Speaking during Arabian Business Women’s Forum 2016, Chairman of Baker McKenzie Habib Al Mulla claimed that there is "discrimination against males in the UAE."
"I think there is what I call a discrimination against males in the UAE," Mulla said, according to Arabian Business . "I’ll give an example – in the public sector, if you have two applicants, one male and one female, the choice will always be the female."
He went on to suggest that the UAE's recently appointed youth minister only got the job because she was a female...
"When the news broke out that the government plans to appoint a minister for youth, I said it will be female because they will tick two boxes. They want a young generation and a female."
Or, perhaps Shama Al Mazrui actually was the most qualified applicant? Maybe?
Perhaps as has been the case throughout the world, women have long been denied such opportunities by men. However, thanks to initiatives by the leaders of the UAE, this is now changing and they are being given the opportunities they have long deserved.
But, naw, Mulla isn't convinced. Instead, in his opinion, women have only found success as the UAE's government and companies have tried to build a better image...
"And I’ve seen that in several times in nominations. The choice is always a female because it gives a better image. The UAE has a better image because they have more female in the workforce," he said.
Earlier this year, women – and men – throughout the UAE and around the world cheered as the country's cabinet was reshuffled, increasing the number of women to nine out of 29 total members.
This means women now makeup just over 30 percent of the UAE's cabinet, a percentage that many Western nations and others around the world are still striving toward in their governments, parliaments and businesses.
The systematic oppression of women is a global problem and prominent leaders like Mulla should promote efforts to increase gender equality.
Men still have the majority voice in the Emirati government and in Emirati businesses. Globally, society is far from reaching a point where men can claim that they are being discriminated against.
Mic drop...
