own income; how would they participate when

they need to cover campaign and political work expenses?” (Female, 34)

“If young girls don’t go to school, how would they know what participation is?”

(Female, 23)

“The challenge is in our traditions and customs that look at women in an inferior

fashion and prevent them from participating.” (Male, 25)

“Society and family limit the ability of women to participate.” (Female, 33)

“The challenge is in lack of education and ignorance.” (Female, 30)

“Women activists are exposed to defamation of character and attacks on morals.”

(Female, 33)

“Some use religion against the participation of women; for example if a woman

decides to run for election she will have to face the mentality of groups like ISIS

and Ansar Allah.” (Female, 30)


Use of Social Media

Do you use Internet?

49

29%

11%

71%

89%

Men Women

Yes No

Do you have an account on any social media sites?

50

87%

47%

13%

53%

Men Women

Yes No

(n = 219)

Are women running for political office active on social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.) to promote their

platforms and political views?

51

33%

26%

32%

9%

29%

50%

7%

14%

Yes Somewhat No Don't know

Men Women

Detailed Methodology

3

Sanaa’ 16%

Taa’iz 22%

Ibb 19%

Aden 6%

Al Hudayda 20%

HadraMaut 10%

Amran 8%

Primary Sampling Unit Distribution of Geographical Regions

(Governorates)

Demographics

53

Gender

Male 50%

Female 50%

Urban/Rural

Urban 32%

Rural 68%

Education

Illiterate 30%

Read and write 27%

Basic education 14%

Secondary education 17%

College/University 12%

Post bachelor degree

(MA, PhD)

1%

Age

18-34 57%

35-49 29%

50+ 15%

Income (GDP per capita 1,376.40 USD)

Less than average 39%

Average 58%

Above Average 3%


(202) 408-9450 | [email protected]

www.arabwomenleadership.org

http://www.arabwomenleadership.org/

http://www.arabwomenleadership.org/

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http://www.iri.org/





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