Does gender matter within the Tunisian civil society organizations following the "Arab Spring"? The division of labor and responsibilities among young activists

Abstract

This article explores the gender dimension of young people participation in Tunisian civil society organizations (CSOs) that emerged largely after the 2011 "revolution". The main aims are, first, to provide information on the Tunisian context; second, to characterize this new activism marked by a large participation of young women; and, third, to identify whether there are elements typical of a gender division of positions, responsibilities and activism work. The Tunisian case is very interesting because political transitions are crucial moments for women's rights and associations. Based on two surveys, we put forward the hypothesis that inequality between men and women in the allocation of responsibilities will increase or decrease depending on the degree of gender inequality in the possession of skills and resources (educational, linguistic, socio-economic) and previous experiences of associative socialization. After outlining the national context, we find that the profiles, resources and socialization of activists are relatively homogeneous. However, while women and men gain access to positions of responsibility with some equality via elections to the executive bodies of CSOs, male leadership prevails in ad hoc activities that grant greater individual public recognition and leadership.

Keywords

• women
• civil society
• Tunisia
• Arab Spring