The True 'Pearl' of the Gulf

Before the bounty of oil, the most valuable commodity in the Arabian Gulf was the pearl. As pearl diving was the main economic activity in the region, many men were required to be away from their families for up to six months at a time. In the absence of their husbands, Qatari women became the heads of their families, as well as the breadwinners. In addition to having to contend with all the difficulties of managing a family, the Qatari woman had to wrestle with the constant fear of potentially losing their husbands, fathers, brothers etc at sea.

However, the introduction of oil to the region in 1940 caused a profound change in the role of Qatari women in society. As the focus of the economic activity changed from pearls to oil, the Qatari woman experienced a shift in her familial role, from family head to homemaker. A previously female dominated society gradually developed a patriarchal flavor once more.

Although the Qatari woman seemingly experienced a decline in her familial role, she never gave up her intrepid spirit. This is best illustrated by the fact that in 1957, forty brave girls entered the first government supported girl’s school. This school was opened by Ameena Mahmoud, a Qatari woman eager to see both Qatari boys and girls receive a superior education. This was a revolutionary concept for the society, as most people frowned upon the idea of girls going to school.

Before the introduction of the modern Qatari education system, a Qatari education only constituted of the memorization of the Koran and the basic tenants of Islam. However, as the oil industry burgeoned, the government decided to use its revenue as an incentive to encourage reluctant parents to send both their sons and their daughters to school. However, to encourage the children of Qatar to go to school, the Qatari government provided its students with free meals, transportation, uniforms and even monetary allowances.

The educational opportunities for Qatari women have continued to expand since the fifties. This growth is illustrated by the statistic that states that during the sixties and seventies 99% of Qatari school aged girls were enrolled in school. When Qatar University opened its doors in 1973, there were 93 women and 57 men enrolled in the University’s first class. All the aforementioned proves that the Qatari woman has always fought for her right to an education at all levels, however she still faces many cultural obstacles. One of them being marriage.

While the role of education has become increasingly important in Qatar, the cultural role of women as home makers still remains to be very important to the Qatari people. Many may believe that this idea as misogynistic, however to understand this concept you must understand the culture.

Qatar is a nation that follows the teachings of Islam, a religion that strongly advocates marriage, as it is believed that marriage is a safeguard against sexual deviance and other social ills. However, women are not allowed – as stated by Islamic law- to be coerced into marriage. A Muslim woman coerced into marriage can annul it if she insists that the proceedings took place without her consent. The stability of the Muslim family unit is extremely important in Islam, as the religion aspires to create a cohesive and peaceful society.

However, just as marriage is important in Islam, so is education. This is clearly demonstrated by the Prophet Mohammed’s statement “ Seeking knowledge is mandatory for every believer.”

Consequently, hindering any Muslim female of any age, country or marital status from pursuing an education is against the Islamic religion, as this noble pursuit was mandated by the Prophet Mohammed himself. However, that being said, these theological realities are often overshadowed by the cultural practices of some people in the Middle East.

When asked if Qatari women were still pressured into marriage, Hend Al Malki, a sophomore at Qatar University, said, “That really depends on their upbringing, there are still some families who would rather have their daughters get married right after high school.” Al Malki continued to explain that many female college freshmen are unable to balance their academic and domestic responsibilities, subsequently they choose to drop out of college.

However, the opinion of Qatari women towards education is rapidly changing. Some of this change has been attributed to the introduction of Westernized culture to the region. Al Malki said, “Through the media, Gulf women have gotten a much wider look at the world of leading women.” This is a truly novel way of looking at the effect of media on Qatari women, because instead of being a tool of “corruption,” it has become a means of empowerment. By watching the achievements of their Western counterparts, the Qatari woman has been able to emulate their success in their own way.

The Qatari government has also been an important advocate of the multilateral role of women in Qatari society, as it has allowed Education City- a campus with 6 internationally renowned universities- to be integrated. Moreover, the Qatari government has also provided its students, boys and girls, with scholarship programs with some of the country’s most prominent business establishments. These business establishments also offer most graduated students internships as well as jobs.

It is estimated that the percentage of Qatari women in the work force has risen from 4% in 1986 to 30% in 2004. This has been attributed to the development of women’s education, as two thirds of the Qatari female work force are college educated. Not only has the Qatari women entered the work force, she has also assumed leading positions in various fields such as IT, education, health, business etc.

When asked what job opportunities are available to Qatari women, Al Malki responded by saying “When it comes to work, there are no boundaries to what Qatari women can achieve. However, it is important to our culture that the qualifications of the aforementioned jobs agree with the rules mentioned in the Holy Koran.”

For centuries the Qatari woman has been the embodiment of strength and resilience, and this still remains to be true of the modern, ambitious and educated Qatari woman of the 21st century. She aspires to be a doctor, a teacher and now even a politician. However, like women in many cultures, she has yet to discover the perfect balance between her academic and domestic commitments.

Fifty years ago, the men of the Qatari peninsula braved harrowing sailing conditions and potentially deadly dives to produce the coveted pearls of the Arabian Gulf. Yet what they failed to realize was that the true “pearls” of their societies were their mothers, their wives, their daughters etc because no matter what, they would always be on the shore eagerly awaiting their arrival. So what better to reward the loving legacy of the Qatari woman than empowerment? And education is empowerment.