Most would argue it is our conservative society that is holding women back. Some in the West would argue it is our religion. But I say it's our wealth. How? Simple. If we just look around Gulf states, we will see that women in wealthy countries are mostly sitting at home while those who are from less wealthy Gulf countries are forced to work. This wealth has made it easier for women to stay at home. Even those who do continue their education, many holding post-graduate degrees are still at home. The UAE, Kuwait and Qatar, like Saudi Arabia built themselves from their oil wealthy pockets. While people would describe the UAE and Qatar as more open countries than the Kingdom I would agree except in terms of local women's development. Each time I go to Dubai, I keep my eyes out for local Emarati women, and I hardly see them. I see a lot of foreign women, I see a lot of Emarati men, but I hardly see Emarati women walking the malls or working behind the sales desk. This is also true in Qatar. It really amazes me. I ask my Emarati friends, “Where are the women?” The Kingdom is so much more conservative than the UAE yet the shopping malls are full of Saudi women shopping and hanging out. Like Saudi women, Emarati women are participating in the workforce and are helping the economy, but mostly they are in the education and health field or in women-only offices such as banks, government offices. Despite not being as wealthy as their neighboring Gulf countries, Bahraini and Omani women seem to have achieved more than the rest of us. When I go to Bahrain I always see Bahraini women working behind the sales desk and in customer service alongside her male colleagues. Women from across the Gulf are bound by family values, so how did Bahraini women achieve what they did? For those who think the wealth of countries like the Kingdom and the UAE translates into greater freedom and advancement for women, I would say look around. What pushed women out of their comfy homes and what transformed families' perspective of women working? It is their financial need. Our blessing has turned into our curse. Only after Saudis feel the pinch in their wallet, will Saudi women venture out to work with the backing of their families. * Suzan Zawawi is a Cross Cultural Consultant with an MA specialized in Cross Cultural Communication Share your cross cultural experience or send in your cultural questions to [email protected] __
