Women Fight for Equality in Israel

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None would dispute that Strauss and Bronicki are highly qualified and respected, but both lead companies originally founded by their families and still largely dominated by them. The situation is only marginally better in the country's high-tech industry.

In the political world things are no better, and the situation has actually deteriorated in recent years. Female lawmakers make up only 14% of Knesset membership, putting Israel in 78th place globally in terms of women in parliament. There are only two women in the 24-member cabinet of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. On the municipal level, only 10 women in Israel's 59 years of existence have ever been elected as mayor.

Last Bastion of Machismo

Even a highly successful businesswoman such as Berry hasn't been immune to discrimination. She vividly remembers being confronted several years ago by a senior Israeli cabinet minister who took it upon himself to comment on her appearance. "Basically, he told me to color my grey hair and wear makeup in order to make a better impression," recounts Berry, who ignored the unsolicited advice.

Many experts believe that one of the major problems in tackling sexual inequality and discrimination lies with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the bastion of Israeli machismo. The IDF is the single largest employer in the country, and thus something of a trend-setter. Yet for women, compulsory military service is a double-edged sword since many serve in menial jobs.

"The number of women in the elite noncombat units is much lower than men, while service in these units is often the key to getting a good job after the army," notes Dr. Ronit Kark, a psychologist in gender studies at Bar-Ilan University.

Time for Affirmative Action?

Even women who have been in combat zones sometimes get a raw deal. Ofra Preuss, a retired colonel, was one of the few women to serve inside Lebanon in the 1980s when the IDF occupied the southern part of the country. Unlike male soldiers stationed in Lebanon, she was not given combat pay because as a woman she wasn't entitled to it. Under pressure to change in recent years, the IDF has opened up more options for female soldiers.

Still, returning to the civilian world isn't easy, even for high-ranking women officers. Preuss left the army in 1996 and has served in various capacities in the government and private sectors. She currently serves as spokesperson at Bank Hapoalim, the country's largest bank. In 2004, then-Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom nominated Preuss for a plum assignment as Israeli consul general in New York. But the country's civil service commission rejected the appointment. No reason was given, but insiders say Preuss' status as a single mother was the issue.

Most experts believe that the only way to ease inequality and to improve the lot of Israel's women is through strong legislation. "Without affirmative action we won't see any far-reaching changes," predicts Bar-Tal of the Israel Women's Network.

Looking to Scandinavia

Her organization is lobbying for laws modeled on legislation passed in Scandinavian countries two decades ago that would require equal parliamentary representation so women have the power to institute change.

Similar laws are helping women in Spain to get ahead (see BusinessWeek.com, 1/8/07, "Spanish Women: Breaking the Glass Ceiling"). Unfortunately for Israel's women, it will be up to the male-dominated Knesset to agree to take such action, and that could take some time.

Sandler is a correspondent for BusinessWeek in Jerusalem.