Impact of gender and generational differences in work values and attitudes in an Arab culture

Abstract In this article, the work values and attitudes of 241 nationals from the United Arab Emirates are examined. Specifically, we assessed the impact of generational member‐ship and gender on the Islamic work ethic, individualism, attitudes toward women at work, and perceptions of the utility of wasta. Results suggest that values and attitudes held by people in the Middle East are changing on the one hand (e.g., individualism) but are also deeply held on the other (e.g., the Islamic work ethic). Results also suggest that the perceptions about the utility of wasta differ across generations. The implications of these findings and suggestions for future research are discussed. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.