Female educators’ perceptions of employment opportunities in the United Arab Emirates

Abstract

This article examines the way female educators experience barriers to employment opportunities in the education system of the United Arab Emirates. An exploratory qualitative research design using interviews and focus group sessions was used to collect data from national female educators at different stages of their careers. Manifestations of the category “employment barriers” included social barriers to women and work, education as career choice, “delays and waiting lists”, and opposition to employment in the private education sector. Manifestations of the category “barriers to career progression” included, conflict of roles, “waiting for them to promote me”, lack of networking opportunities, “big sister” mentoring, challenges to academic development and training and gender discrimination. Recommendations relating to strategies that could facilitate national female educator entry into and career progression in the education sector are provided.