SARNGADHARAN NAMBIAR -
Amal Bahwan, Hind Bahwan, Haifa al Khaifi, Rawan al Said, Devaki Khimji, Hudal al Lawati, Areej Mohsin Darwish… They are the high achievers from Oman who made it into this year’s Forbes List of Middle East’s Most Influential Women. And this is not the first time Omani women have featured on the Forbes list.
The Sultanate can really pat itself on the back, for the recognition has come when globally a significant number of women continue to face discrimination, and in some cases violence, in varying degrees across regions, even as the world makes strenuous efforts to ensure gender equality and women’s empowerment under the Millennium Development Goals.
Statistics brutally stare us in the face: Globally, 750 million women among us have been married before the age of 18 and nearly 200 million women and girls in 30 countries have undergone female genital mutilation. And the share of female CEOs in Fortune 500 companies dropped by 25 per cent this year to 24, after peaking last year at 32.
A FOUNDATION
While the UN unambiguously asserts, and we all concur with it, that gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world, unfortunately, a significant number of women (and girls) continue to be physically or sexually abused, and as many as 20 countries have no laws protecting women from domestic violence, as reported in a UN study.
True, unacceptable social practices against women have declined by 30 per cent over the past decade. But when can humanity confidently declare that women no more face any discrimination and ill-treatment, and that they enjoy equal opportunities at all levels of life?
The Middle East is making remarkable progress in women empowerment and gender equality. Women across the region are
coming to the forefront as they take on the lead in businesses and across the public sector organisations.
Women university graduates outnumber the male graduates in the region, bucking a global trend, observes the Forbes. What is more significant is the fact that women in the Arab world have made much career headway in industries that were typically labeled as male bastions, thus valiantly shattering glass ceiling of male authority.
OMAN STANDS OUT
Among the Arab countries, Oman stands out for its efforts at women empowerment. The achievements of the Sultanate’s women are not restricted to business and leadership alone; their winning streak embraces diverse domains including arts and crafts, music, academics, sports, volunteerism and others. For instance, Hind al Hajri, one of a growing group of talented young Omani photographers, has won as many as 40 national and international photography awards for her outstanding works, while Fatma al Nabhani is the region’s one and only professional woman tennis player who has won several titles. Alia al Farsi, Budoor al Riyami, who won the Grand Prize at the Asian Art Biennale, and Enaam Ahmed form a small segment of exceptionally skilled Omani artists whose innovative experimental art has won wide appreciation. Omani females have made their mark in every field of endeavour including music, movies and entrepreneurship, to name a few.
NO GENDER DIVIDE
The list of successful Omani women who have carved
a niche for themselves is quite long, and highly inspirational as well. It simply shows that an encouraging and fair social system that doesn’t subscribe to the antiquated and despicable ‘gender divide’ is all it takes for the feminine to shine forth. And, Oman has both.
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