Women in STEM/SET: gender gap research review of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) – a meta-analysis

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to conduct a meta-analysis of existing research on gender discrimination/gender gap and women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) in the UAE, specifically, and Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries in general because of very limited number of articles published on the subject. It will give future researchers insights into the topics, methodologies and findings of such research from 1999–2019. Design/methodology/approach This study conducts a meta-analysis of 72 articles using the Wildcard operator search method and the Boolean operator to perform an integrative literature search related to gender discrimination studies done in relationship to or specific to the UAE. Findings In total, 88 papers related to the UAE and gender gap and women were identified. The articles were narrowed down to the ones published in high-ranked or Scopus journals (72). The findings suggest a decreasing trend in gender discrimination, but the issue still persists, requiring efforts from policy-makers, society and government to ensure gender parity is achieved. Academic research on women in STEM/SET workplace, specific to the UAE and the region, continue to slowly advance, with very few articles published in the same. Practical implications The study provides insights into gender gap research done in the past ten years specific to the UAE national women and gender gap in general and their career choices and prospects in the STEM/SET domain. Social implications There is a need to focus research on Emirati women in STEM careers to develop more insights into gender gap perceptions of Emirati women and identify challenges and methods to close the gender gap in STEM careers. Originality/value This paper brings a holistic perspective to the meta-analysis of research on the gender gap and women in the UAE’s STEM domain.

On the lack of women researchers in the Middle East & North Africa

“…Previous studies have shown there is much to be gained by policies (Metcalfe, 2008). For example, in the UAE, Patterson et al (2020) show that gender discrimination is on the decline, yet the problem still exists, necessitating efforts from policy makers, society, and governments to attain gender parity. Several efforts have been made by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, particularly the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, which have significantly expanded their promotion of women in public life in recent years, with more women achieving high positions in a variety of social areas (Abdulkadir & Müller, 2020;Parveen, 2021;Rizvi & Hussain, 2021).…”

Lessons from The Gulf: Female Indigenous Emirati Students’ Persistence and Success at University

“…Gender coupled with religion meant deference to family decisions which could be capricious; also, they were segregated on campus although most wished not to be. Employment opportunities could be equally unpredictable as several commentators noticed (Engin & McKeown, 2016;Patterson et al, 2020). Prior school education and English as the medium of instruction meant that many had to make considerable adaptations to meet the demands of successful university study.…”

“…(p. 13). The evidence for this remains ambivalent (Patterson et al, 2020). Engin and McKeown (2016) studied aspects of motivation of Emirati university students, both male and female.…”

“…Crabtree observed parents had an unrealistic understanding of the kinds of work environments their daughters might find themselves in, yet they were pleased their daughters could achieve financial independence, largely impossible for most women in previous generations. Nevertheless, Patterson et al (2020) reported that female nationals remain less likely to find employment; are more likely to take up (lower earning) private sector employment; and will earn significantly less than their male counterparts. While Engin and McKeown (2016) said that all their participants "indicated firm confidence that the goals of gaining a degree could be achieved" (p. 10), Awadalla et al (2020) reported on the prevalence of depression and anxiety among Emirati university students and the impact on academic performance.…”

“…The United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the Arabian Peninsula has earned a global reputation as an economically thriving country, with a culturally diverse population, yet remains a mainstay of male influence (European Parliament, 2014). Surprisingly therefore, women outnumber men in public higher education institutions across the seven Emirates of the UAE (Patterson et al, 2020). Among these women are Indigenous, Emirati women who represent a social minority in that they make up just over 5% of the total population of the UAE.…”