Perspectives on Gender Imbalance in Hotel Education: Reasons and Remedies
Dr. Mousa Masadeh, Dr. Mukhles Al-Ababneh, Dr. Samer Al-Sabi, Dr. Ma’moun Habiballah

Abstract
This paper investigates the gender imbalance in enrolment for university level hotel education in the Middle East. The research findings presented are drawn from interviews with Jordanian female workers in the tourism sector. This research aims to provide a better understanding of current labour conditions for women in the industry by identifying barriers to female entry into hotel education as well as offering meaningful insights into those barriers. This research involved monitored discussions with women based on focused questions about the hotel and tourism industry, education, religion and their local economies. As documented and analyzed in this paper, respondents offered a wide range of differing and conflicting opinions—from strong opposition to female participation in this type of workforce to full support of equal employment opportunities for women as a basic right. In many cases, participants dissented dramatically from the cultural and social expectations of their families and communities. In this context, the paper sheds light not only on the labour market within the local tourism industry, but also on the social and economic challenges as well as various social contradictions faced by Jordanian women.

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