The Muslim Woman as a Manager: A Comparative Study Between Religious and the Secular Muslim Women in Israel

Abstract

The current study examined the lived experiences of Muslim women managers in Israel to better grasp how their experiences of gender equality, discrimination and challenges in relation to leadership were shaped by their religious and secular identities. The study was motivated by the clear lack of representation of women in leadership roles, often leaving them feeling unqualified or unwelcome; further, the study sought to learn about the intersection of religiosity and women's access to leadership roles. The study contributes to the existing literature on intersectionality regarding the experiences of women leaders by comparing how the Muslim women leaders manage cultural and patriarchal barriers to their advancement. The findings presents new insights into how minority women leaders engage with gendered leadership in their respective minority society. A qualitative methodology corresponding to constructivist and interpretivist paradigms was employed for the data collection through semi- structured interviews and focus group discussions with a sample of 40 Muslim women managers (20 religious and 20 respondents who defined themselves as secular). Thematic analysis revealed distinctions in both religious and secular women experiences regarding management challenges, although both groups reported compounding stereotypes, organizational obstacles and selective staff attitudes. The general conclusion painted a dismal picture of the future of equitable leadership among Arab Muslim women in Israel, unless more culturally appropriate systemic developments, leadership programs and policies are created that incorporate both differentials of the socio-cultural resistance of gender and religious identity. Theoretically, this research study contributes to understanding intersectionality and its implication on policy-making in economic and organizational inclusiveness in society characterized by stratified work and gendered environments.