What is it about?
This study examines how Arab/Middle Eastern North African (AMENA) women experience gender harassment at work, especially being treated like children (infantilization), and how this impacts their exhaustion and satisfaction with their jobs. Using survey data from 128 AMENA women in the U.S., we found that the more they experienced infantilization, the more exhausted they felt—and the less satisfied they were with their pay, chances for promotion, and supervision. Muslim AMENA women reported especially low satisfaction with supervision. Our findings highlight the importance of addressing subtle and pervasive forms of bias that often go unnoticed but can deeply affect workplace well-being.
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Why is it important?
Despite growing numbers of AMENA individuals in the U.S. workforce, their experiences are largely invisible in psychological research. This study is among the first to examine workplace mistreatment among AMENA women, offering a culturally grounded, intersectional lens on burnout and job satisfaction. It also identifies infantilization—a lesser-studied form of gender harassment—as a key factor impacting these women’s professional outcomes. These insights are crucial for HR professionals, diversity consultants, and organizational leaders aiming to foster more equitable and inclusive workplaces.
Perspectives
As a White woman, I haven’t lived the experiences we describe in this paper—but I care deeply about documenting them with accuracy, respect, and care. This research exists because of close collaboration with women of color who brought critical insight, expertise, and lived experience to every stage of the process. This project was a meaningful opportunity to center the voices of Arab, Middle Eastern, and North African (AMENA) women—voices too often overlooked in psychology and organizational research. With this paper, we aim to open space for conversations about the professional mistreatment AMENA women face in the workplace. I hope this work not only sparks further research, but also contributes to building more inclusive and culturally grounded organizational practices.
Ashley Bennett
Stanford University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Arab/Middle Eastern North African (MENA) women’s experiences of infantilization, burnout, and job satisfaction in the workplace., Consulting Psychology Journal Practice and Research, March 2025, American Psychological Association (APA),
DOI: 10.1037/cpb0000286.
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