File Photo: Students in attending a lecture in Faculty of Science, Cairo University. Ahram.
The findings were part of a broader report published by the IDSC examining public perceptions in Egypt and internationally regarding women’s roles, gender equality, and women’s rights in education, employment, and leadership.
The survey, conducted between 3 and 25 March on a sample of Egyptian citizens aged 18 and above, found that opposition to prioritizing marriage over higher education was significantly higher among women at 91 percent, compared to 71 percent among men.
According to the survey, 75 percent of respondents said Egyptian women receive all or some of their rights within society, with the percentage higher among men (82 percent) than women (68 percent).
Meanwhile, 54 percent of respondents believed men and women enjoy equal opportunities for promotion in the workplace, while 70 percent supported women holding leadership positions on equal footing with men.
Regarding family-related issues, 31 percent of female respondents and 30 percent of male respondents said the appropriate age for girls to marry is between 21 and 25 years old.
Meanwhile, 27 percent of women and 28 percent of men said 25 is a suitable age for men to marry.
The survey also found that 57 percent of respondents viewed poor living and cultural conditions within families as a contributing factor to domestic violence, while 23 percent said they were aware of the women’s complaints hotline.
Forty-one percent of respondents, including 44 percent of women and 38 percent of men, said early marriage remains present in Egyptian society.
In addition, 70 percent of respondents — including 79 percent of men and 63 percent of women — believed women’s social media content on platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube portrays Egyptian women negatively.
The IDSC report also reviewed several international opinion surveys on gender equality and women’s rights conducted across dozens of countries by organisations including Ipsos, Eurostat, GeoPoll, and the Worldwide Independent Network of Market Research.
Among the international findings, 66 percent of respondents in 44 countries said gender equality in the workplace had been achieved, while 71 percent believed equality had been realised within family life at home.
The report also highlighted findings showing varying perceptions of women’s safety, workplace equality, domestic roles, and exposure to violence across Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.
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