Academic Women in the Arab Region: The Intersection of Class and Gender

This book offers the first systematic study of gender equality in academia in the South Mediterranean region, with a unique focus on the intersection of gender and class. Drawing on rich qualitative data from in-depth interviews with female academics in the region, this analysis moves beyond traditional bibliometric approaches to explore the deeper structural factors behind women’s underrepresentation in senior academic roles. By combining survey, web scraped and interview data, the book examines the challenges women face throughout their careers and investigates whether female academics share the same socio-economic backgrounds as women in the wider society, or if they come from more privileged groups. In particular, this book considers whether those who succeed in academia possess higher levels of family capital. This analysis sheds light on the complex dynamics shaping women’s academic trajectories in the region. It will be of interest to students and scholars in gender studies, intersectional economics, education, and Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) studies.

Valentina Fedele is Associate Professor of Sociology of Cultural and Communicative Processes at Link Campus University, Italy. Her main research interests focus on the articulation and (self-)representation of contemporary social movements in North Africa and socio-cultural issues connected with the diasporic communities of MENA countries.

Loretta Dell’Aguzzo is Assistant Professor of Political Science at Link Campus University, Italy. Her research interests focus on authoritarian regimes and democratization processes, both from a domestic and international perspective. Her research primarily concentrates on post-communist countries and the MENA region.

Giuseppe Lubrano Lavadera is an Associate Professor at Link Campus University, Italy. His research covers a range of topics, from social aspects—such as social capital and the overeducation of PhD holders—to business-related issues.