Gender, social change, and politics in the Arab states of the Gulf
Prof. Abdullah Baabood (Panel Chair)
Professor and Chair of the State of Qatar for Islamic Area Studies, Waseda University
Prof. Namie Tsujigami (Speaker)
Professor, Faculty of Global Studies, Sophia University, Japan
Dr. Manami Goto (Speaker)
JSPS Overseas Research Fellow, New York University Abu Dhabi, UAE
Dr. Woohyang (Chloe) Sim (Speaker)
Assistant Professor, Faculty of International Research and Education, Waseda University
Prof. Matthew Gray (Respondent and Panel Organizer)
Professor, School of Liberal International Studies, Waseda University
Panel abstract:
The Arab states of the Gulf – Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) – are in a period of important political and economic transition, as changes in global power, international energy, technology, and other spheres creates new imperatives and opportunities for both states and societies in the region. As part of this, there is a dramatic shift underway in the social sphere, and in particular new gender roles, dynamics, and priorities being formed, shaped, and negotiated between men and women, among other social forces, and between state and society more broadly. This panel will examine this transformation, bringing together three speakers to discuss various aspects of women’s changing roles and growing agency in the Gulf, covering, among others, issues such as: women’s economic roles and empowerment; their (re-)negotiation of cultural norms; the past, present, and future of the abaya; and women’s unique and changing place in higher education. In engaging with these issues, the panel will also examine the various political, social, and economic factors that are shaping gender relations in the region, and which will continue to do so in the years ahead.
PRESENTATION DETAILS AND ABSTRACTS
Do Consumption and Entrepreneurship Change Gender Order in Saudi Arabia?
Prof. Namie Tsujigami, Sophia University
Women in Saudi Arabia have become more visible as consumers. On obtaining higher education with their male counterparts, women have become more influential in spending for the family and themselves. In a consumer society, having a say in spending implies power. This shift within households has created opportunities for women to launch businesses that mainly cater to women. Female entrepreneurs start such businesses, catering to women, and taking advantage of their knowledge on women’s needs. Under the economic circumstances where women are given fewer employment opportunities, such small-sized businesses have helped women to earn their own money. In the meantime, statistics indicate that men remain responsible for their family’s livelihood. While maintaining the male breadwinner model, Saudi women seek a new model of patriarchy which creates difference from what Deniz Kandiyoti argued to be “patriarchal bargaining”. This paper discusses the institutionalisation of female entrepreneurship and women-led consumption that signals the possibility of changing gender relationships within the household and society.
Social Changes on the Abaya: The Study of Qatari Women
Dr. Manami Goto, NYU Abu Dhabi
The abaya, a black cloak outer garment worn by women in the Gulf Arab states, has been stereotyped as an unchanging, oppressive and conservative item of clothing. However, not only have its styles and designs changed over time, but its functions have also shifted, from a simple coat to a fashion item, revealing individual and collective identities. The abaya can also deliver a political or gender statement made by the wearer. In recent years, many young woman entrepreneurs in the Gulf, including from Qatar, have started their own abaya brands and sell their products by utilizing social media platforms. This has created a new market for economic growth in the Gulf, and space for women to empower themselves and each other through supporting local business. In this paper, in-depth ethnographic data collected in interviews with 80 Qatari women sheds lights on the impact of Qatar’s rapid social changes on the abaya from the 1950s to 2010s, and how these changes are reflected in the abaya’s styles and designs. This paper further explores how Qatari women have utilized the abaya in different spaces to fulfil or challenge social and family expectations.
The reversal of the gender gap in Qatari higher education
Dr. Woohyang (Chloe) Sim, Waseda University
Women’s success in the educational realm is already a well-known phenomenon. The reversal of the gender gap in education has been seen in recent decades in Western and many non-Western countries. The gender reversal in higher education has been attributed to the deep economic and occupational inequalities and high glass ceiling. Like other parts of the world, the Arab Gulf region has witnessed a surge in the rise of women in higher education, and the gap is indeed now more significant than in many other countries. Qatar, in particular, has the largest gap in the tertiary education enrollment rate between women and men. According to the UNESCO Statistical Research Institute, the gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education for men in 2019 was only about 7 percent, while for women it was over 56 percent. However, given the great economic stability and job security for both Qatari men and women due to rentier social contract and strong labor nationalization policies, this phenomenon in Qatar begs a lot of questions. This study provides an integrated, synthesized overview of the current state of gender disparity in higher education in Qatar and analyzes its characteristics, using statistical data from Qatar University and various government and international organizations. Furthermore, this study attempts to develop a hypothesis to explain the unique educational phenomena occurring in the region.
