The Role of Gender in Determining the Trends of Omani Society Towards Preferred and Non-Preferred Professions for Women

Abstract

The literature review of social studies state that humane societies’ orientations of favorable professions for Omani women is a result of the interaction of a structural group systems’ that shapes these professions’ features. Demographic characteristics of population, thevariation of people age-sex structure, dependency levels, economic infrastructure, natural resources, family income, unemployment and economic security play a significant role in determining these orientations and their paths. Cultural and social features and heritage, values and believes of the society contribute in forming and determining many types of professions that are preferable for Omani women. Many theories emphasis the fact that women's decisions and orientations to participate in labor force is not a self-decided path, but it is rather a joint point of many social factors, cultural considerations, and other factors related to economy and demography. For instance, many traditional societies which are dominated by agricultural productivity patterns are overwhelmedby inhibitory behaviors and values for women labor. These societies usually consider the woman as a housewife, and do not pay attention to her achievements. As a result, these values and behaviors plays a significant and a profound role in determining female's professions orientations which eventually determines the features of the careers she would work at. Al Dufairy (2012) points out the importance of individual's social status, parents' culture,family monthly income, individual's religious and knowledge background, family features and place of residency in determining the nature of the job that women can work at in the future