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As outlined in previous sections of this chapter, family had a strong influence on participants’ choices throughout their schooling and higher education. Family influence also extended to participants’ choices about their careers. Respondents reported their siblings, who were undertaking secondary or tertiary education courses, were under pressure to improve their grades and levels of attainment. Community facilities in government schools were commonly used after hours as centres of education for men and women to complete their high school matriculation in order to improve their academic abilities and gain entry into graduate programs. The motive for offering free education to the Indigenous population was partly to promote gender capital, with the government assisting mature women to get back into the workforce. External influences had a direct impact on families, and communities used all their resources to promote and encourage higher education:

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Emirati culture is encouraging people to complete their studies. Their first mission is to complete their studies. On TV, all the shows also encourage us to complete our studies; our rulers are encouraging us and our families also (S14).

Participants also articulated pressure from their parents to develop themselves academically for the purpose of providing gender capital. Parents who had been through tertiary education understood the importance of their children achieving the same goals. The achievements of women were acknowledged by families, although pressure remained to adhere to industries, professions and careers that were considered acceptable. While the boundaries were moving, traditional views still held sway. This was captured by one participant who said: “You can see women are everywhere. They’re in the governmental sector, they’re in the public sector, they’re in the food industry, medicine” (S21).

Respondents commented on influence and pressure which translated into encouragement to take advantage of opportunities:

[Pressure comes from] the surrounding environment and from my family. I mentioned that both my parents have got university degrees, so it was more of a encouragement to go further with my education (S15).

More detailed views were expressed in the interviews by participants who said

families were listening to the messages circulating in the community and encouraged them to attend segregated universities, or at the very least to maintain the tradition of becoming married:

In family terms, we don’t have many girls who go to university. Recently more families were encouraging girls to go to non-mixed ones. If you don’t go to university they have another project for you and that’s marriage. I believe a girl who goes to university is more open-minded and she drifts away from marriage and the marriage idea and she has other projects in mind (S16).

There was a strong view that men’s conservative attitudes towards working women would change, and they would gradually come to accept women as part of the workforce. Despite this development, there was an overriding sense that the culture would remain unchanged:

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The culture will never change, the way of thinking, the men are going to think in a very different way. They’re going to see the woman working a lot, the thinking of women will change. In the past not a lot of women worked. They stayed at home and not many women worked. Before they think that women are just at home but now it’s okay to see a woman working (S17).

Participants’ responses highlighted the importance of women’s employment reflecting the cultural norm, and mirrored a desire to work in environments which would give them a healthy work/family life balance. Office-based work was appealing because it was considered appropriate for women, and participants favoured working in government positions which offered greater flexibility:

A job behind a desk would be best. We are not cut out for hard labor. Any job that does not require a desk would be debatable. Desk jobs would be more appropriate and most families prefer government jobs for women because their duration is shorter and therefore women can have time for her husband, children and family (S11).

Participants provided an extensive list of occupations considered appropriate for

women in their age range and acceptable to their families. The expectation to contribute to society and set an example to others by taking on positions of responsibility

translated into a range of occupations such as teaching, medicine and the sciences:

We can be teachers, administrators, business leaders, doctors, engineers and architects. It is what suits the woman and her capabilities. I don’t think a woman should be doing hard labour, but I see her as a person in her office or someone like a leader (S12).

Employment which was previously considered inappropriate was starting to open up for women due to a shift in public approval. Participants from more liberal families appeared to have more options available to them and reported greater acceptance of women in different industries. To some extent the changes reflected a growing approval of creative occupations

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once frowned upon. As society changed, a more liberal attitude was starting to emerge, allowing greater freedom in the workplace and expanded employment options to include media, media services, and other contemporary careers:

A manager, PR professional, doctor, nutritionist, dentist, artist, writer, photographer – these are all jobs that cater to what women want. Society’s expectations have somewhat loosened (albeit not completely) and women are now in control of their future without external influences (S13).

Respect in reference to dress, family, traditions and culture was consistently raised as an important aspect of work and careers. The underlying premise was that acceptable work would consider the opinions and attitudes of women’s families and friends, for example, deference to the family was expressed as: “Any job that gives respect for her and her family” (S2). The issue of respect was interwoven throughout responses to the questionnaire around subjects of occupation, culture and tradition, as illustrated by the following statement: “Any job that follows our traditions and cultures and does not interfere with it and respects it at the same time are acceptable” (S3). Some participants believed employment was acceptable in any sector provided the environment was compliant and there was a respectful attitude. This viewpoint emanated from opinions about the differences between working in public and private organisations:

I personally think that the case of the Emirati woman is not different than any woman in the world, what I mean is that she can work anywhere, where the place respects her culture and her nature as a woman (S9).

The differences in perspectives of suitable employment were also related to gender equality. Participants were keen to bring their traditional values to the modern working environment and create a harmonic balance between the two. They acknowledged their newfound entitlement to work in industries which were previously deemed men’s work. Opportunities for careers in less conventional roles have encouraged and inspired females to make more unconventional work choices:

Anything! It’s what she chooses to do and knows what is right for her, because like males we are able to do whatever they can so it does not limit us from any

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job out there. I could be a plumber if I wanted to but I would choose something that matches my level of education and interests (S4).

One participant (S6) pointed out: “I think an Emirati woman has the right to work in any aspect she wants to work because culture does not differentiate between men and women now”. Even though gender equality had been established as a woman’s right, identity, reputation and family considerations were still integral to participants’ career aspirations. This was deeply rooted in needing to achieve as an individual, and at the same time, incorporate aspects of culture they held dear. As one participant stated: “Any job that will keep hold of her identity” (S8). The importance of family influence was accepted alongside a desire to establish individual identity:

Each family differs from the other, each mentality is different, so you would find a family who completely approve of their sister or daughter working in front of the camera or with men, yet you will also find families asking their daughter or sisters to work in a place that requires less interaction with men. As for me, I believe my family is fine with any environment as long as it does not harm my reputation (S10).

Perspectives of gender equality related to opportunities for incorporating traditional values into a modern working environment. Participants wanted to balance work and family commitments and have access to careers that interested them, including some less

conventional roles.