Where are the women? In reading about dhow culture, this is a difficult question to answer because of a lack of female representation in its history. Dhows are a type of transportation vessel prominent in the Western Indian Ocean, off the east coast of Africa, and throughout the Gulf and South Asia. For centuries, dhows have been at the core of trading between these regions. Therefore, they have helped spread culture, technology, and other ideologies, including Islam. Dhows have also significantly contributed to the fishing and pearl diving industry, especially in the Gulf. Although women have been frequently left out of dhow culture, this paper will explore some of the roles they had, specifically through the analysis of heritage films and the pre-oil era in the UAE.
Emirati woman at a fish market
First, an explanation of the dhow as a cultural symbol is necessary to understand the role of women. A professor of UAE and Gulf history at UAE University, Dr. Fatma al Sayegh, states that “The dhow has always been very important to the UAE, it is part of our history, our legacy as a country… not only as a means of transportation but also as a symbol. The dhow stands for a means of living, for economy and for our connection to the sea.” This exemplifies the crucial role that dhows play in the UAE’s culture. They are not only used for trade, but also for what they represent as a symbolic piece of history. The dhow and the sea are concepts that come together in creating a sort of ambiance–– a dangerous, yet adventurous atmosphere–– that represents what many heritage advertisements attempt to convey. This idea that dhows “...constitute cultural heritage, and a cultural heritage associated with a region rather than a nation...” has only recently been developed (Gilbert 78). Despite the important role that the dhow has played in Gulf history, the dhows face extinction due to modernization. As the Gulf further promotes dhows as a symbol of regional culture, the dhow transforms into something “quaintly and exotically ‘historical’” (Gilbert 78). In ways it has become romanticized, but because of advances in technology, some trades involving the dhow have become nonessential. The Dhow: An Illustrated History of the Dhow and its World illustrates this “the greatest impact on the dhow trade came with the introduction of the diesel engine and in many places this has meant the virtual abandonment of sail as the principal motive power..in making a passage” (Hawkin 15). This is furthered, “new ways of life have meant the abandonment of commodities once carried by the dhows” (Hawkin 16). Such modernization comes with the desire to preserve a nation’s heritage. Therefore, the UAE has done this with dhow culture through films specifically. Heritage films convey rich symbolism and in many ways represent the past. Because there are limited academic resources concerning the role of women in dhow culture, heritage films are a great medium to give insight into this minority group. This essay explores such films as case studies of how to read women’s role in dhow culture and how heritage is preserved or exploited in these films, as well as how the role of women have been affected by factors of modernization.
Women on a dhow
To demonstrate female roles in dhow culture, I look to Diving: Men and the Sea. This short film takes place in the UAE and depicts the journey of pearl divers in the 1970s preparing for their trip, their time on the sea, and their return. The film begins with both the men and the women of the community making preparations to go pearl diving. The women help cook the food and carry the food to the dhows while the men work on finishing final touches to ensure their safety. At its peak in the early 1900s to 1920s, pearl diving trips would be made approximately three times a year. The main season is known as al-Ghows al-Kabir––May to August––in addition to two smaller seasons that are performed in April; another season is known as ‘al-redha’ diving (Sayegh 20). This last season would consist of the divers returning to the pearling banks in October as the water would be colder. Throughout the year, men could stay on the sea for up to five months, away from their homes and families. Women and Economic Changes in the Arab Gulf: The Case of the United Arab Emirates explains the pearl diving season while giving insight to the role of women in pearl diving communities. Author Fatima Al-Sayegh states, “In their absence women assumed greater responsibilities. They ran day-to-day affairs of their homes and families, though more serious decisions were left until men returned from diving” (Sayegh 20). Furthermore, during the pearl diving boom, women of ordinary status contributed greatly to the economy of the UAE. Because they lacked the social restrictions of the upper class, women in the middle class who had enough money were also able to purchase ships and property of their own. This transition in their role empowered women to venture into other fields other than domestic.
Women during this period in the UAE’s history had the freedom to engage in their own occupational endeavors, “Some had sufficient funds to set up small businesses such as buying and selling perfume and incense. Others traded in foodstuffs, produced their own provisions, and financed their own retail shops, and by conducting such transactions maintained regular contact with male merchants” (Sayegh 20). As the men were away pearl diving for long periods of time, women also took up harsher jobs in manual labor, such as gathering wood for cooking––traditionally assumed as a man’s responsibility. This progression in the workforce created a unique position for women in their societies. In a country where tradition and customs typically prevail, women’s roles in these pearl diving communities were no longer strictly limited to domestic duties and childcare. Regarding fishing, women also played a part, “Women and children helped spread the catch on the beach and a day or two later they collected the dried fish into baskets. Women also helped to mend the fishing nets and sell the fish in the souk…” (Sayegh 20). Women in the lower class had even greater social freedom, typically the wives of fishermen and divers, specifically. They would work together with the men to earn enough for their basic commodities. However, in 1931, Dubai’s legislative council imposed a ban on women selling fish. Fishermen protested this decision as it would mean longer hours––nights at sea, days in the market––but to no avail. The reasoning behind the fishermen’s protests was later proven false. It was discovered that because women could sell the fish at higher prices, the men wanted to continue to work alongside them to gain more profit. Nevertheless, women remained unable to continue selling fish at the market. This signifies that although there are advocates for the representation of women in certain workplaces, some decisions are still greatly influenced by traditional beliefs.
Because women had to work while the men were away at sea, they had a “double burden” that remains relevant today. A double burden is the concept that women are expected to fulfill two roles in society: being a full time wife and mother while also being a full time worker. Emirati women of the pre-oil era had not much choice but to fulfill both these roles, as there was no other alternative to make ends meet. Women were responsible for both taking care of their families’ livelihood and household. A research experiment conducted by Rana Al Mutawa of Columbia University questioned if this scenario of the double burden that became “representative of ‘traditional’ Emirati life” would be applied to modern women as well. Al Mutawa further states that “while Emiratis may have some knowledge about women’s economic life in the pre-oil Emirates, they still primarily imagine these women’s roles being restricted to the domestic sphere. Modernization and oil wealth, which significantly lessened the need for women to work, helped in creating this perception…”. She concludes her research with a declaration that more awareness of a “traditional” working woman instead of the “traditional” domestic woman would promote more positive perceptions of female employment. It would also demonstrate that a working woman is part of Emirati tradition; but includes a warning of this further promoting a double burden for the modern woman. In Diving: Men and the Sea, this image of a “traditional” working woman is well represented. The film shows the men and women working together to make the pearl diving trip possible. Although the women do not venture out to sea with the men, they play a significant role in the preparations and also in upholding their families and communities while the men are away. This shows that even though the screen time that the women received in the heritage film was short, the scenes were impactful. Furthermore, this proves that a lack of representation of women in the cultural heritage of dhows does not mean that they do not deserve credit and recognition for all the work they do. Not only are these women responsible for taking care of their household affairs, but they are responsible for their families’ livelihoods as well. In these sea communities, the role these women play is crucial to its survival.
The full extent of the role that women play in dhow culture is not always shown on the big screen. Sometimes they are overlooked and may fall victim to the assumption that their role is not significant. The public may still hold “traditional” expectations of what a woman should be and what she can do. However, through the analysis of Diving: Men and the Sea and finding the nuances in its few scenes featuring women––along with the texts detailing how women upheld major responsibilities in their communities as both domestic caretakers and working women––it can be concluded that it was because of women that these communities were able to thrive and flourish. In heritage films, specifically, because of the emphasis on trying to represent history, there can be a lack of representation for supporting characters, instead focusing mainly on the subject of discussion. With a lack of awareness of the crucial role women played in sea communities and their heritage, “traditional” stereotypes and ideals are enforced upon them although it may not be the reality. In reality, although a lot of the time the role women played was considered a supporting one, without them who would take care of the families while the men are gone? Who would uphold and keep the economy running? Dhow culture, especially in pearl diving communities, needed women to thrive. Heritage needs women to survive. The lack of recognition women receive in this heritage does not diminish their amazing contributions.