Gen Zeds: Arab women speaking with ‘still small voices’

Abstract

The ‘Gen Zeds’ are female Emirati students in their early twenties at Zayed University who oscillate between the traditional Islamic culture of their families, and the highly mediated global culture they experience at university and on the Internet. These students come almost entirely from prosperous families. On graduation, they are expected to assume leadership positions in the United Arab Emirates – a country in transition – despite living in a society that recently has not permitted women roles beyond that of mother and homemaker. This article considers whether the lessons and experiences they encounter at university – and their intense exposure to a technology-mediated world – will equip them for life in a society radically different from that of their mothers, and whether their ‘ still small voices’ will be heard in a new technology economy. Die jong geslag vroue wat studeer aan die Zayed Universiteit in die Verenigde Amerikaanse Emirate (VAE) beweeg tussen twee wêrelde: dié van die tradisionele Islamkultuur en 'n globale mediakultuur deur onder meer die Internet. Samelewingsveranderinge, onder meer ten opsigte van die rolle wat vroue kan beklee vind ook voortdurend plaas. Die artikel ondersoek die moontlikhede wat hul ervarings aan die universiteit en nuwe media hulle bied om hul plek vol te staan in 'n samelewing wat radikaal verskil van dié van hul moeders.