THE ARAB WORKING WOMAN BETWEEN THE REALITY AND THE DESIRED: HOW DO ARAB WORKING WOMEN PERCEIVE THE GAP BETWEEN THEIR CURRENT WORKPLACE EXPERIENCES AND THEIR IDEAL PROFESSIONAL ASPIRATIONS, AND WHAT FACTORS INFLUENCE THIS PERCEIVED GAP?

Sena Safory Heby

Abstract


This study investigates how Arab working women in Israel perceive the gap between their real workplace experiences and their ideal professional aspirations, aiming to understand the cultural, structural, and social factors that shape this divide. The research used qualitative methods and engaged 40 Arab women working with a range of religious affiliations and socio-economic backgrounds through semi-structured interviews. The study highlights the paradox of motivated Arab women with credentials facing notions of gender equity, hegemonic cultural stereotypes, intersectional discrimination, and work–family conflicts while simultaneously being abruptly limited in their access to career progression and leadership roles. The research argues that institutional structures and rooted ideologies that underpin notions of gender equity must change for Arab women to achieve true equity in Israel's labor market. The study recommends policies to expand mentorship opportunities, workplace cultures and access to a broader range of professions. The research contributes in both theoretical and practical terms regarding the lived realities of Arab women in Israel and urges action to reduce the gap between what Arab women aspire to and what they can achieve in Israel’s labor market.

 

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Keywords


Arab women in Israel, workplace inequality, gender stereotyping, intersectional discrimination, career aspirations, work–family balance, qualitative research, labor market participation, cultural norms, gender equality

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References


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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.46827/ejsss.v11i4.2064

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