Why do men typically receive twice as much inheritance as women in Egypt? Research explains

A significant number of Egyptians surveyed in a study expressed their approval of Islamic-based inheritance laws that grant women only half of what men receive. The research, led by Dina Rabie, an assistant professor in economics at Northeastern University in London, discovered that 70% of respondents believed sons should inherit double what daughters receive upon a parent’s death. The study, titled ‘Attitudes towards Islamic inheritance: religious or patriarchal preferences?’, aimed to determine whether these attitudes were rooted in Islamic doctrine or societal norms. Published in the Review of Law & Economics, the findings shed light on the impact of Sharia law in Egypt’s family legislation. In the absence of male heirs, daughters can inherit 50% of a son’s share according to Sharia law, a system that influences inheritance distribution in the country. Rabie highlighted instances where parents without sons transferred assets to their daughters during their lifetime through gifts to ensure the family’s wealth stayed within.