Gender Roles and Women’s Labor Market Outcomes in Sahel

This article examines the effect of gender role perceptions on the quality of women’s participation in the labor market across six Sahelian countries: Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Senegal. Using data from the demographic and health survey (DHS) to ensure comparability, the perception of gender roles was measured through a composite index. The study analyzed its effect on two employment outcomes: (i) employment sector, and (iii) remuneration mode. The findings indicate that gender roles significantly influence women's labor market participation, specifically increasing the likelihood of women doing vulnerable jobs. Our results highlight the importance of strengthening policies that support girls' education. Additionally, there is a need to restructure jobs to address the unique constraints faced by different groups of economic agents, including tailored incentives to promote work-life balance, especially for women.