We need proper discussion rather than just vitriol

An increasing number of Emiratis are speaking up on Twitter about the obstacles many women still face, writes Ayesha Almazroui

An increasing number of Emiratis are speaking up about the obstacles many women still face. A group has taken the discussion a step further by starting a new network called Emirati Feminists on Twitter, to highlight the reasons why they believe that the UAE needs a feminist movement. Chris Ratcliffe / BloombergShow less

The recent Federal National Council elections highlighted a gap in society’s attitudes towards women.

Only Naema Abdullah Saeed Al Sharhan from Ras Al Khaimah was elected among 20 winning candidates from across the country, while a short time later, Dr Amal Al Qubaisi was appointed President of the FNC, making her the region’s first female leader of a national assembly.

Despite the notable progress women have made in recent years, why didn’t voters elect more women?

Even the high number of female voters – 30,827 or 40 per cent of turnout – did not give an edge to female candidates. Was it because of their individual campaigns? Or did traditional ideas shape voting decisions? And did unconscious bias play a role?

Dr Aisha Al Nuaimi, an associate professor of media and politics at UAE, said on Twitter: “I believe that the UAE system’s attitude towards the woman and her right to participate in politics is different than the attitudes of individuals. And this equation needs to be changed ...”

But what’s the best way to tackle the issue? Unfortunately, this has not been discussed enough, especially as the focus has been on female achievers who, in many cases, come from open-minded families and do not lack support and encouragement.

However, an increasing number of Emiratis are speaking up about the obstacles many women still face. A group has taken the discussion a step further by starting a new network called Emirati Feminists (on Twitter: @feministsinuae), to highlight the reasons why they believe that the UAE needs a feminist movement.

The account garnered various reactions from local society, ranging from support to vitriol. But what is interesting is that many women criticised their message, which they insisted does not “oppose the government of UAE nor its rules and laws” but rather wants to raise awareness about social issues.

Asking the question “Why do we need feminism?”, they shared stories of young women who spoke about their personal struggles in getting the approval of their families to take on unconventional career choices or overseas education. Others focused on broader issues, including a woman’s right to be independent.

Others expressed their objection to the idea that the UAE needs to import foreign concepts (such as “feminism” from the West), saying that we live in a very different environment and have a different belief system.

Regardless of which side one takes, it’s always healthy to have a group discussion about social issues. I applaud Emirati Feminists for their efforts.

However, following the different arguments presented on social media, one can clearly see the misunderstandings. A critical part of any debate is first to define the subject of discussion, which has not been done.

What does “feminism” mean in the Emirati context? Feminism is not one unified movement. It changes and differs depending on the context.

Another critical question is whether it is the system or individuals that we need to change.

There are many types of feminism: without defining basic terms, any debate or discussion is unlikely to be effective.

It is also important to avoid showing a superior attitude when handling criticism – at least that’s what I saw when following Emirati Feminists’ interactions – which was a major downfall for many international feminist movements that treated society as “unenlightened” and in need of guidance.

In order to deliver any message effectively, it’s important to handle criticism with humility and understanding. Members of society have different views on women’s issues. We need to keep that in mind if we are to be successful in changing attitudes. What we need more than anger or negative rebellion is civil debate.

On Twitter: @AyeshaAlmazroui