JOB STATUS OF WOMEN IN SCIENCE, ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY: A SUSTAINABILITY PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

Objective: This study aims at exploring the relationship between the job status of female engineers and the lack of development opportunities in the workplace considering the United Nation’s Social Development Goal number 5 (Gender Equality) and amid sever low representation of women in science, engineering, and technology (SET) industries worldwide. A discussion of the leaky pipeline, a term used by scholars to indicate the progressive decline in the number of women opting the field of SET in the professional practice, is presented (Berry et al., 2022; Kemp, 2021). Method: Quantitative approach was administered in one of the leading universities in Dubai, targeting graduate and postgraduate female students in SET majors. Data analysis was conducted using ANOVA testing. Results: The findings of the research suggest that the job status of female engineers and the lack of development opportunities at the workplace are not related with positive inferences about the progressive evolution that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is witnessing in terms of gender diversity and inclusion (Alblooshi & May, 2018). Originality/Value: Major governmental initiatives regarding gender equality are represented and discussed. The study provides positive insights related to the under-representation of females in SET sectors and a gateway for future research amid lack of literature pertaining to this subject in the Arab world.