Women and work in a Jordanian context: beyond neo‐patriarchy
Critical Perspectives on International Business
ISSN: 1742-2043
Article publication date: 2 May 2008
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to clarify and re‐position the debate on the role of women in employment in the Arab Middle East by drawing on the findings of empirical research to critique the paradigm of “neo‐patriarchy” defined by Sharabi and used uncritically by others.
Design/methodology/approach
A review of the literature on neo‐patriarchy is followed by some findings from an empirical study of 197 women in the Jordanian labour market, from a sample drawn on a population basis.
Findings
The findings indicate generally positive attitudes towards the employment of women and to the involvement of husbands in employment decisions, and to a slight preference on the part of managers for women as employees.
Research limitations/implications
These findings need to be supplemented by more intensive studies in work situations and by case‐studies of specific employment sites.
Practical implications
The attitudes of women in Jordan are in general positive towards employment and policy is evolving accordingly.
Originality/value
These findings point to the limitations of the “neo‐patriarchy” discourse and to the likelihood that the employment situations of women in Jordan do not need to be characterized by the discourse of under‐development and traditionalism.
Keywords
Citation
Al Kharouf, A. and Weir, D. (2008), "Women and work in a Jordanian context: beyond neo‐patriarchy", Critical Perspectives on International Business, Vol. 4 No. 2/3, pp. 307-319. https://doi.org/10.1108/17422040810870060
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2008, Emerald Group Publishing Limited