Yasmin Baker: Emirati women are expanding their horizons

Dubai - Young Emirati woman Yasmin Baker is breaking stereotypes by simply being herself

It's Emirati Women's Day and there are so many things we need to celebrate. The impressive achievements and attitudes of Emirati women of many generations is something that is changing the landscape of this country. From entrepreneurs, CEOs, artists, designers, athletes, writers and fashion designers, there is no denying that Emirati women are paving a new path for themselves through talent, hard work and perseverance. And sometimes a big dose of being yourself helps as well.

One of the most interesting things about being an Emirati woman is how she can break stereotypes and create new paths for her peers and the women who come after her. Sounds like a big job but Yasmin Baker is one woman who is managing to do that by just being herself.

A self confessed chatterbox, we found Yasmin a delightful breath of fresh air with thoughts, ideas and a general belief system of being completely yourself, being present in the moment and engaging with others honestly in order to change the perception that people might have of Emirati women.

Juggling between her role as a Senior Analyst of the Innovation Challenge Programme within Expo 2020 Dubai and being an Aerial Skills trainer, Yasmin is also engaged in a multitude of activities which include traveling, her love for wildlife and being recently involved in a campaign for Nike! You may recognise her face in their latest 'Believe in More' campaign in all their stores. To say she looks fierce, powerful and in control of her destiny is an understatement. We think it's her attitude, above all else, that makes her a proud Emirati woman.

Tell us about the different roles that you do.
My "day job" title is Senior Analyst of the Innovation Challenge Programme within Expo 2020 Dubai. It's a long title, but essentially my role involves finding community problems worth solving and empowering anyone to brainstorm an idea that could solve it. My "night job" involves fitness and aerial silks. Aerial silks is part dance, part sport that involves climbing and performing tricks while suspended on a piece of fabric. Currently I teach beginners upon request on a one-on-one (or two-on-one) basis. I still don't entirely see it as 'work' though, just because it's my hobby.

How do you think opportunities have changed for Emirati women compared to your mother's generation and even your grandmother's generation?
I think part of it is that the infrastructure was not there to give rise to opportunities beyond what you could do in a small merchant town in the desert. My grandmother was literally born into a desert community, and even my mother was born before the country was even a country. Then comes our generation, now there is an astounding mix of nationalities and backgrounds, going to an entirely international school where English is my first language and with travel easily accessible to me, and social media a part of my life. What is my norm is far different to what my mother's norms were, which were far different to what her mothers' norms were. I think these transitions are natural and open many doors, but as an Emirati, the pace is accelerated and in my personal experience if you can embrace change as not just a constant but as a necessity, it is a beautiful thing.
How do you think you dispel misconceptions about being an Emirati woman?
I never sought out to actively dispel misconceptions. I am just being and doing what I have always done and always promoted- put yourself out there and embrace yourself as you are, and welcoming people to ask if they have questions. I am a notorious chatterbox, and love it when and if a conversation with an old Emirati lady from Fujairah, or a young girl visiting from New Zealand leads to a greater sense of openness and understanding. I know exactly how I am portraying myself outwardly whether through conversations or social media posts or work, and it has brought nothing more than a sense of closeness with others, and has made friends out of strangers. That is the bigger picture that I hope to give others by allowing yourself to be honest and true.
What makes you proud to be an Emirati woman in today's world?
 At one point in time, not very long ago, our perceived roles were somewhat limited in the traditional sense. But given how much economic growth, and globalisation we are experiencing as a nation, it has allowed us to be pioneering 'firsts' in so many ways. My fellow Emirati women are expanding their horizons in the coolest, most admirable ways - we have women ministers and CEOs, but also women CrossFit athletes and instructors, and fighter pilots and race car drivers, to 15-year-old scientists. It is so impressive and I feel lucky to be considered a 'first' in any sense in my community, in terms of recognition/ validation for my hard work and openness.
How did you get into working with Expo 2020?
Academically, I am a biologist, and I still have, and will always have an intensely geeky love for hard science (I can draw fully detailed annotated diagrams of organs from memory!) From there I've been in the field of wildlife conservation; having been a researcher in wildlife trade issues, as well as working in an aquarium. At one point I wanted to gain some skills in new areas, so I spent some time working for a very large multinational corporation in the energy and power- generation sector; that was a definite challenge at first! I eventually landed in the 'innovation space' with Expo 2020 Dubai - a mega- events company.
Tell us about being an Ariel Skills trainer.
I was always intrigued by sports, movement and acrobatics as a child, and since then always sought out new 'activities' to try out. I watched Cirque du Soleil and that was my first exposure to aerial silks. I was fascinated by the display of pure strength, artiness and fearlessness (I am afraid of heights, believe it or not). I ended up taking a movement course while in university in the US, and wanted to do my final project on this 'strange curtain dancy thingy.'  I did classes then and  continued with it! It took a long time for me to progress and it was not easy to stay consistent with practice. Eventually when I moved back to Dubai, I was able to build it into my routine, where I was comfortable with tricks and techniques. Beginners in my classes started playing around with me, and my peers and I would always coach each other, and that's what enabled me to start into teaching.
What changes do you hope to see for Emirati women in the next generation?
I think continuing to persevere and challenge norms to better ourselves, our societies, and our country, as we have been doing. The struggles we face become lessons, and the most beautiful thing is to see how we pave the way for girls younger than us. I am proud of all of the lessons I have learned in my journey, and I am only 26 years old, it has brought me to such a fulfilled life, and has brought me the most amazing relationships I can imagine. And I feel extremely proud when I read in the newspaper of Emirati girls reaching this stage at the age of 15 and 17, for these girls going to NASA to send their project off into space, or to be race car drivers, with not just the full support of their families, but also with that difference being a source of pride. We need to continue our progress, and to support it for others and for our men too. And I am so excited and hopeful to see where we end up.
What are the biggest misconceptions that the general public have about young Emirati women?
I think there are two main ones that I have personally encountered. The first is again, that we/ they are one-dimensional. It is easy to understand why the public has that perception given the roles we assumed in the past and given our standing as minorities in such a beautiful mix of cultures. However, in terms of career and skills development we are being more and more encouraged to be diverse in our career paths and in academia. The second misconception is that we are unapproachable. I have been told on multiple occasions that I am the first Emirati girl a person has met, despite having lived in the UAE for years. I think in that sense, we need to work harder as a globalised community to foster more mixing and cultural understanding; whether through sport or work or while getting our morning coffee or whatever - talk to one another, ask and be asked!  

• Dubai