The Utilization of Women’s Labor in Israel and its Neighboring Countries: Culture, Religion, Politics versus Equality, Justice and Economic Considerations?

Abstract

The ongoing global economic crisis motivates countries to look for new resources for the enhancement of economic growth. Although it is a well known fact that efficient utilization of labor is a potential growth resource, the potential of women’s labor is not fully utilized. In most of the countries, the major obstacle to more efficient utilization of that resource does not lie in legislation, but rather in cultural and religious (and to a certain extent, economic) drawbacks. This article attempts to draw the limits of regulation in Israel compared to two of its Mediterranean partners: the EU and Turkey, in enhancing women’s participation in the workforce. It concludes that despite their very different sizes and different social and cultural profiles, by and large these partners experience the limits of regulation in a similar way. It further explores possible manners of improving the utilization of women’s labor in these countries by new regulation and by improved implementation of existing regulation, to the benefit of their economies.