A woman of substance

Until the 1990s, women in the Gulf region (with the exception of Kuwait), lacked a high-profile role model who could enable them to dream of a better future away from the claustrophobic and complex reality of lives in societies that often seemed designed specifically to stifle many of their most precious dreams. Shaikha Mozah arrived on the scene at a time when women in her country were in desperate need of a charismatic woman who would lead them in their demand to play a more serious role in the public sphere. Not only did she pave the way for women to realize many of their dreams, she actively helped create new job opportunities.

Shaikha Mozah is representative of a moderate and secular elite in this part of the world who, through her high visibility in the media, can effect a change in women’s self-identities. It may seem simplistic, but this new visibility – which in the past has been the sole preserve of men, and which still presents a challenge in socially conservative societies – has became an important tool for women hoping to bring change to the Gulf region. For the first time it has become possible for women and men to relate to such figures at an open and public level that differs from the private and traditional, which is part of a still-pervasive culture of honor and shame.

The Shaikha is the woman behind many important projects, among them the education city: a flagship educational city that embraces Georgetown and Carnegie Mellon Universities. The creation of this educational city was a challenge, not because of its size and scale, but because of the commitment of its architects and sponsors to design a site where the sexes would be able to mix. A relatively conservative society, Qatar has nevertheless made great strides in this area compared to Kuwait, which is losing its battle with the Islamists – the latter tightening their grip on the liberals as is evident from the country’s policy of gender-segregation in many areas.

Shaikah Mozah is, above all, an icon. Her growing popularity is apparent with a single glance at young Qatari women today who are following in her footsteps and have embraced her passion for work, as well as her famous and stylish head scarf!