Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Empowering Women.... Government Style ..

Hey everyone! Again I apologize for not writing a regular basis. April/May/June are always busy, and I think that's the case for many other bloggers too. The blogging scene hasn't been very alive lately.
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It's Wednesday and instead of taking my 20 minute lunch break, I'll brief you on an interesting meeting that happened in Dhofar a few weeks back. It's no secret that Dhofar may seem a little neglected sometimes. It's not our fault that we're at the other end of the country and there's a huge empty space between the North and South. All media publications focus on activities and events in the capital, so yes we may seem a little left out sometimes.
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Anyway, many of you are aware that Oman's first women's symposium was held in Muscat last October (?) and His Majesty donated generous scholarships, etc to many women and declared Ocotber 17 to be Omani Women's Day. It was all very nice and dandy; however, again very few women from Dhofar were involved in the symposium and events of last October. Very very few. And so, after a few complaints and following instructions from you-know-who, the Minister of Social Development decided to have a discreet meeting with the women of Dhofar. I received an interesting call in November asking if I'd be part of the meeting. I accepted out of curiosity (always looking for something to blog about!). The meeting was postponed a couple of time, and finally it happened in March.
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It was all very odd. Names of attendees were selected very carefully, with documents going back and forth between Salalah and Muscat with names. Many names were eliminated (wonder why?). I was told not to say anything about it to anyone (Me? hah! Now that it's over, I don't think I can get into much trouble).
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The meeting happened at night. A mix of women attended from the women's associations, doctors, professors, managers, schools principals, and other women with power in the private and public sector. All women. I recognized many of them. It was kind of weird to see them all in the same room. There was no media coverage and particpants in this 'meeting' weren't allowed in without their cards. I just happened to forget my card in the car, so I begged the person at the door to let me in. They finally agreed.
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Anyway, Her Excellency arrived and the meeting started. She discussed different topics (none really of interest to me except for ....... ). She emphasized the importance of being active in Women's Associations (bah). She reminded us that most women in these associations are uneducated and do not work. She encouraged the working educated women to join and bring new talent and ideas. She mentioned that these associations would play an important role in the upcoming Shura Council elections (bah again). I took notes during the meeting but my notebook isn't with me right now, and my memory is malfunctioning today.
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Several women at the meeting brought up topics that they felt passionate about. I thought it was funny that two of the women refused to take the face veil off. Her Excellency looked at the gathering of women and said 'I'm not starting unless I see all faces', and they just looked blankly at her as if she hadn't said anything. She repeated it again and they just sat there being stubborn. Finally she gave up and started the meeting. Personally, I thought it was a little disrespectful. The women should have taken the veil off in the first place. There was no media coverage so no one was taking their pictures. And it was ALL WOMEN!
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An interesting point she brought up was the cases of Omani women marrying foreigners. She said (correct me if I'm wrong) that the Ministry of Social Development was working closely with the Ministry of Interior to make things E.A.S.I.E.R for Omani women who want to marry expats. The future is looking bright. If what she said was true, then Oman is on the right path to becoming a peaceful yet modern country. I think there is absolutley nothing wrong with marrying a non-Omani. In fact, in some cases like my friend Reality, it's actually more 'right' than her marrying an Omani.
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And so the meeting ended. I left before the Minister did, but as I was leaving I saw some women having private conversations with her. I have mixed feelings about the whole thing, but it was nice to see all my Dhofari sisters in one place together. However, I believe change comes from within. I hate how Omanis seem to think the Government is going to solve all their problems. It's not. We have to empower ourselves. We have to creat change, not wait for it to happen. But .....All is well in Oman... for now.

14 comments:

  1. I am pleased to hear that all is well in Oman :)

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  2. So agree with you ... can't wait around for others to do things FOR you ... have to take things into your own hands ... of course, at least as far as you are personally concerned, and do as much as you can to help others ... but, can't help others unless you help yourself first ...

    Gotta say I find the whole secrecy, special list, etc. very mystifying ... wonder what is the need? Is there some 'special' reason that only 'special' women care about issues or women in general? Hmmm, hey, they must be special women - because we all know that YOU, Nadia, are indeed special ...

    I find this to be highly intriguing ... have a 'movie' playing in my head ... title? ... Secret Ladies Service ... or Women Wanted - Pompom Task Force ... or Omani Angels ... hehehe ...

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  3. I'm not sceptical, but why all this secrecy in conducting such a normal meeting? Are women forming a secret league behind our backs (us men)?

    And let us be honest to ourselves, why the sudden interest in developing women rather than developing both women and men. Has the government given up on men and therefore they are trying to develop women instead?!!!! Or has the government reached a level in developing men so that they cannot be developed no more?!!!!

    Sorry Nadia, I think (to the contrary to your thoughts) that this is so shallow and the government is firing empty shells (which will make a lot of noise but has no effect)

    This is not a see-saw situation i.e. you cannot just develop one party and ignore the other. The real question is why we never had a “men symposium” ? Or has men development been taken for granted.

    BTW,, this is a wakeup call for all of you women who think that the above is good for you!!!! The sheer fact that you have your own symposium and you will be enrolled in special "women" development programmes is in fact discrimination against you; you have been isolated from the other part of the society and been put on a different path. Whereas, what actually should happen is that the government is addressing both men and women as equal elements in the society’s development, without referring to gender. Only then I will believe that we are marching towards equal rights for women and men.

    P.S. to Ian (I expect more elaboration form your side, your short comments is an insult to the blog writer , at least this is what I think)

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  4. Interesting.

    I think the disrespectful part of the face viel is that the minister actually said she wouldnt't start unless she could see everyones faces.

    Hello? Freedom and democracy?!
    don't shove your personal requirements down peoples throats just cuz u are in a position of power.

    -ADG

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  5. I am quite shocked to find out how a highly educated minister with a PhD degree would act worse than an illiterate woman. I mean being so selective in who attended an ordinary meeting in order to cover her silly mistakes of not involving many Dhofari women in the past symposium is just rediculous. As with regards to 'taking off the veils', I see it as non of her buiseness!!!

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  6. when are u gonna write a post on traces of slavery in dhofar region???

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  7. The face veil is something I can never understand. I just don't get it.

    I'm glad to hear about the Ministry making it easier for us to marry foreigners. How about they allow our children to have an Omani citizenship? wouldn't that be nice?

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  8. As salam alaikum Gucci sis.

    Im not suprised in the least that Salalah wasnt invited to the meeting nor that its not mentioned much in media.. the most i see in media since i been here in salalah is usually muscat and sohar.. its like salalah doesnt exist or something. Ohhh i feel the need to stand on my milk box and start having a good chit chat about pending issues..if there is a place like Speakers Cornor from the UK here in Salalah i need to go there and address some issues that i see my salalah sisters suffering.

    Ya Rabb. My blood levels rise at times and since some time my blood pressure has be uppp lol.. i just wish inshaAllah i can do something to brake the ayb factor around here and be an advocate for women and childrens rights. Allah help us in Salalah.. Ya Allah.

    Hiyyakum Allah.

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  9. I could tell by your writing that you're hot in real ;p

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  10. Masha'Allah that is good to hear that women are getting together to talk about social issues. Inshallah many good things come from it.

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  11. I don't see any difference between uneducated women and educated women in Dhofar. All of them are the same, but I'd prefer the uneducated women.

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  12. @Anonymous pls don't stereotype pls

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  13. Within the next 10 years every Omani male is going to wish to be a woman :)
    So I encourage the investment in gender change surgery..:)
    The Sultan is going forward to show the importance of the next(ignored) half of the community.. it is a very important step eventhough it is too late..
    BUT we need it to be in proper way not just to show in news papers and meadia.

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  14. @ Fdayooh - LOL!!!!!!!!!! Hehehe ... you are so right, can't they have PEOPLE empowerment sessions??? Hear, hear, I'm calling for the first ever Dhofari People Symposium!!! That's right, ALL are invited and it will be a week-long event, and ALL will be asked to speak about issues - from domestic violence, career choices and marriage to foreigners (here, women can ask to have the same rules regulating their marriages to foreigners as the men, TAH-DAH!). Otherwise, just as Fdayooh said, it is again a 'special', 'secret' form of discrimination. Hey, let's talk about YOU and YOUR rights ... BUT SHHHHH! ;)

    Worry not - since they only invited 'special' women to this 'secret' meeting there's little chance of a Women's Secret League being formed behind anyone's back ... hehehe ... I don't know why, I find the whole of this situation to be absolutely hilarious! ... hehehe ... I'm still laughing ...

    @ محفيف - ... and the giggles continue ... hehehe ... the gender change investment is manyfold! Not only will you then get to attend future secret meetings, BUT, more importantly, you'll also be able to wear really tight pants very comfortably!!! Think of all you could do with that!

    On a more serious note, ... wait, it's difficult, still giggling, ... You are right about the need to show the importance of the 'ignored' half of the community - it does seem to be a belated thought, and the limitations set on these symposiums and meetings, the secrecy, the need for subterfuge, etc. is very counterproductive.

    However, it is never too late ... only when we are dead ... I always go by the 'better late then never' motto ...

    @ Umm Ququ - I hear you too, especially about the rising blood pressure ... wonder how far up it can go without coming down? ... hehehe ... maybe this is it ... can't. stop. giggling! ... Salalah Speakers Corner really did me in ... hehehehe!!! LOL!!!

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