The role of the family in empowering women managers/entrepreneurs in the Persian Gulf: managing patriarchy

This paper takes structural inspiration from research into the role of the family in empowering women managers/entrepreneurs in the Persian Gulf (Arabian Gulf, hereinafter called the Gulf). Data were collected using semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and a 3-year field observation. The findings show that the notion of self-achievement within a conservative society is bound by civil society (the family and private sphere), social norms and the collective mind-set, in which the family represents a double-edged sword: a patriarchal power struggle and support for empowerment. This situation is intensified by traditional behaviours and customs that – albeit symbolic – play a fundamental role in buttressing the patriarchy. The study strengthens the argument for investing in understanding how gender norms and attitudes affect career options and outcomes. We contribute to the literature on entrepreneurship by showing that this form of empowerment, reinforced through the balance of maintaining tradition and customs, appears to be one of the main features of the Arabian modernity.