Normative Islam, prejudice and women leaders: why do Arab women leaders suffer?

ABSTRACT

The main aim of this study is to compare prejudicial practices against women leaders with egalitarian Islamic guidelines and current efforts towards achieving gender equality. The study also aims to highlight and offer new readings of the Quranic guidelines that may reform gender prejudice against Muslim/Arab women leaders. Drawing on in-depth interviews with 14 women leaders, the results show that egalitarian Islamic efforts towards gender equality are in conflict with certain negative gender practices. This leads us to conclude (and theorize) that Islamic guidelines, as originally retrieved from the Quran, support gender equality and remedy prejudicial assessment against genders. This study contributes to the literature through offering a partial counterview that highlights an egalitarian reading of Islamic principles relating to women leaders. To our knowledge, this is the first endeavour that incorporates Muslim women leaders’ insights towards offering new readings of the Quranic guidelines on gender equality.

KEYWORDS:

• Women leaders
• Islam
• Prejudice

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Notes on contributors

Tamer Koburtay

Dr. Tamer Koburtay is an Assistant Professor in Management Studies within the Faculty of Administration and Financial Sciences at Petra University, Jordan. Tamer completed his PhD at the University of Huddersfield-UK and obtained a Postgraduate Certificate in Research Methods from the same university. His research addresses issues related to gender practices, leadership, religion, culture and gender-based stereotypical biases. His recent projects integrate the notion of Person-Organisation fit, and spirituality at workplaces. Tamer has published research in highly ranked journals such as the Journal of Business Ethics, the Journal of Sustainable Tourism and the European Business Review.

Tala Abuhussein

Dr. Tala Abuhussein is an Assistant Professor in the Business Administration department at the University of Petra, Amman-Jordan. Dr. Abuhussein completed her PhD at the University of Cardiff Metropolitan University, UK. Her PhD thesis inquired into the relationship between culture and Total Quality Management implementation in Jordanian Higher Education. Tala holds a Masters of Business Administration specializing in International Business also obtained from Cardiff Met. University, UK. Her main academic interests include, quality assurance, quality management, internal audit, gender-based stereotypical biases, entrepreneurship, religion and culture. Her recent research interests include well-being, psychology and spirituality.