WIP: Exploring Cultural Assets and Their Influence on Fostering a Sense of Belonging Among Women in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region

The underrepresentation of women in STEM fields, particularly engineering, is a prominent concern in the United States (U.S.), comprising only about 20% of the student population and workforce. Despite decades of efforts, this disparity persists due to harmful “othering” experiences in male-dominated environments, leading to a reduced sense of belonging. Women of Color face additional challenges of gendered racism, further impacting their wellbeing and belonging. In contrast, Muslim-majority (MM) countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region boast an average of 40% women's participation in engineering. This research uses a community cultural wealth framework and the intersectionality of Muslim women to explore cultural assets influencing belonging among women engineers in the MENA region, understanding cultural values and practices shaping their career choices and satisfaction. Considering the diverse cultures within MM countries, shared Islamic principles guide societal norms. Semi-structured interviews with (15–21) Muslim women engineering graduates from MENA aim to understand the influence of culture, family, language, and religion on their sense of belonging. The findings could inform strategies for promoting gender diversity and inclusion in engineering, potentially offering insights applicable beyond the MENA region, including the U.S.

I. Introduction

Engineering stands out as one of the most heavily white male-dominated fields within the realm of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions in the United States (U.S.) [1]. Despite strides in various sectors, women only comprise 20% of engineering graduates and 15% of the engineering industrial workforce [2]. Dishearteningly, these percentages have fluctuated over the past decade, further entrenching the underrepresentation of women in engineering [3].