Kuwaiti women held back by men's outdated notions

The future of young Kuwaiti women could be brighter if the men in their lives abandoned their traditional perceptions and regarded women as equal partners, says Nabila Al Anjari, Assistant Undersecretary for Tourism in the Ministry of Information.

Speaking to Gulf News about her responsibilities as a leader in the country's master plan for tourism and the changing role of women in Kuwaiti society, Nabila said, "Traditionally men in Kuwait have achieved their ambitions by networking through their 'diwaniyas'.

"Women on the other hand have to do it themselves, often against the wishes of their families, and it sometimes becomes a long hard struggle."

Nabila, who worked in public relations for 10 years with Kuwait Touristic Enterprises (KTE), found success in a chance encounter in January 2001 with Shaikh Ahmad Al Fahad who was then Minister of Information and is currently Minister of Electricity and Water.

"We had a frank discussion on tourism in Kuwait, the pros and the cons and he asked me to establish the tourism sector. We started very small at first and it took seven months before we actually got off the ground," Nabila said.

"The final strategy for tourism has not yet been formalised," she added.

"A master plan for Kuwait tourism is being drawn up by Deloitte and Touche in cooperation with the World Tourism Organisation, the United Nations Development Programme and Kuwait's Ministry of Planning.

She added, "For the last 20 years we couldn't talk about tourism or opening up the country to the rest of the world simply because the situation in the region made security the top priority.

"However the government has now opened up the country somewhat by allowing citizens of 34 countries to enter with a visa on arrival and is planning to open up to expatriates living legally in the other GCC countries.

"We have the will and the infrastructure and with the experiences of both Dubai and Malaysia in mind our leaders have come to believe that tourism will become one of the main resources for income.

"Oil has been and is our main resource and the right reforms in the country will ensure that tourism becomes the natural resource of the future."

Turning again to the role of women in social and economic reform, Nabila also said: "There is a lot happening in the country. Women generally are well educated, hardworking and have proved themselves in times of crisis, especially during the Iraqi invasion in August 1990.

"Over the years women have fought hard for their right to vote and the right to be elected to parliament and maybe become cabinet ministers and it is time they received their rights according to the constitution without a fight.

"The Emir and the prime minister believe in the rights of women, even many members of the Islamic bloc believe in the role of women as equal partners and yet we are waiting.

"It's a shame that we as a democratic nation with a constitution since 1962 are way behind the other GCC nations that started opening up only recently.

"The woman of the future is independent and liberal, knows what she wants and I am hopeful that we will receive our rights very soon", she said.

On what causes inequalities Nabila said, "The lack of communication between the sexes is creating an imbalance in our societies.

"Divorce is a major problem as traditional thoughts and ideas have not seen a sea change along with the quality of education and the prog-ress of women.

"Openness is very important but unfortunately family, media and educational institutions should stop blocking the progress of the country's women".

Nabila has been chosen as the country's representative at The International Leadership Summit to be held in Dubai on November 29-30 and this is the first time that that this honour has been given to a woman.

The writer is a Kuwait-based journalist