Educational gender inequality in the Muslim world: A problem of a cultural heritage, religion, or modernization?

Abstract

AbstractObjectiveThe difference between the Muslim and non‐Muslim world in terms of educational gender equality has been blamed on the Islamic faith, and sometimes on a lack of modernization. Thus, I examine how Islam reduces educational gender equality and how/if its influence varies from one Muslim country to another.MethodI use Time‐series–cross‐section (TSCS) analysis for 29 Muslim countries between 1980 and 2010 to examine the influence of Arab culture on educational gender parity.ResultThe result indicates that the religious culture of Arab states seems to be highly associated with the educational gender gap. Also, the positive effect of modernization is more significant in Non‐Arab Muslim countries than in Arab Muslim countries.ConclusionThese findings are informative to educational policymakers since they explain why the international and local efforts on improving educational gender equality have not been as successful in the Muslim world as is the case in other societies.