has allowed new types of interactions to emerge at
the personal and public levels, and it has expanded
the world of virtual interactions.
Despite the enthusiasm and optimism surrounding
the potential of digital spaces to create better futures
and equitable societies, significant risks and
limitations persist. During the COVID-19 pandemic,
marked by lockdowns and quarantines—the
gendered impacts of which have been extensively
documented—the use of digital platforms surged,
worsening existing risks for women. Additionally,
the pandemic increased pressures on women offline,
amplifying their caregiving responsibilities as entire
families stayed home while managing remote work
and homeschooling (Asmar, 2020).
ranks among the lowest in the world (Asmar, 2020).
According to the Global Gender Gap Report 2024,
the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region
continues to rank last among all regions, with a
gender parity score of 61.7%. The report highlights
that seven of the ten lowest-scoring countries
globally are located in this region, this reflects
persistent challenges in closing gender gaps. MENA
also scored lowest in Political Empowerment, with
a score of only 11.7%, and ranked seventh in
Economic Participation and Opportunity, with a
score of 43.1%. Fortunately, the region has seen some
progress since 2006, with overall gender parity
improving by 3.9 percentage points during this
period (Forum, 2024).
In the MENA region, women—especially young
women—are often confined to roles dictated by
patriarchal norms, limiting their access to public
spaces due to forced isolation, harassment, violence,
and silencing. Their personal freedoms are
significantly restricted, and their participation in
the economy, politics, and other public domains
UN Women reports that nearly 40% of women in
the Arab States have experienced some form of
violence, although the actual numbers are likely
much higher. Moreover, in the Arab States, a
regional study found that 60% of female internet
users in the region have been exposed to online
violence in the past year (UN Women, 2024).
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