Success and agency: Localizing women’s leadership in Oman
Department
School of Conflict Management, Peacebuilding and Development
Additional Department
Political Science and International Affairs
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
9-2019
Embargo Period
1-19-2021
Abstract
Purpose: This study aims to examine women’s leadership in Oman, seeking to empirically determine whether and how local perceptions of “success” and lifestyle preferences are related to women’s agency and propensity for leadership.
Design/methodology/approach: Drawing on the literature, this paper qualitatively analyzes 32 semi-structured interviews of diverse Omani women leaders, identifying their conceptions of success as predominantly subjective or objective. At the same time, the study uses Hakim’s (2006) lifestyle preference model to explore women's agency.
Findings: Contrary to the literature on the central importance of domestic responsibilities for Arab Muslim women, more women in leadership positions are identified as career-centered (14/32, 44%); those who did identify as family-centered (6/32, 19%) did not cite Islam to justify that preference, and success is envisioned more subjectively (19/32, 59%).
Research limitations/implications: The sample has an urban bias and does not claim to be representative of all Omani women. Interviews were conducted in English; most women leaders in Oman are required to speak English.
Practical implications: By analyzing work-life balance preferences as a proxy for agency and interrogating Omani women's own conceptions of success, the study may lead to more robust and culturally aware policies to support women’s leadership.
Social implications: Defining in subjective terms suggests that success is not necessarily equated with achieving a high level position for Omani women. Further, only 6/32 were identified as home-centered, thus indicating the critical importance of domestic support from hired labor or family members.
Originality/value: This study contributes new empirical findings on women leaders in Oman that illustrates the role of personal agency and lifestyle preference in contrast to many studies that treat culture as a constant.
Journal Title
Gender in Management
Journal ISSN
1754-2413
Volume
34
Issue
7
First Page
606
Last Page
618
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
10.1108/GM-11-2017-0162