In a first for the tiny Gulf Arab archipelago of Bahrain, a woman has been registered as a businesswoman on an official document, the official news agency GNA reported Tuesday.
Fatima Jawad's national identity card from the Central Population Registration department of the interior ministry said her job was a "businesswoman", GNA said.
"Until now, Bahraini women who gave their job as a commercial or industrial activity were registered as businessmen," said Ahlam Janahi of the Bahrain Business Women's Society.
Bahraini women, like their counterparts throughout the Gulf monarchies, are moving slowly towards emancipation.
Prime Minister Khalifa bin Salman al-Khalifa said in May that women will be able to sit on Bahrain's appointed consultative council for the first time later this year, and from next year the body will be freely elected.
In another first for females from the conservative Gulf Arab monarchies, two Bahraini women, one-aged just 12 years old, are competing in the Sydney Olympics - MANAMA (AFP)
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
