Take the women out of the workforce to save the economy: Good luck with that.
Perhaps worst of all, it is a female adviser who is advancing this argument. Inherent in this flawed reasoning is the notion that women’s contributions to society are expendable beyond an extremely limited role as the possessions of men, their skills and intellects superfluous.
“Relieving the Iran woman pressure (sic),” by Golnaz Esfandiari for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, March 5:
An adviser to Iran’s President Mahmud Ahmadinejad has said that female engineers can serve society from home.
Zahra Sajadi, who advises Ahmadinejad on cultural and educational issues, has expressed concern at the rise in the number of women enrolling in higher education, saying that it has caused a crisis in the job market.
She has also called on the government to limit the admission of women in universities to decrease what she described as social and mental pressure in society.
She didn’t say women are under pressure, but rather it seems that she means men are under pressure because if the trend continues many of them would be less educated than women
Yes, by all means, punish achievement. That’s the ticket to prosperity.
Sajadi has also said that the employment of women in areas other than the health and education sectors is not necessary, arguing that women who are employed in the technical and engineering sectors can work from home.
Hmm. So, why are you still out and about?
Sajadi’s comments are very much in line with the views of President Ahmadinejad, who shortly after taking power said that women should devote more time to raising children. He also suggested that women could work part-time to spend more time at home.
The question is whether the Iranian government is concerned about the country’s educated women because they’re pushing for more rights and becoming an increasingly vocal force, or whether the government thinks it’s just a socially acceptable way to help alleviate the country’s high unemployment.
Likely a bit of both.