Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
the 18th century. 'Arabian women enjoy a great deal of liberty, and often a great deal of
power, in their families'.
It's hard to imagine women letting go of their tight-knit sisterhood, but now that they
also want a slice of the man's traditional role too, something's got to give. It is partly re-
cognition of this fact that has led to such heated internal debate among Arab women
across the region. On the one hand, discussion in Saudi Arabia focuses on fundamental
women's rights - to vote, to drive, to travel unescorted by male relatives, to represent and
be represented in a public forum. On the other hand, in UAE and Oman (where equality of
education has led to an equality of expectation), it focuses on issues familiar to a Western
context such as breaking through the glass ceiling, how to train in traditionally male-ori-
ented disciplines like engineering but still be able to pick and choose over shift hours or
working on site.
With more women graduating from some of the top universities across the region than
men, inevitably questions are being asked about primary carers in the family and the psy-
chological fall-out on men whose once unquestioned authority is being undermined by
poor performance relative to their female counterparts.
Nine Parts of Desire,
by Geraldine Brooks, is an objective and well-balanced investigation into the lives of
women under Islam, covering various countries of the Middle East and exposing some of the many
myths regarding the treatment of women in the Arab world.
Family Size & Welfare
The family, guided by Muslim principles, is still at the centre of the Arab way of life. The
family is an extended unit often comprising whole villages, united around a common tri-
bal name. Avoiding actions that may bring shame to the family is of paramount import-
ance. Saving face is therefore more than a reluctance to admit a mistake - it's an expres-
sion of unwillingness to make a family vulnerable to criticism. Equally, promotion or suc-
cess is not calculated in individual terms, but in the benefits it bestows on the family. Of
course, everyone knows someone who can help in the collective good, and accruing
wusta
(influence) is a Peninsula pastime.
The efforts of one generation are reflected in the provision of education and opportunity
for the next. This comes at a cost and few Arabs these days can afford the large families
of up to 12 children of a decade ago; indeed the average is now around 3.3 children.
The governments of each country have made generous provision for families across the
region - in terms of free education and healthcare - but the resources won't last forever
