The Effect of Globalization in the Gulf Countries and the Changing Roles of Women: A Comparative Study on Arabia, The United Arab Emirates and Qatar

Year 2022, Volume: 13 Issue: 36, 1150 - 1169, 20.11.2022

Başak Özoral

https://doi.org/10.21076/vizyoner.1069923

Abstract

The role of women in the Gulf societies has been under the influence of dramatic transformation in economy and social life in the last 30 years. The aim of the study is to examine the changing role of women in economic, political and cultural life in the Gulf societies. In the study three Gulf countries, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are taken as examples. The tiny country of the Gulf, Qatar, has conservative local tradition but at the same time has witnessed a rapid change in its economic, social and political life. The UAE has become the heart of economic activities in the region and is trying to integrate herself in to the global world. Saudi Arabia is the most traditional country in the Gulf and women's rights in Saudi Arabia have been severely restricted. So, it is worth to investigate the transformation of the women’s role in these three different Gulf countries. Also in the study, the influence of royal women on the modernization of women in the Gulf is discussed. Findings of the study reveal similarities and differences for the changing roles of women in these countries. 

Keywords

Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Women in the Gulf

Küreselleşmenin Körfez Ülkelerindeki Etkisi ve Kadınların Değişen Rolleri: Arabistan, Birleşik Arap Emirlikleri ve Katar Üzerinden Karşılaştırmalı Bir Çalışma

Abstract

Körfez ülkelerinde kadınların toplumsal rolleri son 30 yıl içinde yaşanan sosyal ve ekonomik dönüşümden etkilenmiştir. Bu çalışmanın amacı Körfez ülkelerinde ekonomik, siyasi ve sosyal alanlarda kadınların değişen rollerini incelemektir. Bu makale körfezin üç ülkesini, Sudi Arabistan, Birleşik Arap Emirlikleri ve Katarı örnek olarak ele almaktadır. Körfezin minik ülkesi olan Katar muhafazakar bir yerel kültüre sahiptir buna karşın oldukça hızlı bir ekonomik, politik ve sosyal değişimi deneyimlemektedir. Birleşik Arap Emirlikleri ise bölgedeki ekonomik aktivitelerin merkezi konumunda küresel dünyaya entegre olmaya çalışmaktadır. Sudi Arabistan bölgedeki en muhafazakar ve kadın hakları konusunda oldukça katı kuralları olan ülkedir. Bu nedenlerle bu üç ülke bölgedeki kadınların toplumsal rollerindeki değişimi anlamak için incelemeye değer örneklerdir. Bu makalede ayrıca kraliyet ailesindeki kadınların Körfez monarşilerinde gözlenen toplumsal değişim alanındaki etkileri de tartışılmaktadır. Çalışmanın bulguları bu ülkelerdeki kadınların toplumsal rollerindeki değişimlerinin ortak yönlerini ve farklılıklarını göstermektedir.

Keywords

Katar, Sudi Arabistan, Birleşik Arap Emirlikleri, Körfez Ülkelerinde Kadınlar

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