Manal Ismail and Maysam Ali speak with students about the developing perceptions of their roles in the communications industry.
Standing before a camera, speaking to the public, having to constantly be on the move and expose oneself to different kinds of people and personalities — this would be the job description of anyone choosing to work in the media.
However, all these actions were also considered inappropriate for a woman and in many cases the stigma remains. So many challenges exist for a woman who wants to pursue her ambitions in the world of media, both in terms of family and society.
However, times are changing. Women are standing up for their rights. They are questioning the claims as to why one gender can pursue a career, a dream, and the other cannot. The number of female students pursuing the different fields of the communication industry is on the rise, and many factors exist for this development.
Family support
Perhaps the number one factor is family acceptance.
"Students love their parents and wouldn't want to do anything that upsets them," said Shammi Samano, media publication faculty at Dubai Women's College (DWC). "So their support works like the backbone to their success."
For the applied communications programme at DWC, students must have their parents sign a permission slip that states that they are permitted to pursue this field. Shammi said, however, that a continuum exists as to the level of conservation among parents. While some parents won't even consider the matter, others are ready to support their daughters in becoming successful in the media industry.
"In most cases, the issue lies in the image of a woman," said Eman Al Owais, applied communications student at DWC. "To not be shy and appear on the screen and mix with a lot of people. However, thankfully, I've always had my parents' support in my decision to pursue communications."
Shammi highlighted the importance of family support.
"Families should encourage and provide their daughters with supportive dialogue and conversation," Shammi said. "I have found that students with supportive families develop better creatively once they enter the professional field. They are more confident and open about what they do."
Ahlam Mohammad Al Bannai, also applied communications first-year student at DWC, said that she is excited about her major of study and future opportunities.
"I didn't study for nothing. I have skills and talents and thankfully support from my parents," she said. "Our projects require long hours outside the house and fortunately, my parents understand that. Some people think it is wrong for women to be in the field of journalism, but this doesn't scare me because I know that women are needed in this field in our society and I feel it is my duty and desire to do it."
Al Anoud Al Juneidy, an applied communications major who dreams of making it big in the media industry, also described the impact of family support.
"Convincing one is better than convincing five," said Al Anoud. "When you get married all you have to do is convince one person of what you want to do. "
Societal acceptance
The effect of family and societal perception plays an integral role in the performance of these young women.
"When girls go out to shoot their videos, the perceptions of people have a huge impact on them by shaking their confidence," Shammi said. "It's not only just the matter of being in front of the camera, it's carrying the equipment — it's just looked at as not a feminine thing to do."
Despite society's perceptions, however, some girls are driven to accomplish their dreams.
"One girl had the courage to climb and stand on top of a vehicle, with her abayyah, to get the angle she wanted for the film she was shooting," Shammi said. "She was determined to shoot her movie the way she imagined it and make it a success."
"The stigma is always there," said Shahrazad Al Jazir, applied communications student at DWC. "We're just proving ourselves as equal citizens in society and moving towards success."
Shahrazad recently made a controversial documentary with the help of her colleagues Ameenah Eisa and Aisha Bin Zayed titled A Silent Prayer of the Mind. The movie discusses the issue of domestic violence in the UAE.
Shahrazad said that institutes such as the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children and the City of Hope, have opened to provide shelter and safety to victims of trafficking and domestic violence.
"The main purpose of the movie is to raise awareness and portray the government's role in supporting these victims," Shahrazad said. "What many people don't know is that there is support available, and this is one step forward to creating that awareness.
Ahlam found her inspiration in the world of media through the career paths of video-clip director Fatima Mohammad and journalist Maysaa Ghudayer. "I noticed that there are few women in the field of journalism, and since I have that kind of personality, I decided to pursue it," she said. "I would like to cover stories and deal with important issues that affect society."
She said that she is confident about doing an excellent job in this field and, unlike other students who disagreed, said that there is a nurturing and positive working environment for women. "We have equal opportunities; we just have to work for what we want," she said.
Change is happening
Arab society has greatly progressed in terms of accepting the media industry as a field for a woman to pursue.
"I definitely think that society is moving in the right direction," Shammi Samano said. "And this change needs to be in a way that respects the culture and values of the community and should not just imitate some Western model."
Eman Al Owais shared the same view.
"The woman today is different than before," she said. "She can pursue any field she wants whether it's media, politics, business or science. Today, the role of the woman has changed."
Female students even feel freer about discussing their desires to pursue their careers.
Al Anoud Al Juneidy has big ambitions for her future. "I want to travel to the University of Southern California and study directing," she said.
Al Anoud, who cannot hide her enthusiasm, said that she has an urge to make something unique and will overcome all the obstacles she faces, including her mother's insistence that she get married.
"To me, a movie is better than a man right now," she says jokingly. "I want to work right now, and when I find the person who understands me, my ambitions and passion, I'll think about that then. But now I have ambitions and I want to make something that will show in Hollywood. Movie-making and directing here are not that exciting; I want to travel and learn more."
Working against the odds
Aisha Bin Zayed is a 19-year-old applied communications student who is the editor of Dubai Women's College's student newsletter, MSAGE, and of a student magazine, Desert Dawn. She is also active in making movies and is working on producing a documentary, with her colleagues' collaboration, on domestic violence in the UAE.
Being a leader on campus
As editor of the publication Desert Dawn, Aisha says that there are many responsibilities to be completed, as well as many ideas to be produced every day. "We are always trying to find new ideas and create projects. We are working in the new issue of the magazine on the topic of old Dubai. We are trying to highlight the authentic face of Dubai, to dig deep and find something important."
Challenging traditional topics
One of the documentaries that Aisha is working on is titled A Silent Prayer of the Mind. It is set to enter the Gulf Film Festival Competition in May. "I went to women's shelters and spent hours with them to better understand them and to connect with them before filming."
Aisha has difficulty balancing her extracurricular activities and passion on one side, and her parents' satisfaction on the other side. "It is certainly not fine with my family that I spend time at the shelters, that I come home late or that I chose this major at all," she said. "So I had to convince them."
Choosing media
"I decided to get into media because of my talent and interest in writing, photography and design," Aisha said. "My mother encouraged me but my father had his concerns. But in the end, he didn't mind because he himself had done the same major."
Peer admiration
Aisha's friends are very fond of her and said very good things about her. Her colleague and friend Shahrazad Al Jazir said that Aisha is truly unique and extremely creative, but keeps her success very discrete.
Shahrazad said, "One day we all will be proud of her. There were times when she lost hope and started to do her tasks carelessly, but she is really creative. She inspires me by her love of education."
'Doing what I love'
Despite the odds, Aisha's resilience continues. "It's a struggle being in this major every day. I have to fight for it."
Asked what she would like to wish her colleagues and other women on Women's International Day, Aisha said, "I'd encourage them to do whatever makes them happy. They have to do what they want because you never know who might be the next Einstein or Picasso."
She added, "This country has been giving opportunities to women, so women should use them. "So I encourage Emirati women to be creative and do things that they believe in, and would like to do."
