Pursuing a career in engineering is very challenging. Even
if a woman does find support from her family, when she is
married her husband may not feel the same way. Although
about 67% of Egyptian women hold full-time jobs, housework
and child rearing are still considered to be the woman's
responsibility. Working women in the government and public
sector can take a three month paid maternity leave and up
to two years off (unpaid) after giving birth for up to three
children. For those who work in the private sector, they
can take only 40 days for every child. Thus, the strain
of both childcare and work can be daunting, especially when
reliable daycare centers are expensive or not available.
There is no easy way around balancing children and work,
but having a supportive husband can be a big help.
