Exploring career choices of Emirati women in the technology sector

Abstract

PurposeThe study aims to explore the factors that influence Emirati women's career choice in the UAE. This study contributes to the influence of context in career choices by investigating how Emirati women chose information technology (IT) as a profession through the lens of the social cognitive career theory.Design/methodology/approachThis study undertook in-depth interviews with 21 Emirati women working in technology in the UAE. The study considers women's career choices at three levels, i.e. from an individual, organisational and national context perspective.FindingsThe key findings include identifying the importance of national context in influencing career choices among other factors such as family centrality, desire to be seen as a role model, company reputation and government policy.Practical implicationsThe study has wider implications for women's career choices in other contexts. The findings highlight the challenges women face, such as a lack of role models and family centrality, which need to be considered in recruitment policies and practices in other national contexts.Originality/valueThe originality of the study is its contribution to the literature developing understanding of the influences on women's career choices in the Emirates. While previous studies have identified the role of patriarchal influence on women's careers, we have less understanding of the importance attributed to individual factors such as being perceived as a role model within their family and to society. Similarly, the literature provides limited evidence of the influence of factors such as government sponsorship and company reputation.

Gendered STEM: A Systematic Review and Applied Analysis of Female Participation in STEM in the United Arab Emirates

“…In [37], fathers in the UAE used the prospect of employment with prestigious government and private businesses to persuade their daughters that engineering or other STEM disciplines are logical career paths. Some of the Emirati participants reported that their mothers also wanted to see them become financially independent [36].…”

“…Some of the Emirati participants reported that their mothers also wanted to see them become financially independent [36]. As one participant noted, her mother, a homemaker, wanted her to have a degree, as her mother called that her "weapon" [37].…”

“…In male-dominated fields, female role models or mentors are essential for closing the gender gap, and in the UAE, there is no shortage of women in STEM fields with a desire to serve as role models for other women. To nurture this instinct, Howe-Walsh et al [37] urge governments in the Arab Middle East to promote women to leadership positions and celebrate them as role models and ambassadors to motivate future generations to pursue STEM careers. In one of the South African studies, we analyzed [39], participants expressed a need for role models but expressed some hostility about accepting advice from men, as this would reinforce the belief that men are the "gatekeepers" of science.…”

“…Participants in another South African study [38] also emphasized the relevance of female mentors to their career success. As one participant in [37] indicated, female engineers in South Africa's mining sector are more empathic. This participant said that her manager, who is a man, doubted her skills as a mining engineer, and in turn, led her to doubt herself.…”

How women in the UAE enact entrepreneurial identities to build legitimacy

“…Women are still ascribed roles as mother and homemaker (Goby and Erogul, 2011; Tlaiss, 2013) making female employment outside the home still unusual (Itani et al, 2011). Consequently, the independent economic activity of women challenges social expectations and can invoke unfavourable attitudes towards them (Zeidan and Bahrami, 2011); thus, the career decisions of women will often be the result of careful negotiations with family (Howe-Walsh et al, 2020). Fathers in particular appear to have a strong influence on female career choices and Emirati women are often required to enter into a ‘patriarchal bargain’ to allow them to enter the workplace (Williams et al, 2013).…”