I Want to be a Leader, But Men Are Better Than Women in Leadership Positions

State Feminism and Legitimizing Myths in the United Arab Emirates

Bibliographic Data

ID6147913
AuthorsRana Almutawa (University of Oxford, corresponding author)
Year2020
Volume18
Issue1
Pages31-50
Publication date2020-05-08
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueHawwa (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1569-2078 • E-ISSN: 1569-2086
PublisherBrill (PUBLISHER • NL)
DOI10.1163/15692086-12341369
OpenAlexW3025519532
LanguageEN
Citations received8
References cited11

This research paper investigates female perceptions of female leadership in the United Arab Emirates ( UAE ), where, particularly recently, state feminism has supported women’s occupation of leadership positions. It thus explores how state feminism’s portrayal of the ideal woman in leadership has impacted Emirati women’s perceptions of female leaders. A survey comprising 350 female Emirati students was undertaken, and results were supported by interviews. Findings suggest that although 93 percent of respondents “wanted to” or “probably wanted to” be leaders, they nevertheless endorsed “sexist” stereotypes and legitimizing myths. These contradictions are due, most likely, to ambivalent messages disseminated by the state and by society at large about female leaders. This research postulates that, while women have gained more agency in the public sphere through occupying leadership positions, their own perceptions and portrayals of acceptable gender roles are complex and ambivalent

Agency (philosophy · Ambivalence · Feminism · Ideal (ethics · Mythology · Perception · Political science · Social science · Sociology · State (computer science · Gender Diversity and Inequality · Gender Studies · Jewish and Middle Eastern Studies · Law · Psychology · Social Psychology · Socioeconomic Development in MENA

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