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Hesitantly moving towards modernity

These are some of the findings of a study carried out by the Dubai-based Synovate and presented yesterday by Adelina Mustata, Client Service Director. The research covered local and Arab expatriate women from the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

They strongly believe that education and empowerment are the key factors to help them get recognition from their counterparts especially for their intellectual capabilities, viewpoint and decision making capacities.

Arab women feel that although they are sensitive, emotional and need men's protection, they are decision makers, desire to develop their own distinct identities and are capable of imbibing modernity in a balanced and wise way.

They accomplish their ambitions and are following five strategies: self-empowerment, love conquers all, conformity to norm, security seekers, and breaking through.

Adelina noted that there were similarities and minor differences between local women in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and expatriate Arab women in these two countries.

"All of the three segments of respondents are proud of their role and the assignments they have to fulfil in their homes as wives and mothers whose basic role is to care of their families and ensure happy home environment. They are all proud of being Arabs and strongly feel a sense of belonging to one culture and tradition of the Arab world including generosity and abundance, strong family relationships, men as the family providers and being good Muslims. However, the three segments express their fear of modernity and openness to the world for its probable negative impact on the future generations. They are also scared of probable insecurity resulting from the international political and economic conflicts," she said.

"We conclude that there are no fundamental differences between women of the two Gulf countries and those of other Arab countries. The only difference is the outfit and dressing," she noted.

"However, the Gulf and the expatriate Arab women have a little different understanding of themselves and towards each others.

"The local Gulf women feel that other Arab women are more striving to meet their living, have more freedom, and have more recognition by men. Assessing themselves, they emphasised their pride in abiding by tradition, playing an integrated role with men in life and being protected by men, being the weaker and gentler partners.

"Comparing the opinion between local UAE women with those of Saudi Arabia, women in the UAE feel that they enjoy more rights and receive more respect and recognition and are more sharing with husbands than those in Saudi Arabia.

"Expatriate Arab women envy those of the Gulf because they believe that they are more relaxed and live a prosperous life. They are obsessed that rights are taken from them."

According to Adelina, the first strategy adopted by Arab women is represented in the fact that while having a progressive outlook on life, they work to direct their energies for a meaningful and rewarding life. Arab women opt for open discussions and not to rebel as they do believe that men and women are intellectually equal.

The second strategy is represented in the harmonious outlook on life as they do accept the life the way it is and do focus on positive aspects and genuinely want everyone to be happy and accordingly they expect to receive similar care and love. The only fear is rejection of their love.

The third strategy is represented in conformity to norms. Arab women have acceptance and passive attitude to life. They feel integrated in society by abiding with norms and traditions that are socially and religiously expressed including that the husband is the pillar of the family and they come next and accordingly they should provide the necessary care to him and to the children, she said.

The fourth strategy is that Arab women are security seekers. They have defensive outlook on life. They seek safety, protection, familiarity and shelter. Women do their best to protect self and families. They fear external stimulations and factors that may have negative effects on the security of the family. Arab women like to release their anxiety by spending some time alone in natural surroundings, she noted.

The fifth strategy is to break through. This type of Arab women are assertive and have a rather aggressive outlook on life. They try to compensate frustration by projecting themselves as superior and powerful. They are frustrated at being seen as submissive, so they want to prove the opposite by competing with men. They have inferiority complex that is expressed in drawing comparisons with their western counterparts and by outlining contrast with Arab men who are their competitors whom they want to overpower. These women are ambitious, dominant, leaders, have self-esteem, sophisticated, strive for power and proud.

THE STUDY FINDS

• They strongly believe that education and empowerment are the key factors to help them get recognition from their counterparts especially for their intellectual capabilities, viewpoint and decision making capacities.
• Arab women feel that although they are sensitive, emotional and need men's protection, they are decision makers, desire to develop their own distinct identities and are capable of imbibing modernity in a balanced and wise way.
• They accomplish their ambitions and are following five strategies: self-empowerment, love conquers all, conformity to norm, security seekers, and breaking through.

• UAE