How are Arab women in GCC countries battling stereotypes in education, workplace, politics and family but yet they wish to keep their identity with the hijab as well as prosper in the world?.
It is one of the many questions asked by people who believe on the lives that have been represented by the American Mass Media. It is believed that Arab women are pitiful creatures who follow their husbands like a dark shadow, is forced to remain silent and obey their husbands at all times, and is granted a body only to deliver more children, perhaps more in competition with her husband's other wives. However, there is an astounding disconnection between the image of Arab women created by the Media and the actual lives of Arab Women. Due to the Media's "actual" image, stereotype spins uncontrollable, becoming more wild and absurd. .
The image portrayed is not only degrading and wrong rather its ludicrous. 1400 years ago, Muslim women started their liberation with the help in Prophet Mohammed. Islamic women have been born with the rights that the western women now seek - "spiritual and cultural" At that time, while Muslim Women that they had a soul, Christianity was trying to conclude regard a women's spirit. (Al-Hegelan, N) Muslim women had their own identity along with freedom. Their liberation did not start on one fine day. Rather, Arab women had to go through a lot of cruelty and prejudice that varied from culture to culture at that time such as burial of newly born daughters as parents at that time sons; women were regarded as objects who could be sold or exchanged. Islam anticipates both the gender to be equal. .
Arab Women in Education.
The Arab population consists on 150 million people whose residence stretches from Pacific Ocean to the Arabian Gulf. The Arabs are currently experiencing a major diversion - they are developing their society in order to be with the world. Their initial stage is education with the inclusion of women.