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Concern expressed over media stereotyping of Muslim women

AJMAN - A conference on "women's role in the media, education and social development" has called for changing the stereotype image of Arab and Muslim women in the media and replacing it with the one that truly projects women as messengers of peace. The conference was organised by the Ajman-based Umm Al Moumineen Association.

The three-day conference was chaired by Dr Sabir Assran, from Ajman University, and held under the aegis of Shaikha Fatima bint Zayed bin Saqr, chairperson of Umm Al Moumineen Association and wife of His Highness Shaikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Ajman. The event was attended by officials from Ajman Education Zone, representatives of various women's organisation and students and professors from many universities in the UAE.

Halima Al Mulla, from Al Ittihad Arabic daily, attributed the rapid increase of women's participation in media to the government's Emiratisation policy and the encouragement of women to contribute effectively to social development. She drew attention to the increase in the number of educated women as a result of the support given by the country's Rulers and to the availability of colleges and institutions.

She praised the role of UAE women working in the print and electronic media pointing to Hissah Abdulla Lootah, the first TV Director, Moza Khamees, Fatima Hassan and Samira Ahmed, among others, who had proved their merit in the profession.

Aisha Ibrahim, from Al Bayan newspaper, criticised many of the editors and magazine owners who limited the work of women journalists to insignificant assignments and to stories on fashion, cooking and hair-dressing shows.

Dr Ali Awad, from Sharjah University, in his paper discussed the negative stereotype image of Arab women in media.

• UAE