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Mapping STEM Gender Disparities: A Scoping Review of the MENA Region

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Title: Mapping STEM Gender Disparities: A Scoping Review of the MENA Region
Language: English
Authors: Heba EL-Deghaidy (ORCID 0000-0002-0681-4334), Zahra Almasabi (ORCID 0000-0003-0291-4810), Aya Elkholy (ORCID 0009-0004-1532-5745), Nasser Mansour (ORCID 0000-0001-5707-7373)
Source: Journal for STEM Education Research. 2025 8(4):531-560.
Availability: Springer. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://link.springer.com/
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 30
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Information Analyses
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: STEM Education, Gender Differences, Foreign Countries, Disproportionate Representation, Females, Higher Education, Career Choice, College Enrollment, Geographic Regions, Cultural Influences, Policy, Sex Role, Norms
Geographic Terms: Middle East, Africa, United Arab Emirates
DOI: 10.1007/s41979-025-00149-0
ISSN: 2520-8705
2520-8713
Abstract: Despite growing efforts to promote gender equity, the underrepresentation of women in STEM disciplines persists, contributing to marked gender disparities and leaving a critical research gap in understanding their impact. This scoping review focuses on the 17 countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, aiming to address this research gap by exploring how gender disparities impact women's enrolment in higher education and career choices. The review analysed 26 publications from 2014 to 2023, primarily sourced from Scopus database following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. There was a notable increase in publications from 2019 to 2023, with the United Arab Emirates contributing 11 studies. Ten out of 12 countries focused on both higher education and the workforce. Key factors influencing gender disparities included socio-cultural, institutional, and policy-driven factors, in addition to several subfactors. The scoping review aims to enhance the existing international STEM literature by offering insights from this currently underrepresented geographical region. Traditional hierarchies, gender norms, and perceived cultural roles can exclude women from STEM fields and related careers. Recommendations are provided to support women in STEM, aiming to prevent the "leaking pipeline" or "MENA Paradox" to retain more women in these fields.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1494826
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Mapping STEM Gender Disparities: A Scoping Review of the MENA Region
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Heba+EL-Deghaidy%22">Heba EL-Deghaidy</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0681-4334">0000-0002-0681-4334</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Zahra+Almasabi%22">Zahra Almasabi</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0291-4810">0000-0003-0291-4810</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Aya+Elkholy%22">Aya Elkholy</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="http://orcid.org/0009-0004-1532-5745">0009-0004-1532-5745</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Nasser+Mansour%22">Nasser Mansour</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5707-7373">0000-0001-5707-7373</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Journal+for+STEM+Education+Research%22"><i>Journal for STEM Education Research</i></searchLink>. 2025 8(4):531-560.
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  Data: Springer. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://link.springer.com/
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22STEM+Education%22">STEM Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Gender+Differences%22">Gender Differences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Disproportionate+Representation%22">Disproportionate Representation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Females%22">Females</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Career+Choice%22">Career Choice</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Enrollment%22">College Enrollment</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Geographic+Regions%22">Geographic Regions</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cultural+Influences%22">Cultural Influences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Policy%22">Policy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sex+Role%22">Sex Role</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Norms%22">Norms</searchLink>
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  Label: Geographic Terms
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Middle+East%22">Middle East</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Africa%22">Africa</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22United+Arab+Emirates%22">United Arab Emirates</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1007/s41979-025-00149-0
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  Data: 2520-8705<br />2520-8713
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  Data: Despite growing efforts to promote gender equity, the underrepresentation of women in STEM disciplines persists, contributing to marked gender disparities and leaving a critical research gap in understanding their impact. This scoping review focuses on the 17 countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, aiming to address this research gap by exploring how gender disparities impact women's enrolment in higher education and career choices. The review analysed 26 publications from 2014 to 2023, primarily sourced from Scopus database following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. There was a notable increase in publications from 2019 to 2023, with the United Arab Emirates contributing 11 studies. Ten out of 12 countries focused on both higher education and the workforce. Key factors influencing gender disparities included socio-cultural, institutional, and policy-driven factors, in addition to several subfactors. The scoping review aims to enhance the existing international STEM literature by offering insights from this currently underrepresented geographical region. Traditional hierarchies, gender norms, and perceived cultural roles can exclude women from STEM fields and related careers. Recommendations are provided to support women in STEM, aiming to prevent the "leaking pipeline" or "MENA Paradox" to retain more women in these fields.
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  Data: 2026
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      – Text: English
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    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: STEM Education
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      – SubjectFull: Gender Differences
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      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
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      – SubjectFull: Africa
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      – SubjectFull: United Arab Emirates
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      – TitleFull: Mapping STEM Gender Disparities: A Scoping Review of the MENA Region
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