Abstract

Center of Oriental Studies, Vilnius University
 
 This study sets out to outline the self-consciousness and self-expression of Qatari female students. The paper is based on a research carried out at the female section of the University of Qatar where Qatari girls were observed from September 2005 to May 2006. The recruited participants (14) were also interviewed at the later stage of the study. The results showed that, according to the axis of expression of the outward–inward female identity and the axis of autonomy–dependency, Qatari female students can be classified into three types: “beauteous Qataris,” “active Qataris” and “religious Qataris.” The paper critically discusses the main differences of the types. The main findings suggest that Qatari female students display a lot of superficial changes based on the imitation, which indicate deeper processes and the need to obtain more autonomy; education stimulates questioning of the moral norms imposed by society and family; Qatari female students start adopting a new interpretation of religious scriptures and dogmas from the woman-friendly perspective.

Highlights

  • This study sets out to outline the self-consciousness and self-expression of Qatari female students

  • Qatari females who are fighting for the rights of women consider hijab and abaya as the primal signs of Islamic individuality, and as a means to fight against sexual discrimination, what can be illustrated by the beliefs of the “active Qatari.”

  • Disappointment with the native order leads her to idealization of the West and admiration of the Western woman which is regarded as the embodiment of perfection and is imitated in all possible ways that are only tolerated by Qatari society. While both the “active Qatari” and the “religious Qatari” deny their sexuality, the “beauteous Qatari” admits and exposes it; she is absolutely unconscious of the sexual implication of this process

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Summary

Introduction

This study sets out to outline the self-consciousness and self-expression of Qatari female students. Frequent feminist conferences and organizations for defense of women’s rights emphasize that the first step in the improvement of women’s lives in Islamic society is a detailed and complex study of their present status, especially in the countries where little research has been done. IEVA KAJOKAITĖ carried out in the Arab countries where “Islamic feminism” emerged; whereas certain MENA2 countries, for instance, those of the GCC3 region, have been paid far too little attention Qatar clearly illustrates this point as the situation of Qatari women can only be defined by poor governmental statistical data and a few academic articles, which in the advent of the country’s rapid change have already lost their accuracy; yet no complex research concentrating exactly on the present situation of Qatari women has been carried out. The purpose of this paper is, at least partly, to fill in the gap of feminist writings and to contribute to setting and analysing data on young Qatari women in the modern Qatar

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