Expert: Le Anne Clausen - 10/31/2006

Question
My name is Fajer Al Omran; I am a student in The University of Queensland in Brisbane/Australia. I am doing research on The Role of Women in Bedouin Society   for one of my subjects. Students were told by their teacher that if they are unable to find answers for the questions they have during their research classes, they should ask an expert on the topic.

Thus I was wondering if you could possibly answer the following questions:

1-What are westerner’s point of view towards the relationship of a husband and wife in the Bedouin society?



2-How does the role of a Bedouin woman differ from the role of women from a more modern culture?





Thank You,
Fajer Al Omran  

Answer
Greetings Fajer, and thanks for your question.  This sounds like an interesting project.  

I would say that the Westerner's point of view of the bedouin woman and the marriage relationship is a mix of some cinema- romanticism and some self-righteous attitudes.  Think of the movies, Lawrence of Arabia, or the movie of the 80's, Not Without My Daughter, as two archetypes (you can find descriptions of both via Google search).  Images that come to mind are the harem, with Western connotations of exotic sexuality; and the abusive, ignorant husband (an only somewhat more enlightened approach, leaving much to desire).

The role of the Bedouin woman differs in the particulars from more modern cultures, but several of the universals remain:  they raise their children, prepare food and keep house for their family (or oversee that this gets done).  They may or may not have chores associated with the shepherding (which is the traditional reason for bedouin life, following the grazing land available for flocks).  In some ways you could argue this is the life of any modern woman:  having two full-time jobs, inside the home and out.

However, the differences include economic level; often Bedouin tribes are forced away from good land into poor agricultural areas by modern land developments; there is a clash of civilizations when superhighways cross your grazing land.  Some Bedouin societies are more difficult for women, and men engage in more physical mistreatment, or limit the opportunities for the women in their families.  Child brides have also been a problem in some cases.  In others, girls attend schools or are home-schooled;  and are allowed to reach adulthood before marriage.  the children may choose whether or not to continue with the bedouin life.  Curiously, from my time working in an Arab women's crisis center, I learned that the aggregate rates of domestic violence in Western and Arab societies were the same.  You may be able to find more information on these issues at:

http://www.sherryart.com/women/bedouin.html  This is an anthropologist who does more research in the area.  She has some good links on her site.

Hope this helps!

peace,
Le Anne