Ambassadors play a major role in presenting and explaining the people of one nation to those of another. If done with understanding and sensitivity, they can succeed to some extent in bridging gaps and correcting mistaken ideas and opinions. Ambassadors’ wives also play major roles in supporting their husbands and working to make their home countries better understood.
Dr. Ann Jordan, wife of the US ambassador to the Kingdom, is an anthropologist. In fact, she is an associate professor of anthropology at the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas. Her specialities are business anthropology and North American studies. She is a member of the American Anthropological Association, the Society for Applied Anthropology and the National Association for the Practice of Anthropology and is currently a visiting researcher at the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies in Riyadh. As an anthropologist, she is naturally interested in both the people and culture of any country. Her interest is in understanding the roots of a society which then enables her to understand and explain peoples’ lifestyles, habits and ways of thinking.
Dr. Jordan says that it is unfortunate that mere geographical distances and different languages give rise to so many misconceptions and “a lack of understanding” between people. She feels that the media too often publish articles colored by their own cultural perceptions and assessments without knowing or understanding the other culture or psychology. The root of all these differences and misunderstandings is often linked to the absence of opportunities for people of different cultures to get to know each other and learn about one another.
In her desire to inform the people of the US about the culture, traditions and people Saudi Arabia, she is immersing herself in the historical, cultural and traditional aspects of local culture. Her wish is first to understand and then to present. She wants to communicate with ordinary Americans and inform them of the realities in Saudi Arabia. Her communicating will be geared toward women in particular because they are the ones who educate future generations and also make and transmit both tradition and culture.
According to Dr. Jordan, the American public has little knowledge of the history, traditions and culture of Saudi society. The media has not provided enough information in these areas; the reason for the failure is a lack of access to Saudi Arabia and to Saudis. Face-to-face meetings will go a long way in clearing up misunderstandings and misconceptions.
Dr. Jordan is a firm believer in the exchange of people in order to develop greater understanding between nations. She is already involved in planning exchange programs between the US and Saudi Arabia. She is particularly interested in helping students and professionals come to the Kingdom in order to live and work with local people. She mentioned visits last summer by American exchange students who lived with families in Jeddah.
Dr. Jordan feels that young people make excellent “goodwill ambassadors” because they are willing to observe, enjoy and experiment. They are also usually spontaneous in their reactions. The students who came last summer learned a great deal about the Kingdom’s social norms and Islam. “The interaction was impressive and the local families enjoyed having young people to show around and explain the country and its culture.” She wants to continue this program and in addition to bringing people to the Kingdom, she hopes to send Saudis to the US for research and study programs. In addition, she also envisions an exchange of Saudi and American women.
Having met a large number of women in the Kingdom — royalty, professionals, teachers, working women — Dr. Jordan has been struck by the warmth, strength and capabilities of Saudi women. She believes that Saudi women have made their own decisions about their roles within their cultural boundaries. Having studied the history of many peoples and societies, she believes that freedom is — and should be — a culturally-based concept and with that in mind, outsiders should not try to tell Saudi women what they should or should not do. The women themselves know far better than the outsiders what needs to be done and what they can do.
Though Dr. Jordan has been in the Kingdom for less than a year, she has already learned a great deal from meeting and talking to a wide range of Saudis, both men and women. As an anthropologist, she is aware of the country’s history and social fabric and with that knowledge as a background, she is very well-equipped to understand and appreciate the present.
Arab News Features 23 January 2003
