A Narrative Review on Gender Pay Gap in Academia: Insights from the MENA Region

Abstract

This present project aims to explore the gender pay gap in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and the Arab world. The purpose of this study is to identify and understand the root causes and complex factors that influence gender-based discrimination in pay within academic institutions, which, despite women’s increased labor participation, continues to widen sharply in the Arab region and the East. Drawing on peer-reviewed studies that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria, this narrative review provides a comprehensive examination and analysis of the gender pay gap and how the interplay of socio-cultural, individual, and structural factors shapes gender norms and organizational practices that subsequently affect compensation. Furthermore, it fosters an understanding of female academics' challenges in their career advancement and professional aspirations. The intersectional and Human Resources Management (HRM) lenses are employed to dissect the findings and offer insights into how discriminatory practices persist through pay discretion, negotiation dynamics, structural and cultural patriarchy systems, and unequal access to resources. This narrative literature review proposes practical recommendations for HR practitioners to ensure, enhance, and monitor pay fairness and gender equity in the workplace through transparency, inclusive leadership, and policy implementation. It also calls for further research in the region to address the gaps in understanding gendered experiences in academia across different academic disciplines, institutional types, and national contexts within the MENA region and to include intersectional perspectives in future studies.