Academic women in four MENA countries: the role of male-transferred capital in shaping career outcomes

This article introduces the concept of male-transferred capital to examine the material, cultural, social, and symbolic resources that male family members and mentors provide at different stages of women’s academic careers in four Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries, shaping their professional paths. There are two main forms of male-transferred capital: domestic, which is capital offered by male relatives, and institutional, which is capital granted by male mentors. Drawing on 21 in-depth interviews with women at various career levels, this research shows how such resources are mobilised to overcome structural, institutional, and cultural barriers. In early and mid-career stages, domestic male-transferred capital proves particularly relevant. At the outset, financial and moral backing from male relatives enables international mobility and educational continuity. At mid-career, male-provided economic and organisational support facilitate the balance between caregiving duties and research productivity. In later stages, institutional male-transferred capital becomes more prominent, as advancement to leadership positions is often mediated by endorsement from senior male academics. While male support is often indispensable, it simultaneously perpetuates reliance on patriarchal structures. Nevertheless, the study challenges purely passive interpretations of this dynamic by highlighting women’s agency in reciprocating and strategically leveraging male-transferred capital to build autonomous academic identities.