This is now reflected in Libyan women being highly educated, as compared to the region. In Libya today, a majority of female students intend to attend college and an almost equal number of women (32%) as men (33%) hold university degrees, while almost 77% of female high school graduates intend to pursue higher degrees both inside Libya and abroad.
Women’s participation in civic action in the new Libya is as low as 20%. One reason could well be the lack of security in the country after the NATO intervention in 2011 that plunged Libya into the chaos that has prevailed ever since.
Similarly, while women are interested in politics and have voted in large numbers, with nearly 66% voting in 2012, they participated less in the elections in June 2014.
One explanation for this regression could be disappointment and disillusionment in the previous elections, which failed to stabilize the country or end the violence.
While equality in the workplace was inching forward, it stalled after the civil war of 2011 and the emergence of various Islamist groups such as Ansar al-Sharia. These organizations are less inclined toward gender equality, while some of them do not like to see women working outside the home at all.
Yet, one of the problems women suffer in Libya remains both cultural and social. Since society is tribally based and male dominated, its view on women assuming a leading role in society tends to be negative. After years of women serving in the military, police force, education and the judiciary, such views are changing — however slowly, and mainly in big cities — whereas in rural areas, the traditional negative views of women are still strong.
(Picture: Libyan women queue to vote, July 2012. Photo by UNSMIL)