
The discovery of oil in the late 1960s catapulted the people of Abu Dhabi out of the isolating poverty into which it had plunged in the 1930s and onto the global stage. Massive construction projects built the city and infrastructural developments altered the physical and cultural landscape; in a few breathtaking decades, the lives of Emiratis were transformed by new opportunities and a social welfare system that offered free education, medical treatment, generous pensions, subsidies to families, and government incentives offered to citizens to participate in all sectors of the economy. Oil wealth also brought new expectations and new life-styles that are often sophisticated and lavish yet just as often criticized for being conspicuous displays of unbridled consumerism.Emirati Women offers a rare view into the lives of Emirati women and how they perceive the changes that have made poverty a dim and almost forgotten memory. In Emirati Women, Bristol-Rhys weaves together eight years of conversations and interviews with three generations of women, her observations of Emirati society in Abu Dhabi, the unflattering stereotypes commonly heard in the extensive expatriate communities, and discussions with her Emirati university students on topics ranging from marriage, independence, freedom, and the future.
This book investigates how the rapid economic transformation of Abu Dhabi following the discovery of oil has fundamentally altered the social roles, perceptions, and daily lives of Emirati women across three generations. Author Jane Bristol-Rhys, an anthropologist, utilizes eight years of ethnographic research to document the transition from pre-oil poverty to modern affluence. By synthesizing personal interviews, classroom discussions, and observations of the local cultural landscape, she constructs a framework for understanding how state-sponsored welfare and economic development have reshaped the identity of women in the region.
What You Will Find
Scope Limits
Scholars and readers frequently note the book's value as a rare, grounded look at a demographic often obscured by external stereotypes. Experts highlight the work as a useful contribution to Middle Eastern sociological studies due to its reliance on long-term, qualitative field research.
Page Count:
224
Publication Date:
2016-09-01
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0190627069
ISBN-13:
9780190627065
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