Apathy reflects women's mindset

Oman: The country's leadership has time and again advocated greater participation of women in every walk of life in the Sultanate. Omani women have responded to the call except, as statistics show, in the elected council.

The government urged women to participate in Oman's first open elections in 2003. Only 15 entered the fray, which had 506 candidates for 83 seats to the Majlis As'Shura, due for election again next year. "It was a sad reflection of the stride women have made in this country," Aida Bint Slayim Bin Salimin Al Hajry, Director of Studies and Research at the Ministry of Social Development, told Gulf News.

Only two were elected out of 15 and both from the capital city. "We need to elect 40-45 women to the Shura so that they can give equal voice to Omani women's opinion," she said.

According to Aida, Omani women's apathy to the country's election process can be blamed on different factors, including lack of awareness, upbringing and attitude. "From childhood we (women) are brought up with a mindset that (there are) certain things (which) only boys can do and the whole upbringing is modelled on functions divided between female and male members of the family."

Rafiah Bint Salman Al Talei, editor-in-chief of a leading women's bilingual weekly Al Mara, contested elections last time in 2003 from Al Kabil, a small wilayat (governorate), 200km from Muscat. This year she says she is not contesting for "family commitments". However, she is bitter about male dominance and lack of opportunities. "There is no exclusive place for women candidates and voters to congregate."

Fact file

Making inroads into male bastion

• According to 2003 Census, Oman has 102 males to every 100 females in the country.
• Oman's Social Status Law promulgated by Royal Decree 32/97 upholds women's rights encompassing areas such as alimony, divorce, child custody, last will and testament, inheritance and right to education.
• Omani Women's Association (OWA) is an NGO and has 45 branches across the country.
• OWA conducts seminars and conferences to educate women about their rights and provisions in the law for their basic rights. They also conduct lectures on health education.
• Oman has three women ministers in the Cabinet and a fourth with a rank of a minister has been named as the President of the Handicrafts Association.
• Two women were elected to the Majlis As'Shura in the country's first open elections in 2003.