Written by Monica
Upon meeting Raja Al-Gurg it was evident that she possesses a strong drive, a peaceful soul, and a great personality. Her demeanor and personality are clearly recognized as types that are destined for success. Growing up with her two brothers, she had the opportunity to take the family business from her father due to her brothers’ disinterest in their business. This new career path allowed Raja to experience a different leadership career outside Education and into the corporate world.
Speaking with Raja we were able to get a glimpse into the life of a Female Emerati executive. From her 30 plus years of experience in the Dubai business world is an amazing accomplishment. She took on the business just as Dubai was developing into a city and world business trader. With her hard work and dedication to her family and her career, Raja took her business into managing about 22 companies in the UAE. She also gives back to the UAE community through education, and taking on leadership roles on the Women's Business Council and is a member of the Zayed University Board of Trustees. Through her work both in and out of the office, Raja is advancing the lives of future Emerati business women, and business women around the world.
A tolerant and good society is very important to Raja and her theories on the UAE community make perfect models for all countries in which women are struggling with modernization, globalization, and integration into the workforce. Raising a good family and pursuing a fulfilling career, Raja admits is very difficult to achieve without maternity leave, flexible hours, and childcare support. Raja was able to raise her family and watch over them during her work as the school principle. She had adequate amount of time to devote to both her children and her career, but feels she didn’t have enough time for herself. Younger generations, she feels are faced with longer work hours and the notion of having to choose between family and work. That it is difficult to maintain both. Ultimately, Raja argues with lots of work and determination you can have both, but she believes you will always be sacrificing yourself in order to maintain the balance and status quo in your life. Raja believes that employers must revise their policy on maternity leave and allow room for flexibility with working mothers. Perhaps arranging women to work fewer days or varying her shifts will accommodate both a productive workday and family life.
Living a fulfilling life came across to us as being very important to Raja. She like many other Emeratis are family based and value group collectivism. Her family and community are very important to her. Giving back and contributing to society and making the global community better are some of her goals. She did not achieve her success by waiting for opportunities. She worked hard and fought to be where she is today. Fighting for your rights as an employee is crucial to continue in the advancement in women leadership.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Dubai Reactions Thus Far
Helen
Middle Eastern Time
I came to the UAE without any particular expectations because we were previously warned that our itinerary is subject to change as we travel, and this was definitely true for practically every day that we have been in the UAE. I knew in the back of my mind that time is not an important issue in this society, however I have completely forgotten about it until it startled me when we were consistently late for every appointment and event that we were traveling to. `this has influenced greatly, but as we are approaching the end of our visit, this test of my tolerance in this newly-discovered culture is teaching me an important message in cross cultural communication, patience is what takes you far. Drawing back from what Salwa Saad Shabani has mentioned earlier in her presentation, it is what takes you across challenging situations in times where you feel like nothing is going your way.
The situation: Traditions vs. Work
I was very intrigued by the family-oriented culture of the UAE and how that greatly influences the way in which women make their career decisions. Their personal life decisions are based on the current family that they have or the future one that that they are planning to have. The girls that we met at Zayed U. in Dubai, most of whom are Emiratis do not aspire to work so hard after graduating. Instead, they choose to have an easy lifestyle and this is the type of attitude that we started to notice as we interacted with a lot of the students there. For the women leaders that we have spoken to such as Raja Al Gurg and the two ladies earlier today at Zayed University in Abu Dhabi, I noticed that THEIR personal journey involved a lot of multitasking between their family life and personal life where they are working twice as hard to accommodate to the needs of their children as a mother while proving themselves in the workforce that they are competition and self-assured women. The UAE government is working hard to influence the younger generation of women to take part in the workforce, especially in the private sector in small and middle-sized businesses. This is a challenge that is still in the process of being resolved, and from what I have discovered: it is all in the personal drive, and how well the government/legislation is allowing these women the flexibility that they need to seek alternative scheduling for their busy lifestyle.
3.
Middle Eastern Time
I came to the UAE without any particular expectations because we were previously warned that our itinerary is subject to change as we travel, and this was definitely true for practically every day that we have been in the UAE. I knew in the back of my mind that time is not an important issue in this society, however I have completely forgotten about it until it startled me when we were consistently late for every appointment and event that we were traveling to. `this has influenced greatly, but as we are approaching the end of our visit, this test of my tolerance in this newly-discovered culture is teaching me an important message in cross cultural communication, patience is what takes you far. Drawing back from what Salwa Saad Shabani has mentioned earlier in her presentation, it is what takes you across challenging situations in times where you feel like nothing is going your way.
The situation: Traditions vs. Work
I was very intrigued by the family-oriented culture of the UAE and how that greatly influences the way in which women make their career decisions. Their personal life decisions are based on the current family that they have or the future one that that they are planning to have. The girls that we met at Zayed U. in Dubai, most of whom are Emiratis do not aspire to work so hard after graduating. Instead, they choose to have an easy lifestyle and this is the type of attitude that we started to notice as we interacted with a lot of the students there. For the women leaders that we have spoken to such as Raja Al Gurg and the two ladies earlier today at Zayed University in Abu Dhabi, I noticed that THEIR personal journey involved a lot of multitasking between their family life and personal life where they are working twice as hard to accommodate to the needs of their children as a mother while proving themselves in the workforce that they are competition and self-assured women. The UAE government is working hard to influence the younger generation of women to take part in the workforce, especially in the private sector in small and middle-sized businesses. This is a challenge that is still in the process of being resolved, and from what I have discovered: it is all in the personal drive, and how well the government/legislation is allowing these women the flexibility that they need to seek alternative scheduling for their busy lifestyle.
3.
the mosque
Melanie Klaus-Martin
We went to the only non-Muslim mosque where to be able to enter women had to have their entire body covered. This meant that we got to cover our heads. At first the whole notion of wrapping our hair was a little odd but after the fact I didn't want to take if off. By having my head wrapped in a scarf it made the temperature cooler. Overall going to the mosque was cool because we got to see what the inside of one generally looks like but it felt kind of odd that this one felt more like a museum than a functioning place of worship. I really enjoyed the way they presented the information and it really started to give insight into what we would be seeing around the UAE when it comes to some of the Muslim traditions. Like the five times during the day when they are called to worshi8p by someone singing a chant over a loud speaker system and how if you are anywhere near a mosque (and with them pratically on every corner) you will hear it. I wonder if that has any connection to church bells going off every hour?
We went to the only non-Muslim mosque where to be able to enter women had to have their entire body covered. This meant that we got to cover our heads. At first the whole notion of wrapping our hair was a little odd but after the fact I didn't want to take if off. By having my head wrapped in a scarf it made the temperature cooler. Overall going to the mosque was cool because we got to see what the inside of one generally looks like but it felt kind of odd that this one felt more like a museum than a functioning place of worship. I really enjoyed the way they presented the information and it really started to give insight into what we would be seeing around the UAE when it comes to some of the Muslim traditions. Like the five times during the day when they are called to worshi8p by someone singing a chant over a loud speaker system and how if you are anywhere near a mosque (and with them pratically on every corner) you will hear it. I wonder if that has any connection to church bells going off every hour?
Leadership Conference
Today we had the leadership conference with the Zayed students and professor Moore and Gupta. The students were our first real introduction into the culture. The students came in with open minds and were eager to share their culture as well as learn about ours. In addition to learning about how to define culture according to the GLOBE aspects we were able to see the Zayed student's reactions to the way their culture is perceived. This gave us an indepth look into their culture because we were able to ask questions first hand. I was very happy to see just how many similarities there were between our cultures, as were the girls. One student was particular curious to know if we came to the Middle East with certain sterotypes because she felt that much of the world perceives their culture in a negative way. She therefore was very passionate about informing us about her culture and how we realy are very similar and are all people living in the world together. This was truly inspiring to me and has broadened my views about much of the world.
UAE Travel
Meeting with Raja Al Gurg was an eye opener and I realized that there are powerful and successful women in UAE. She is soft spoken yet she commands authority. Her style of learning all the tools of the trade was very impressive in that she performed even the most menial task in order to understand and familiarize herself with all aspects of her business. I was also impressed by her courage when she went on to become a principal of the same school she attended.
Her committment to women's issues was touching especially the story about the woman who interviewed for a job while she was 7 months pregnant. She also said that "a working mother/wife sacrifices herself" and I found this story about a working mother balancing her work with family was very interesting.
Talking to ZU students has also been informative and I have a clearer understanding of their culture, aspirations and what motivates Emirati women.
Williams
Her committment to women's issues was touching especially the story about the woman who interviewed for a job while she was 7 months pregnant. She also said that "a working mother/wife sacrifices herself" and I found this story about a working mother balancing her work with family was very interesting.
Talking to ZU students has also been informative and I have a clearer understanding of their culture, aspirations and what motivates Emirati women.
Williams
Monday, May 28, 2007
JovPat's Blog #1
1. Your experience – Mosque of Jumeriah, Cultural Learning Center:
The wait and the heat did not compare to the priceless experience of entering the mosque and being exposed to such a faithful group of people. The Muslim faith captures the viewers from the moment they remove their shoes to the moment the heat once again drowns them. In particular learning about the five daily prayers which are embedded in their days and seen as a previlige not a duty. Watching two college students take time out of the days to share knowledge with visitors about their religion, made me think about my devotion to the Catholic faith. I do believe in higher power and attend church regularly and every once in a while perform my community service when necessary. This experience taught me that there is more that can be done to appriciate what God has given me and done for me. Also, this life long journey is not all about myself and that is something that we all are guilty of forgetting. In conclusion, I truly appreciated the opportunity to explore another religion that has respect for all and dignifies their believers. Love Pati & Jovita.
2. Leadership experience—Raja Al-Gurg
Raja Al-Gurg is the Managing Director of a family owned company--Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group. She began her career as an educator as a Headmistress of Zabeel Secondary School. She is still being recognized as one of the most effective and dedicated person in the country's education system. As a very successful business woman, she now finds herself in charge of 26 very diverse companies throughout the nation. Raja has been nominated by the leader of the country--Sheikh Mohammad--to be a part of Chambers of Commerse and Dubai's Women Council as a president from 2002 to today. Her vision and beliefs in promoting women's abilty to lead is very impactful by proactive movements throughout the country. As a member of the Board of Trustees of Zayed University, she commits to advicing young women leaders, like ourselves to "love the work you are doing and that will equal your success." Love Pati & Jovita.
3. Intake on society and organization and their effect on women leadership success.
An example would be her lobbying within the Chambers of Commerce to aid women in the workforce to have a balance life professionaly and personally. As a mother and a career woman having more control over their situation by providing daycare services within their community. In her company, she has instiled a policy to grant women maternity leaves and the flexibity to divide their 8 hours shift according to their priorities. Love Pati & Jovita.
More to come tomorrow.
We hope you have enjoyed reading our blog because we enjoyed writting it. WE LOVE DUBAI!!!!
Love always,
Patricia Fernandez and Jovita Tjandra
The wait and the heat did not compare to the priceless experience of entering the mosque and being exposed to such a faithful group of people. The Muslim faith captures the viewers from the moment they remove their shoes to the moment the heat once again drowns them. In particular learning about the five daily prayers which are embedded in their days and seen as a previlige not a duty. Watching two college students take time out of the days to share knowledge with visitors about their religion, made me think about my devotion to the Catholic faith. I do believe in higher power and attend church regularly and every once in a while perform my community service when necessary. This experience taught me that there is more that can be done to appriciate what God has given me and done for me. Also, this life long journey is not all about myself and that is something that we all are guilty of forgetting. In conclusion, I truly appreciated the opportunity to explore another religion that has respect for all and dignifies their believers. Love Pati & Jovita.
2. Leadership experience—Raja Al-Gurg
Raja Al-Gurg is the Managing Director of a family owned company--Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group. She began her career as an educator as a Headmistress of Zabeel Secondary School. She is still being recognized as one of the most effective and dedicated person in the country's education system. As a very successful business woman, she now finds herself in charge of 26 very diverse companies throughout the nation. Raja has been nominated by the leader of the country--Sheikh Mohammad--to be a part of Chambers of Commerse and Dubai's Women Council as a president from 2002 to today. Her vision and beliefs in promoting women's abilty to lead is very impactful by proactive movements throughout the country. As a member of the Board of Trustees of Zayed University, she commits to advicing young women leaders, like ourselves to "love the work you are doing and that will equal your success." Love Pati & Jovita.
3. Intake on society and organization and their effect on women leadership success.
An example would be her lobbying within the Chambers of Commerce to aid women in the workforce to have a balance life professionaly and personally. As a mother and a career woman having more control over their situation by providing daycare services within their community. In her company, she has instiled a policy to grant women maternity leaves and the flexibity to divide their 8 hours shift according to their priorities. Love Pati & Jovita.
More to come tomorrow.
We hope you have enjoyed reading our blog because we enjoyed writting it. WE LOVE DUBAI!!!!
Love always,
Patricia Fernandez and Jovita Tjandra
An Arabian Experience
Last night we went on a safari ride in the desert. The ride began with "dune bashing" in Land Crusiers. The drivers were crazy and AMAZING at keeping their cars in control! It was like a roller coaster ride with a spectacular view. When we arrived at the Bedouin-style camp, we were able to ride camels. The camels here have one hump as compared to two humps in other countries.
After riding the camels and taking a lot of pictures, I wandered over to the camel farm to get up close and personal. I was perfectly content taking pictures through the fence but a man beckoned me inside. He began talking to me about the camels and how he owns the camel farm and the desert safari business. He was eager to take my picture touching the camels and even made me feed them! I was nervous because I thought they bite but then one of the workers stuck his hand in the camel's mouth and it merely nibbled harmlessly. He asked me where I was from, where I was staying and why I was here. I told him our group is taking a management class to learn about cross-cultural leadership styles and we traveled here from Boston.
He began to talk to me about Dubai and how quickly it has changed and how busy it has become. He used to live in Dubai but he chose to move out of the city as he disdains the traffic and fast pace of life. He began his safari business as well as the camel farm. He spoke of his love of animals and the need to preserve cultural heritage. He wanted to begin this business so that people will learn about and experience the Bedouin lifestyle, and so tourists could meet "real Arabs". We commiserated about how Dubai has grown so quickly that most of the native culture has been lost in the dust. However, it is a striking paradox that although he disdains the fast-paced ultra modern city, he is more than happy to capitalize on the tourism it attracts.
It seems that people here do not know how they feel about the changes in the city. When they say "I am from Dubai" or "I have lived in Dubai for 30 years", they say it with pride. Yet as the city continues to grow and prosper, some people begin to miss their old lives when they were not stuck in traffic for three hours to travel merely 5-10 miles. The leadership director posed this question to a few students the other night: Is Dubai an Arab city? This is a hard question to answer, and something that many people often wonder. Mosques are present in every neighbor and the melodic call to prayer rings out five times daily. However, most streets have American and European stores and chain restaurants: Starbucks, Claire's, Zara, Chili's, and Pizza Hut to name a few. Most people speak excellent English and almost 70 percent of the residents of Dubai are not even Emirati!
Ok we have to go eat lunch with Zayed students!
After riding the camels and taking a lot of pictures, I wandered over to the camel farm to get up close and personal. I was perfectly content taking pictures through the fence but a man beckoned me inside. He began talking to me about the camels and how he owns the camel farm and the desert safari business. He was eager to take my picture touching the camels and even made me feed them! I was nervous because I thought they bite but then one of the workers stuck his hand in the camel's mouth and it merely nibbled harmlessly. He asked me where I was from, where I was staying and why I was here. I told him our group is taking a management class to learn about cross-cultural leadership styles and we traveled here from Boston.
He began to talk to me about Dubai and how quickly it has changed and how busy it has become. He used to live in Dubai but he chose to move out of the city as he disdains the traffic and fast pace of life. He began his safari business as well as the camel farm. He spoke of his love of animals and the need to preserve cultural heritage. He wanted to begin this business so that people will learn about and experience the Bedouin lifestyle, and so tourists could meet "real Arabs". We commiserated about how Dubai has grown so quickly that most of the native culture has been lost in the dust. However, it is a striking paradox that although he disdains the fast-paced ultra modern city, he is more than happy to capitalize on the tourism it attracts.
It seems that people here do not know how they feel about the changes in the city. When they say "I am from Dubai" or "I have lived in Dubai for 30 years", they say it with pride. Yet as the city continues to grow and prosper, some people begin to miss their old lives when they were not stuck in traffic for three hours to travel merely 5-10 miles. The leadership director posed this question to a few students the other night: Is Dubai an Arab city? This is a hard question to answer, and something that many people often wonder. Mosques are present in every neighbor and the melodic call to prayer rings out five times daily. However, most streets have American and European stores and chain restaurants: Starbucks, Claire's, Zara, Chili's, and Pizza Hut to name a few. Most people speak excellent English and almost 70 percent of the residents of Dubai are not even Emirati!
Ok we have to go eat lunch with Zayed students!
Katie
Although I have been constantly exhausted since we arrived in Dubai Friday night, I think I can say that I have already had some amazing experiences here. On Saturday morning, we visited the only mosque in Dubai that is open to non-Muslims. I think this has been one of the most interesting things we have done so far, and before we arrived there, I had no idea what to expect, but the mosque was one of the most beautiful buildings I have ever entered. The architecture was perfect both inside and out down to every last detail, and I was happy just to sit inside and take in everything around me. In addition, the two university students who were there to teach us about the history and the purpose of the mosque were great. They made everything very easy to understand and interesting to listen to. I learned a lot about the faith and how it is practiced and from this experience,Islam seems to be an amazing and dedicated religion. I really enjoyed hearing Mohammed demonstrate the call to prayer to us because it was such a beautiful sound and I had never heard it before. I know that this was an experience I will probably never have again in my lifetime, so I am really excited that I was able to have the apportunity to experience something so different from my own lifestyle.
An Inspiring Speaker:
Yesterday we met with Raja Al Gurg, a well-respected business-woman in the UAE. She began her career as a teacher in the late 70's, and was quickly promoted to principal, a position she held until 1990. At that time, she began the process of taking over her father's 23 companies, with a complete lack of business experience or business education. She utilized a "type y" managerial style to gain the trust and respect of her co-workers and employees, and brought the businesses to increased success, doubling profit in the past year. While her story of success may be seen as the exception rather than the norm, there is much to learn from her strong sense of self and managerial styles, as well as the impact of both gender and culture on her success.
One of the first things evident about Raja Al Gurg is her sense of self. She was neither modest nor arrogant; she knew what she had accomplished, was proud of it, but still knew that she was just one woman. She described herself as one of the country's best principals and bragged about the impact she had on her students' lives, with such honesty it was hard to doubt her. This made it very surprising when she spoke about her father deciding to leave the family business to his children. He asked his two sons and her if they wanted the business, and though she was interested, she kept quiet to let her brothers take it, if they so desired. When they said nothing, she spoke up. This spoke a great deal about the impact of culture in this society, as she said, "I knew my place as a lady." This was shocking, as until that point she had seemed very liberal, and the type of person to not let cultural norms hold her back.
Her discussion of managerial styles was beyond impressive. She spoke of the importance of working at the same level as all of her employees, and discussed a very collaborative environment. "The workers see me as a worker, the managers see me as a manager...They do not work for me, they work with me" She said, many times over. When asked if she had difficulty earning the employees respect, since she entered as a woman with no experience, she said that because she worked with everyone, they saw her as no different from them, and understood that she had taken the time to learn and work her way up. The most impressive thing she said about managing people is that, "The person who says 'I don't know' learns a lot." Having the humility to admit a lack of knowledge, especially when one's in a high-ranking position, can be difficult, but it's the only way to learn. She constantly asked people how to do all aspects of the business, from working in warehouses to reading balance sheets. For several years she avioded making changes, so that she could learn about the business before implementing anything new.
One of the most surprising parts of her story is her gender's lack of impact. Resulting from her abnormal circumstances, she never faced a glass ceiling, she never spoke of any sexual harrassment, or predjuces because she was a woman. It's likely that part of this is because of the Middle Eastern culture. There is a high respect for authority, and because her father left the business to her, that respect was likely transferred to her. The only impact of gender was on her work/home balance, but because of the culture, that too was barely negative. At that time, work days ended at 1:30, the same time her children returned from school, and she was able to be with them every evening. She said,quite frankly, "If I had to do it again starting now, I would not be as successful." She said that the work hour expectations across the globe severly limit the ability to be both a successful businesslady and a successful mother, and if forced with the choice she would choose to be a mother for a very interesting reason. She explained that she considers bringing up a successful family is the basis of a strong society (ingroup collectivism!). Regardless of how many successful companies there are in an area, if there arent well-educated, strong people to be employed and otherwise contribute positively to society, the businesses (and the community) will fail. The question remains, however, how can a society create a working environment that fosters a balance between work and home life for working parents? While company and government initiatives can help, by granting maternity leave allowances or on-site daycare, the UAE needs to first change social norms regarding working women in business-places. In this authoritative society, even if a young lady wants to work and raise a family, if her family disapproves she's not likely to enter the job market.
Culture has played a major role in Raja Al Gurd's rise to success; the many stereotypes about Muslim women have motivated her to work harder to educate others on her culture. One of the most common misconceptions about Muslim women is that they have very few rights. When asked why she wore her Abayaa when speaking in Kentucky, she simply compared herself to a religious figure in Christianity who wears a similar ensamble, the nun. "I look like a nun but I have more rights; I can marry, have children..."
~Meagan George
One of the first things evident about Raja Al Gurg is her sense of self. She was neither modest nor arrogant; she knew what she had accomplished, was proud of it, but still knew that she was just one woman. She described herself as one of the country's best principals and bragged about the impact she had on her students' lives, with such honesty it was hard to doubt her. This made it very surprising when she spoke about her father deciding to leave the family business to his children. He asked his two sons and her if they wanted the business, and though she was interested, she kept quiet to let her brothers take it, if they so desired. When they said nothing, she spoke up. This spoke a great deal about the impact of culture in this society, as she said, "I knew my place as a lady." This was shocking, as until that point she had seemed very liberal, and the type of person to not let cultural norms hold her back.
Her discussion of managerial styles was beyond impressive. She spoke of the importance of working at the same level as all of her employees, and discussed a very collaborative environment. "The workers see me as a worker, the managers see me as a manager...They do not work for me, they work with me" She said, many times over. When asked if she had difficulty earning the employees respect, since she entered as a woman with no experience, she said that because she worked with everyone, they saw her as no different from them, and understood that she had taken the time to learn and work her way up. The most impressive thing she said about managing people is that, "The person who says 'I don't know' learns a lot." Having the humility to admit a lack of knowledge, especially when one's in a high-ranking position, can be difficult, but it's the only way to learn. She constantly asked people how to do all aspects of the business, from working in warehouses to reading balance sheets. For several years she avioded making changes, so that she could learn about the business before implementing anything new.
One of the most surprising parts of her story is her gender's lack of impact. Resulting from her abnormal circumstances, she never faced a glass ceiling, she never spoke of any sexual harrassment, or predjuces because she was a woman. It's likely that part of this is because of the Middle Eastern culture. There is a high respect for authority, and because her father left the business to her, that respect was likely transferred to her. The only impact of gender was on her work/home balance, but because of the culture, that too was barely negative. At that time, work days ended at 1:30, the same time her children returned from school, and she was able to be with them every evening. She said,quite frankly, "If I had to do it again starting now, I would not be as successful." She said that the work hour expectations across the globe severly limit the ability to be both a successful businesslady and a successful mother, and if forced with the choice she would choose to be a mother for a very interesting reason. She explained that she considers bringing up a successful family is the basis of a strong society (ingroup collectivism!). Regardless of how many successful companies there are in an area, if there arent well-educated, strong people to be employed and otherwise contribute positively to society, the businesses (and the community) will fail. The question remains, however, how can a society create a working environment that fosters a balance between work and home life for working parents? While company and government initiatives can help, by granting maternity leave allowances or on-site daycare, the UAE needs to first change social norms regarding working women in business-places. In this authoritative society, even if a young lady wants to work and raise a family, if her family disapproves she's not likely to enter the job market.
Culture has played a major role in Raja Al Gurd's rise to success; the many stereotypes about Muslim women have motivated her to work harder to educate others on her culture. One of the most common misconceptions about Muslim women is that they have very few rights. When asked why she wore her Abayaa when speaking in Kentucky, she simply compared herself to a religious figure in Christianity who wears a similar ensamble, the nun. "I look like a nun but I have more rights; I can marry, have children..."
~Meagan George
Visit to the Mosque
After arriving in Dubai very late on Friday, May 25, we received an early 7:00 a.m. wake up call. After breakfast we set out to visit a Mosque, the only one in Dubai that allows non-muslims inside. We followed very strict instructions on dress code and most importantly, the need to cover our heads. With no knowledge of how to arrange the head cover, I asked another student who happens to be from Saudi Arabia to help me with the adjustment of my head cover.
The tour guides at the Mosque explained the order of protocol of the mosque. They explained the number of times (5-6) per day the call goes out for prayer and the abolution that is necessary for each person before they enter the mosque. The abolution process is an important aspect of the visit for prayer. As I listened to and watched the demonstration of the washing process, that is the abolution, and the emphasis placed on it, one very common saying in my culture came to mind, that is, "cleaniness is next to Godliness".
The guide demonstrated the prayer tyically said and led by the 'Amam', and pointed out where he stands and speaks to the members in the mosque. It was explained that women who are most often at home with the children typically takes time to pray at the same time when the call for prayer goes out and are not necessarily missing out on praying. It was also mentioned that women who are able to come to the Mosque for prayer always pray in a separate room to the men. It was explained that the reason for the separation of the sexes is to illiminate the distraction for the men, since a major part of prayer necessitates some bending.
I continue to question in my mind whether the explanation given regarding women praying at home or in a separate room at the Mosque is sending the message that women are considered subordinates and whether it is another way of saying that women are not equal. Maybe at the end of my visit in Dubai, the answers would become much clearer to me.
The tour guides at the Mosque explained the order of protocol of the mosque. They explained the number of times (5-6) per day the call goes out for prayer and the abolution that is necessary for each person before they enter the mosque. The abolution process is an important aspect of the visit for prayer. As I listened to and watched the demonstration of the washing process, that is the abolution, and the emphasis placed on it, one very common saying in my culture came to mind, that is, "cleaniness is next to Godliness".
The guide demonstrated the prayer tyically said and led by the 'Amam', and pointed out where he stands and speaks to the members in the mosque. It was explained that women who are most often at home with the children typically takes time to pray at the same time when the call for prayer goes out and are not necessarily missing out on praying. It was also mentioned that women who are able to come to the Mosque for prayer always pray in a separate room to the men. It was explained that the reason for the separation of the sexes is to illiminate the distraction for the men, since a major part of prayer necessitates some bending.
I continue to question in my mind whether the explanation given regarding women praying at home or in a separate room at the Mosque is sending the message that women are considered subordinates and whether it is another way of saying that women are not equal. Maybe at the end of my visit in Dubai, the answers would become much clearer to me.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
UAE pre-departure paper (part C)
Part C: Cross-Cultural Communication
By: Rana Alsweilem
From it’s beginning, the Middle East has been marked by ultimate diversity. Today, a lot is shared by the majority of Middle Easterners, such as the Arabic culture, language, religion, as well as a unique form of verbal and nonverbal communication. Every country and culture is unique for their own special features of communication that only the insiders can truly understand and appreciate. By traveling to the Middle East for instance, a person will not really be able to comprehend its people without truly understanding the powerful religious and cultural force of Islam that strongly affects how people communicate and understand one another in these countries. In the Middle East in general, while the communication pattern is both oral and aural- there is a clear emphasis on listening which may explain why many Arabs prefer to learn from audiocassettes and radio.
Many social customs are shared throughout the Gulf Arab countries. An Islamic greeting (al-salamu alaykom) which means “peace be upon you” is the most appropriate. A common form of greeting in the UAE between men who know each other well is to touch the nose together or to kiss the cheeks two or three times; however, it should be noted that the visitor is unlikely to encounter this form of greeting personally. On the other hand, women greet each other by kissing several times on both cheeks. And to show respect to someone, usually the elderly, it is appropriate to greet these people by kissing the forehead to show respect and appreciation. However, men normally do not shake hands with women in public because in their religion, Islam, it is forbidden for men and women who are strangers to touch hands as it might lead to dangerous and undesired emotions to arise. Yet it is acceptable for men and women to hold hands if they are married or related. It is also a unique tradition in the Middle East to ask about the health of a person and his or her family several times before beginning light conversation. When serious matters are to be discussed, it is appropriate to serve refreshments before getting into the discussion.
Moreover, when entering one’s private home, it is customary that the visitors take off their shoes before entering. However, with the rise of modernization and the influence of western societies, many people today do not expect their guests to take off their shoes before entering, now seen as a more traditional and old fashioned way. When speaking however, it is customary not to use first names but to say "father or mother of (oldest son)." Respect and courtesy to the elders is taken very seriously in the Gulf countries, including the UAE. In their presence, young men are expected to listen more and speak less.
One of the long lasting traditions in all the Arab countries is to serve their guests Arabic coffee with dates. However, there is a certain way of appropriately serving this coffee, which is holding the coffee pot which is called “Dallah” in your left hand and handing the person the small cup of coffee which is called the “finjan” with your right hand. Many people, especially the elderly, might take it offensively if you hand them the coffee with your left hand to the extent that they may not take the “finjan” from you, which has happened to one of my friends when she unconsciously handed her grandfather the “fnjan” of coffee with her left hand.
Further looking into the unique verbal communications in the UAE, as well as many Arab countries, it is traditional to always thank someone by praying for them such as saying “may God keep you well and healthy”, “may God give you a long life” and “may God keep you safe and happy”. It is also polite to thank someone for a meal by saying “may God provide you with more goods” or “may God make you wealthier and richer”.
As it is easy to understand the verbal communication in one country, the nonverbal communication is much more complicated and confusing from one culture to another. A clear example that shows how non-verbal communication can be very deceiving is what happened to my Palestinian friend when she used a hand gesture that means “wait a second” in the Middle East, yet was perceived as “shut up” by an American who got so mad that he called security on my friend who was only asking him to wait for a second while she was on the phone. As funny as this little anecdote might sound, misinterpreting nonverbal communication can lead to very serious issues between different people from different cultures.
In conclusion, the presence of many ethnic groups has led Emiratis to be tolerant of other social customs. However, they still remain conscious of their own customs as markers of their cultural identity.
Works Cited:
1. Moore, Lynda. "Presentation on the United Arab Emirates." Simmons College. Class Lecture. College, Boston. 05 Apr. 2007. 09 Apr. 2007.
2. Manyana. "Middle East Local Customs." Virtual Tourist. 13 Feb. 2006. 09 Apr. 2007
3. "Culture of United Arab Emirates." Everyculture. 2007. 09 Apr. 2007.
4. Aldabal, Kholoud. Personal interview. 09 Apr. 2007.
By: Rana Alsweilem
From it’s beginning, the Middle East has been marked by ultimate diversity. Today, a lot is shared by the majority of Middle Easterners, such as the Arabic culture, language, religion, as well as a unique form of verbal and nonverbal communication. Every country and culture is unique for their own special features of communication that only the insiders can truly understand and appreciate. By traveling to the Middle East for instance, a person will not really be able to comprehend its people without truly understanding the powerful religious and cultural force of Islam that strongly affects how people communicate and understand one another in these countries. In the Middle East in general, while the communication pattern is both oral and aural- there is a clear emphasis on listening which may explain why many Arabs prefer to learn from audiocassettes and radio.
Many social customs are shared throughout the Gulf Arab countries. An Islamic greeting (al-salamu alaykom) which means “peace be upon you” is the most appropriate. A common form of greeting in the UAE between men who know each other well is to touch the nose together or to kiss the cheeks two or three times; however, it should be noted that the visitor is unlikely to encounter this form of greeting personally. On the other hand, women greet each other by kissing several times on both cheeks. And to show respect to someone, usually the elderly, it is appropriate to greet these people by kissing the forehead to show respect and appreciation. However, men normally do not shake hands with women in public because in their religion, Islam, it is forbidden for men and women who are strangers to touch hands as it might lead to dangerous and undesired emotions to arise. Yet it is acceptable for men and women to hold hands if they are married or related. It is also a unique tradition in the Middle East to ask about the health of a person and his or her family several times before beginning light conversation. When serious matters are to be discussed, it is appropriate to serve refreshments before getting into the discussion.
Moreover, when entering one’s private home, it is customary that the visitors take off their shoes before entering. However, with the rise of modernization and the influence of western societies, many people today do not expect their guests to take off their shoes before entering, now seen as a more traditional and old fashioned way. When speaking however, it is customary not to use first names but to say "father or mother of (oldest son)." Respect and courtesy to the elders is taken very seriously in the Gulf countries, including the UAE. In their presence, young men are expected to listen more and speak less.
One of the long lasting traditions in all the Arab countries is to serve their guests Arabic coffee with dates. However, there is a certain way of appropriately serving this coffee, which is holding the coffee pot which is called “Dallah” in your left hand and handing the person the small cup of coffee which is called the “finjan” with your right hand. Many people, especially the elderly, might take it offensively if you hand them the coffee with your left hand to the extent that they may not take the “finjan” from you, which has happened to one of my friends when she unconsciously handed her grandfather the “fnjan” of coffee with her left hand.
Further looking into the unique verbal communications in the UAE, as well as many Arab countries, it is traditional to always thank someone by praying for them such as saying “may God keep you well and healthy”, “may God give you a long life” and “may God keep you safe and happy”. It is also polite to thank someone for a meal by saying “may God provide you with more goods” or “may God make you wealthier and richer”.
As it is easy to understand the verbal communication in one country, the nonverbal communication is much more complicated and confusing from one culture to another. A clear example that shows how non-verbal communication can be very deceiving is what happened to my Palestinian friend when she used a hand gesture that means “wait a second” in the Middle East, yet was perceived as “shut up” by an American who got so mad that he called security on my friend who was only asking him to wait for a second while she was on the phone. As funny as this little anecdote might sound, misinterpreting nonverbal communication can lead to very serious issues between different people from different cultures.
In conclusion, the presence of many ethnic groups has led Emiratis to be tolerant of other social customs. However, they still remain conscious of their own customs as markers of their cultural identity.
Works Cited:
1. Moore, Lynda. "Presentation on the United Arab Emirates." Simmons College. Class Lecture. College, Boston. 05 Apr. 2007. 09 Apr. 2007
2. Manyana. "Middle East Local Customs." Virtual Tourist. 13 Feb. 2006. 09 Apr. 2007
3. "Culture of United Arab Emirates." Everyculture. 2007. 09 Apr. 2007
4. Aldabal, Kholoud. Personal interview. 09 Apr. 2007.
Monday, May 21, 2007
Predeparture paper, part I
By Isaline Duberrybonsu, Palwasha Mirbacha and Samira Deandrade
Culture is in itself a very complex subject because it includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, customs, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society. At times we are forced to adapt to the ideologies and structures of a culture, which sets the parameters of acceptable cultural behavior, marginalizing the beliefs and needs of other groups. In our research we concluded that maintaining a sense of cultural identity and autonomy in a society, which operates under a value system different from our own, can be a culture shock for us. This research has given us the opportunity to educate ourselves on others culture, beliefs, their struggles and communication styles.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) can be categorized as high context culture. In this cultural context communicators assume to have a great deal of commonality in their knowledge and views. In the high context culture, issues are commonly understood and thus need of explicit communication is not needed within the community and business environment especially during business transactions. A great example of this cultural context is when business transactions are done over socialization, which includes lamb banquet and drinking coffee which signifies trust and acceptance within Arab business world (Philip, Robert & Moran, 2004, p. 519).
UAE is a polychromic society. It is a norm for one to multi task in the business world. We see this happening when business transactions are done over socials. By having socials during business transaction it signifies that social connections are essential part of the culture and the business world as key characteristic of polychromic culture (Gupta & House, 2004, p. 24).
The Arab nation has deep embedded institutional collectivism. Arabs prioritize in oneself, then kinsman, townsman or tribesman and then those of same country and religion (Philip, Robert & Moran, 2004, p. 518). This shows that one can choose and create a society where one can be suitable in their condition. Group loyalty and the Islamic values of brotherhood and unity are essential for forming institutional collectivism deep in the Emeriti culture. Brotherhood implies collective and close associate of the community among its members, where relationship is not distant (Philip, Robert & Moran, 2004, p. 519). The Arabs are less future oriented, due to their religion and cultural values. Religiously, they are required to surrender to the will of Allah (God) for their destiny, by saying InshAllah. Unlike the future oriented cultures were planning and future strategies are encouraged. Islam is identified by submitting the human will to the Creator whom is Allah. In this type of cultural context the population avoids isolation from the society and maintains close alliance with community members to protect one’s reputation and creditworthiness (Gupta & House, 2004, p. 22).
The Emeriti community beliefs in orthodox role for women and men, which marks them low as gender egalitarianism society. The women are considered caretakers and protectors of the family and its individual reputation. The women are also kept segregated from men to avoid misconception between the two genders. This results in a huge division between the genders. As key characteristic of low gender egalitarianism society, thus, based on the gender division within the community and strong group loyalty each gender develops within their traditional gender dominated environment or work place within the society (Gupta & House, 2004, p. 26).
As an in-group collectivism society, the Emeriti women have formed emotional attachment and personal involvement with one another in the business world. This fosters them into a motivated stage, which leads them to be successful amongst within their circle (Gupta & House, 2004, p. 27). For example The General Women’s Union (GWU) is a model example of such in-group collectivism. In this case low gender egalitarianism and institutional collectivism in terms of loyalty of to ones’ group result into a new culture of strong in-group collectivism in form of GWU. In Power Distance cultures, status, power, authority, and prestige are divided unequally within the society and its members. The society members do not challenge the social norms and they are obligated to accept leaders’ authority, which in Emeriti or Arab cultural authority is designated to men (Gupta & House, 2004, p. 28). The Arab patriarchal culture puts the male in the dominant position for decision-making process. At the macro level of society and business environment, authority and businesses are practiced by the autocrats of business world like the Shuras and Diwan-i-kass. These bodies led by men are decision-making authorities within Arab society and due to power distance nature of the Arab world the women do not mangle in the men business world and their affairs. Humane orientation dimension of the Emeriti culture is associated with generosity, empathy and compassion. Sustaining human dignity and reputation is an essential part of the humane orientation of the Arab culture (Gupta & House, 2004, p. 24). All honor, reputation and worthiness are on top priorities. For example, when women defer to their husbands’ authority, which in this case its only to sustain social reputation of the husband in the community as head of the household.
The performance orientation of the Arab culture marked very low, in this culture context individual competence and abilities are not essential for business, rather reputation and qualities like trustworthiness and honesty are crucial in doing business. Reputation and recognition comes with family status, age, education level and other factors and not individual performance. Similarly, the Arab society does not rank high for their assertiveness in their cultural norms. Through the social norm of Adl meaning equilibrium social norms are accepted and no challenged against its unfair practices. For example, the women in the business world will not do business with men, solely because it is not appropriate for women to have business deals with men. There is low uncertainty avoidance perspective in UAE culture as well. The people rely on their Arab culture and local customs for daily life and important events. They are not concerned with structured laws, institutions and orderliness and formal procedures. As typical of uncertainty avoidance society, the Arabs resist social changes, they prefer their traditions and local models and they wish to sustain local relationships then international or cross-cultural. Resistance against social changes is obvious from resistance against change of social norms for women and marginalization of Arabic language. Also, putting heritage center and museums show a persistent force against the changing life in UAE (Davidson, 2005, p. 263).
Culture is in itself a very complex subject because it includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, customs, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society. At times we are forced to adapt to the ideologies and structures of a culture, which sets the parameters of acceptable cultural behavior, marginalizing the beliefs and needs of other groups. In our research we concluded that maintaining a sense of cultural identity and autonomy in a society, which operates under a value system different from our own, can be a culture shock for us. This research has given us the opportunity to educate ourselves on others culture, beliefs, their struggles and communication styles.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) can be categorized as high context culture. In this cultural context communicators assume to have a great deal of commonality in their knowledge and views. In the high context culture, issues are commonly understood and thus need of explicit communication is not needed within the community and business environment especially during business transactions. A great example of this cultural context is when business transactions are done over socialization, which includes lamb banquet and drinking coffee which signifies trust and acceptance within Arab business world (Philip, Robert & Moran, 2004, p. 519).
UAE is a polychromic society. It is a norm for one to multi task in the business world. We see this happening when business transactions are done over socials. By having socials during business transaction it signifies that social connections are essential part of the culture and the business world as key characteristic of polychromic culture (Gupta & House, 2004, p. 24).
The Arab nation has deep embedded institutional collectivism. Arabs prioritize in oneself, then kinsman, townsman or tribesman and then those of same country and religion (Philip, Robert & Moran, 2004, p. 518). This shows that one can choose and create a society where one can be suitable in their condition. Group loyalty and the Islamic values of brotherhood and unity are essential for forming institutional collectivism deep in the Emeriti culture. Brotherhood implies collective and close associate of the community among its members, where relationship is not distant (Philip, Robert & Moran, 2004, p. 519). The Arabs are less future oriented, due to their religion and cultural values. Religiously, they are required to surrender to the will of Allah (God) for their destiny, by saying InshAllah. Unlike the future oriented cultures were planning and future strategies are encouraged. Islam is identified by submitting the human will to the Creator whom is Allah. In this type of cultural context the population avoids isolation from the society and maintains close alliance with community members to protect one’s reputation and creditworthiness (Gupta & House, 2004, p. 22).
The Emeriti community beliefs in orthodox role for women and men, which marks them low as gender egalitarianism society. The women are considered caretakers and protectors of the family and its individual reputation. The women are also kept segregated from men to avoid misconception between the two genders. This results in a huge division between the genders. As key characteristic of low gender egalitarianism society, thus, based on the gender division within the community and strong group loyalty each gender develops within their traditional gender dominated environment or work place within the society (Gupta & House, 2004, p. 26).
As an in-group collectivism society, the Emeriti women have formed emotional attachment and personal involvement with one another in the business world. This fosters them into a motivated stage, which leads them to be successful amongst within their circle (Gupta & House, 2004, p. 27). For example The General Women’s Union (GWU) is a model example of such in-group collectivism. In this case low gender egalitarianism and institutional collectivism in terms of loyalty of to ones’ group result into a new culture of strong in-group collectivism in form of GWU. In Power Distance cultures, status, power, authority, and prestige are divided unequally within the society and its members. The society members do not challenge the social norms and they are obligated to accept leaders’ authority, which in Emeriti or Arab cultural authority is designated to men (Gupta & House, 2004, p. 28). The Arab patriarchal culture puts the male in the dominant position for decision-making process. At the macro level of society and business environment, authority and businesses are practiced by the autocrats of business world like the Shuras and Diwan-i-kass. These bodies led by men are decision-making authorities within Arab society and due to power distance nature of the Arab world the women do not mangle in the men business world and their affairs. Humane orientation dimension of the Emeriti culture is associated with generosity, empathy and compassion. Sustaining human dignity and reputation is an essential part of the humane orientation of the Arab culture (Gupta & House, 2004, p. 24). All honor, reputation and worthiness are on top priorities. For example, when women defer to their husbands’ authority, which in this case its only to sustain social reputation of the husband in the community as head of the household.
The performance orientation of the Arab culture marked very low, in this culture context individual competence and abilities are not essential for business, rather reputation and qualities like trustworthiness and honesty are crucial in doing business. Reputation and recognition comes with family status, age, education level and other factors and not individual performance. Similarly, the Arab society does not rank high for their assertiveness in their cultural norms. Through the social norm of Adl meaning equilibrium social norms are accepted and no challenged against its unfair practices. For example, the women in the business world will not do business with men, solely because it is not appropriate for women to have business deals with men. There is low uncertainty avoidance perspective in UAE culture as well. The people rely on their Arab culture and local customs for daily life and important events. They are not concerned with structured laws, institutions and orderliness and formal procedures. As typical of uncertainty avoidance society, the Arabs resist social changes, they prefer their traditions and local models and they wish to sustain local relationships then international or cross-cultural. Resistance against social changes is obvious from resistance against change of social norms for women and marginalization of Arabic language. Also, putting heritage center and museums show a persistent force against the changing life in UAE (Davidson, 2005, p. 263).
Monday, May 14, 2007
UAE Pre Departure Paper, Part A
Group: Monica, Elina, & Helen.
Part A: Macro Cultural Dimensions written by Monica N.
According to Professors Gupta and House, authors of Understanding Leadership in Diverse Cultures, there are nine GLOBE dimensions that define and shape cultures: (1) Performance Orientation, (2) Assertiveness Orientation, (3) Future Orientation, (4) Humane Orientation, (5) Institutional Collectivism, (6) In-group Collectivism, (7) Gender Egalitarianism, (8) Power Distance, and (9) Uncertainty Avoidance. These eleven dimensions are used to analyze cultures and help scholars better understand the differences among cultures. Bradford Hall, author of “How Can We Succeed in Our Inter-Cultural Travels?” refers to low vs. high context and monochromic vs. polychromic dimensions to examine and explain inter-culture communications. Using these eleven dimensions, this paper focuses on the United Arab Emirates (UAE), to examine each of these dimensions to characterize this culture.
The first GLOBE dimension, Performance Orientation, refers to the measurement of two components in performance: success and failure. By examining the drive of one’s culture for success and how successful this culture actually is reveals relevant information. The Middle Eastern group scored in the mid-score cluster, categorizing them as average performers at task completion. From class lectures and discussions, we can infer that the Middle East, is more relaxed with time and tasks. The culture practices siesta, an afternoon period of rest. Due to the fact that the majority of the Middle East is Muslim; their faith requires much time from one’s day to pray and worship Allah. Still fully capable of completing and maintaining progress, their work ethic varies from Southern Asia and other high performing cultures.
Assertiveness Orientation, the next dimension, examines the aggressiveness and expression of one culture’s beliefs, values, and rights. The Middle East ranked once again in the mid-score cluster, categorizing them as average in assertive behavior. Hall categorizes Arabs as the second most high-context and implicit communicators. Hall argues Arabs are elaborate yet are implicit communicators. Therefore, this combination communication style places them average in assertiveness.
The Middle East ranked a low score in the Future Orientation dimension, perhaps inferring this culture is more relaxed in planning for the future. Many Middle Easterners believe the future lies in God’s will, hence the common phrase, “inshallah,” or, “God willing.” An example of this when a Middle Easterner is faced with a future event that is uncertain, she will say, “Inshallah.” She will leave it up God’s choosing. According to GLOBE, cultures ranked with a high future orientation often lead less fulfilling lives due to an emphasis on the future and less focus on enjoying the present. The Middle East, on the other hand, is focused on enjoying life and life’s pleasures.
Humane Orientation, the fourth dimension, ranked the Middle East as average according to the five characteristics of humane oriented societies: (1) Concern with happiness, (2) Human Equality, (3) Moral Freedom, (4) Respect for Diversity, and (5) Experiential Reason. Middle Easterners ranked average in this dimension due to the incompletion and practice of these characteristics. The majority of the Middle East follows Islam, a religion that states human equality, moral freedom, and respect for diversity; yet this culture remains inconsistent with these practices. Insurgents and other religious fanatics warp Muhammad’s preachings and often neglect to incorporate the important humane qualities listed above. There is also little room for experiential reason. The Middle East is hesitant and strays away from westernization and liberalization. As Professor Moore notes in her lecture, the Middle East is in profound transition, grappling with religion, modernization, and society.
Institutional Collectivism, the next dimension, ranks the Middle East in the mid-score cluster. Social connections are fundamental to Middle Easterners, and many enjoy the surroundings of groups. When working together, individuals judge one’s dignity, honor, and reputation. Loyalty, consistency, and acceptance are very important qualities for Middle Easterners as well. These values and a desire to be apart of a group make the Middle East a cordial culture.
In-group Collectivism, the sixth dimension, categorizes the Middle East in high rank, as a culture favoring groups and cohesive environments. Middle Easterners are family based. The devotion and loyalty to the family is very important. To many, family is their life. Middle Easterners hold close and meaningful relationships with those around them. They tend to reside with several generations in one house, maintaining a tight-knit family for future generations.
Gender Egalitarianism, the next dimension, ranked the Middle East as a low scoring for practicing gender equality. Although the Middle East claims to have gender equality in their religious and social sectors, social and religious practices often divide the two sexes. An example of this pertains to terms of endearment. Middle Easterners, both Christian and Muslim who speak Arabic, follow the practice of discouraging expression of affection from man to woman using the feminine form. If a man wants to express affection to his wife or family member, the masculine pronoun is used to refer to the woman. A man would say, “habibi,” instead of “habibti,” meaning, “my love,” in English. A man is not supposed to directly proclaim his love or affection to a woman. By channeling his affection in a more appropriate form, he can then openly state his endearments. Women, on the hand, are encouraged to express affection using the masculine form, “habibi,” to their husbands or male relatives.
Power Distance, the eighth dimension, places the Middle East in an average score, revealing that that power shouldn’t be exploited in their culture. Middle Easterners share less personal distance in their relationships compared to others. This factor carries into the power distance and the inequity of power. While there is gender inequity, from class lectures, we learned that Middle Easterners favor personal relationships. They do not enjoy great distance or intermediaries; they are seen as obstacles and boundaries.
The last dimension, Uncertainty Avoidance, categorizes the Middle East as a low-ranking culture that does not stress social reliance on others to create and maintain security. “Here the values of group organization, formality, permanence, durability, and solidarity are underdeveloped, and deviant behavior is easily tolerated.” Individuals of low uncertainty are considered at risk to self-sufficiency to maintain their own levels of organizations and collective progress. In some Middle Eastern countries, insurgents bombard and terrorize their governments. The unstable power structure and power threats to the government ultimately affects the capability of that nation and its ability to function.
As stated earlier, the Middle East is a high-context society that uses implicit, elaborate, contextual and affective language to communicate. This culture is polychromic due to the close relationships and its average rank in power distance. “One reason is that those who are communicating—family, friends, co-workers, clients—tend to have both close personal relationships and large information network; they do not have to rely on language alone to communicate. Voice intonation, timing and facial expressions can all play roles in conveying information.” Middle Easterners rely on decoding verbal and body language, as well as other indicators to interpret messages. With communication functioning on several different levels, the Middle East is a polychromic culture.
From class lectures, readings, and data what can we infer Middle Easterners have traits that categorize them as a culture in profound transition. Due to their lifestyle and values, and linking to in-group collectivism, Middle Easterners are family and group based. The Middle East ranked low in: gender egalitarianism, uncertainty avoidance, and low future orientation. The combination of these strengths and challenges offer insight to the Middle East and its state. Our seminar in the UAE will attest to these data collections and other observations on Middle Eastern culture. Through our personal experiences in the UAE, we will gather a better understanding of these individuals and this fascinating as well as diverse culture.
Part A: Macro Cultural Dimensions written by Monica N.
According to Professors Gupta and House, authors of Understanding Leadership in Diverse Cultures, there are nine GLOBE dimensions that define and shape cultures: (1) Performance Orientation, (2) Assertiveness Orientation, (3) Future Orientation, (4) Humane Orientation, (5) Institutional Collectivism, (6) In-group Collectivism, (7) Gender Egalitarianism, (8) Power Distance, and (9) Uncertainty Avoidance. These eleven dimensions are used to analyze cultures and help scholars better understand the differences among cultures. Bradford Hall, author of “How Can We Succeed in Our Inter-Cultural Travels?” refers to low vs. high context and monochromic vs. polychromic dimensions to examine and explain inter-culture communications. Using these eleven dimensions, this paper focuses on the United Arab Emirates (UAE), to examine each of these dimensions to characterize this culture.
The first GLOBE dimension, Performance Orientation, refers to the measurement of two components in performance: success and failure. By examining the drive of one’s culture for success and how successful this culture actually is reveals relevant information. The Middle Eastern group scored in the mid-score cluster, categorizing them as average performers at task completion. From class lectures and discussions, we can infer that the Middle East, is more relaxed with time and tasks. The culture practices siesta, an afternoon period of rest. Due to the fact that the majority of the Middle East is Muslim; their faith requires much time from one’s day to pray and worship Allah. Still fully capable of completing and maintaining progress, their work ethic varies from Southern Asia and other high performing cultures.
Assertiveness Orientation, the next dimension, examines the aggressiveness and expression of one culture’s beliefs, values, and rights. The Middle East ranked once again in the mid-score cluster, categorizing them as average in assertive behavior. Hall categorizes Arabs as the second most high-context and implicit communicators. Hall argues Arabs are elaborate yet are implicit communicators. Therefore, this combination communication style places them average in assertiveness.
The Middle East ranked a low score in the Future Orientation dimension, perhaps inferring this culture is more relaxed in planning for the future. Many Middle Easterners believe the future lies in God’s will, hence the common phrase, “inshallah,” or, “God willing.” An example of this when a Middle Easterner is faced with a future event that is uncertain, she will say, “Inshallah.” She will leave it up God’s choosing. According to GLOBE, cultures ranked with a high future orientation often lead less fulfilling lives due to an emphasis on the future and less focus on enjoying the present. The Middle East, on the other hand, is focused on enjoying life and life’s pleasures.
Humane Orientation, the fourth dimension, ranked the Middle East as average according to the five characteristics of humane oriented societies: (1) Concern with happiness, (2) Human Equality, (3) Moral Freedom, (4) Respect for Diversity, and (5) Experiential Reason. Middle Easterners ranked average in this dimension due to the incompletion and practice of these characteristics. The majority of the Middle East follows Islam, a religion that states human equality, moral freedom, and respect for diversity; yet this culture remains inconsistent with these practices. Insurgents and other religious fanatics warp Muhammad’s preachings and often neglect to incorporate the important humane qualities listed above. There is also little room for experiential reason. The Middle East is hesitant and strays away from westernization and liberalization. As Professor Moore notes in her lecture, the Middle East is in profound transition, grappling with religion, modernization, and society.
Institutional Collectivism, the next dimension, ranks the Middle East in the mid-score cluster. Social connections are fundamental to Middle Easterners, and many enjoy the surroundings of groups. When working together, individuals judge one’s dignity, honor, and reputation. Loyalty, consistency, and acceptance are very important qualities for Middle Easterners as well. These values and a desire to be apart of a group make the Middle East a cordial culture.
In-group Collectivism, the sixth dimension, categorizes the Middle East in high rank, as a culture favoring groups and cohesive environments. Middle Easterners are family based. The devotion and loyalty to the family is very important. To many, family is their life. Middle Easterners hold close and meaningful relationships with those around them. They tend to reside with several generations in one house, maintaining a tight-knit family for future generations.
Gender Egalitarianism, the next dimension, ranked the Middle East as a low scoring for practicing gender equality. Although the Middle East claims to have gender equality in their religious and social sectors, social and religious practices often divide the two sexes. An example of this pertains to terms of endearment. Middle Easterners, both Christian and Muslim who speak Arabic, follow the practice of discouraging expression of affection from man to woman using the feminine form. If a man wants to express affection to his wife or family member, the masculine pronoun is used to refer to the woman. A man would say, “habibi,” instead of “habibti,” meaning, “my love,” in English. A man is not supposed to directly proclaim his love or affection to a woman. By channeling his affection in a more appropriate form, he can then openly state his endearments. Women, on the hand, are encouraged to express affection using the masculine form, “habibi,” to their husbands or male relatives.
Power Distance, the eighth dimension, places the Middle East in an average score, revealing that that power shouldn’t be exploited in their culture. Middle Easterners share less personal distance in their relationships compared to others. This factor carries into the power distance and the inequity of power. While there is gender inequity, from class lectures, we learned that Middle Easterners favor personal relationships. They do not enjoy great distance or intermediaries; they are seen as obstacles and boundaries.
The last dimension, Uncertainty Avoidance, categorizes the Middle East as a low-ranking culture that does not stress social reliance on others to create and maintain security. “Here the values of group organization, formality, permanence, durability, and solidarity are underdeveloped, and deviant behavior is easily tolerated.” Individuals of low uncertainty are considered at risk to self-sufficiency to maintain their own levels of organizations and collective progress. In some Middle Eastern countries, insurgents bombard and terrorize their governments. The unstable power structure and power threats to the government ultimately affects the capability of that nation and its ability to function.
As stated earlier, the Middle East is a high-context society that uses implicit, elaborate, contextual and affective language to communicate. This culture is polychromic due to the close relationships and its average rank in power distance. “One reason is that those who are communicating—family, friends, co-workers, clients—tend to have both close personal relationships and large information network; they do not have to rely on language alone to communicate. Voice intonation, timing and facial expressions can all play roles in conveying information.” Middle Easterners rely on decoding verbal and body language, as well as other indicators to interpret messages. With communication functioning on several different levels, the Middle East is a polychromic culture.
From class lectures, readings, and data what can we infer Middle Easterners have traits that categorize them as a culture in profound transition. Due to their lifestyle and values, and linking to in-group collectivism, Middle Easterners are family and group based. The Middle East ranked low in: gender egalitarianism, uncertainty avoidance, and low future orientation. The combination of these strengths and challenges offer insight to the Middle East and its state. Our seminar in the UAE will attest to these data collections and other observations on Middle Eastern culture. Through our personal experiences in the UAE, we will gather a better understanding of these individuals and this fascinating as well as diverse culture.
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