The Intersection of Gender and Culture: Women in Management in the MENA Context
The MENA region offers a distinctive setting for examining the complex interactions between gender, leadership, and cultural dynamics in contemporary management. As global discourse grapples with evolving notions of diversity, inclusion, and gender equity, challenges such as gender representation, leadership development, and cultural adaptation emerge as critical considerations where deeply rooted traditions confront the demands of rapid modernization. This special issue seeks to unpack the unique challenges and opportunities faced by women in management, challenges and opportunities in female leadership roles in this context, where conservative cultural norms coexist, and often collide, with Western-style organisational practices.
The region is characterized by a duality of progress and preservation. Nations such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar have launched ambitious initiatives to integrate women into economic and political spheres. The UAE’s National Policy for the Empowerment of Emirati Women (2013) and Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 exemplify state-driven efforts to dismantle systemic barriers, with female workforce participation rates rising significantly. Conversely, patriarchal norms and traditional gender roles remain deeply embedded, creating tension for women who may need to reconcile professional aspirations with societal expectations.
We encourage interdisciplinary submissions that blend rigorous theory with actionable insights, fostering dialogue between scholars, practitioners, and policymakers invested in advancing gender equity, both within the MENA region and beyond. Submissions should critically engage with these themes, offering novel empirical or conceptual contributions to the study of women in management.
List of topic areas
- Identity Threats and Role Conflicts: How do female leaders navigate identity tensions between home and workplace?
- Intersectionality in Leadership: The impact of gender, culture, and socioeconomic factors on leadership trajectories.
- Resilience and Wellbeing: Coping mechanisms, emotional labor, and psychological resilience in leadership roles.
- Barriers and Support Systems: The role of policies, mentorship, and networks in supporting female leadership.
- Global Insights and Transferability: Lessons from the Middle East that can inform gender equity and leadership development worldwide.
- Leadership development initiatives and experiences for females.
- Cross cultural comparisons between nations and/or cultures.
Submissions information
Submissions are made using ScholarOne Manuscripts. Registration and access are available here.
Author guidelines must be strictly followed. Please see here.
Authors should select (from the drop-down menu) the special issue title at the appropriate step in the submission process, i.e. in response to ““Please select the issue you are submitting to”.
Submitted articles must not have been previously published, nor should they be under consideration for publication anywhere else, while under review for this journal.
Key deadlines
This special issue is now open for submissions
Closing date for manuscript submissions: 30/11/2025
Guest Editors
Gary Pheiffer, Heriot-Watt University, UAE, g.pheiffer@hw.ac.uk
Zoe Fortune, Heriot-Watt University, Dubai, UAE, z.fortune@hw.ac.uk
Professor Dame Heather McGregor, Heriot-Watt University, Dubai (UAE) and UK, h.mcgregor@hw.ac.uk
For more details refer here
