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Arab Spring refers to the democratic uprisings that arose independently and spread across the Arab world in 2011. The movement originated in Tunisia in December 2010 and quickly took hold in Egypt, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan (Arab Spring). In late December 2010, protests against poverty, unemployment, and political repression erupted in Tunisia, with many of the demonstrators demanding that Ben Ali resign. When it comes to gender, women are more affected by unemployment than men. In 2012, the unemployment rate for women reached 25.6% against 14.6% rate for men. Women acquiring higher education are much more affected by unemployment than their male counterparts, with respective rates of 43.5% unemployment and 20.9% in the same year. (Tunis Times). Mohammed Bouazizi, an unemployed 26-year-old, protested government corruption by setting fire to himself outside a municipal office in the town of Sidi Bouzid in central Tunisia on December 17 (Jasmine Revolution). This street vendor started the riots on the streets after the huge statement.