The city of 15th May, located in the southern outskirts of Cairo, presents a stark contrast to the bustling metropolis. Its quiet streets and desert surroundings make it an isolated area, with many streets becoming almost deserted by 9 PM. However, behind this tranquility lies a story of educated young women struggling to find stable employment. Two sisters, Nada and Noha, exemplify this struggle, having completed their university degrees but facing difficulties in securing suitable jobs.
Nada, 28, graduated at the top of her class with a degree in business management from the Modern University for Technology and Information in 2018, yet remains unemployed. Her younger sister, Noha, 23, graduated with distinction from Capital University in 2024 with a degree in accounting but could only secure a job as a cashier at a small pharmacy. Their struggles are not solely due to their qualifications but also social expectations surrounding women's mobility and workplace environments.
The family, especially the mother, views relocating for work or commuting long distances across Cairo as difficult and, at times, unsafe. Distance also becomes a challenge, as reaching central Cairo from 15th May City requires long hours by public transportation. While crowded commutes often carry concerns surrounding safety and harassment, many women continue to navigate regularly. In quieter suburban districts like 15th May City, where local job opportunities can feel limited, those pressures become even more pronounced.
For some educated women, the challenge is no longer just finding work but finding work that fits within the realities surrounding them. Nada described her experience as going through a "quarter-life crisis," feeling embarrassed in front of former classmates and professors who had once expected her to succeed professionally. She also chose not to pursue banking jobs because of her religious beliefs, and at one point, she felt ashamed of asking her father for money after graduation.
The conversation about remote work became more frequent inside the household, with Nada having previously taught Quran lessons online and both sisters attending online Turkish language classes. Seeing remote work carried out through an established international company introduced a different possibility. The mother began to see remote work as a suitable option for women, highlighting a lesser need for long daily commutes across Cairo.
Noha became increasingly interested in remote employment, frequently asking questions about the skills required, the types of jobs available, and how someone with her background might enter similar fields. She started learning basic Python programming through free online platforms such as W3Schools and FreeCodeCamp, which offer certificates that can be displayed on professional profiles like LinkedIn.
Their experiences reflect broader conversations surrounding women's employment and social expectations across parts of the region. A 2017 study found that a majority of respondents across the Arab world continued to associate women primarily with domestic responsibilities, with many respondents also expressing discomfort with women working in mixed-gender environments. Remote work may represent access itself for educated women in suburban Cairo, who face challenges in finding stable employment due to social expectations and limited job opportunities.
Key points
- Educated women in Cairo's 15th May City face challenges in finding stable employment due to social expectations and limited job opportunities.
- Remote work may provide a solution for educated women in suburban Cairo, offering flexibility and access to professional participation while remaining close to family and familiar social environments.
- A 2017 study found that a majority of respondents across the Arab world continued to associate women primarily with domestic responsibilities, with many respondents also expressing discomfort with women working in mixed-gender environments.
