Abstract Book of the 14th International Conference on New Ideas in Management, Economics, and Accounting
Year: 2025
DOI:
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Examining the Gender Pay Gap in Academia: Insights from the MENA Region
A. Fatima Zahrae Yaddar
ABSTRACT:
Although women worldwide continue to break glass ceilings in different sectors, they still earn less than men in many fields including Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). The gender pay gap is a global issue that hinders women’s economic participation and impacts their career trajectories within academia, particularly in the MENA region, which disrupts the balance of human rights on one hand and social peace and justice on the other. This paper aims to identify the root causes of the gendered pay gap in academia in MENA and examine the impact of these factors on women’s representation and career advancement aspirations in HEIs compared to male counterparts in comparable positions despite having similar education, qualifications, and skills. The study uses a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative pay analysis and demographic data from MENA with qualitative insights to explore female academics’ experiences and perceptions of the gender pay gap. Preliminary findings suggest that the gender wage gap in academia across the Middle Eastern, North African, and Arab regions is driven by three clusters of factors that combine socio-cultural norms, individual experiences, and institutional biases. These factors contribute to challenges such as career interruptions due to childbearing and care work, women’s self-perception as jobholders, salary negotiation barriers, and biased hiring, performance management, and promotion practices that compound pay disparities. The study offers actionable recommendations for Human Resources professionals to implement gender-sensitive policies that mitigate bias in compensation, promote pay equity, and support female academics in achieving positions of power in the academic domain.
keywords: Compensation, Gender Disparities, Human Resources, Pay Equity, Women