As women enter the labor force in ever-greater numbers in the GCC countries, so are their broader roles in societies and polities are changing. The sharp distinction between "appropriate" behavior in public and private spheres is breaking down, as more and more women successfully undertake leadership roles in the economy, society and presumably ultimately the polity.
The primary purpose of this conference is to explore the emergence of these new roles for women. This will be accomplished through presentations by such women themselves, as well as by analysis provided by informed experts from the Gulf, UK, continental Europe and the US. The format of the conference will be four panels, one each addressed to the role of women in business, education, politics, and the media/literature.
The conference will be held on Thursday, 24 June 2004 in the Brunei Gallery Lecture Theatre at SOAS, Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, London WC1H 0XG.
Program
Organized by the London Middle East Institute Academic Convenor: Dr Alanoud Alsharekh
8.45 - 9.15 Registration
9.15-9.25 Welcoming remarks
Prof. Robert Springborg, Director, LMEI
9.25-10.45 Panel 1
Women in Business
Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, CEO Tejari.com, UAE
Business and Technology: challenges and limitations
Sheikha Hanadi al Thani, Vice President, Nasser Bin Khaled Al-Thani and sons Holding Co., Qatar
Women in Qatar: Partners in Development
Dr Naomi Sakr, University of Westminster
Women in the Media Industry
10.45-11.15 Coffee
11.15 - 12.00 Keynote Address
HRH Princess Lulwah Al-Faisal
12.00-1.15 Panel 2
Women in Politics
MP Emma Bonino, European Parliament
Dr. Fakhria Shaban Diari, Member of the Shura Council, Bahrain
Education, Women and Democracy in the Kingdom of Bahrain
Dr Maha Azzam, RIIA
Political Challenges facing Women in the Gulf
1.15-2.15 Lunch
2.15-3.45 Panel 3
Women in Education
Dr Hayat Sindi, Schlumberger Senior Research Fellow, University of Cambridge
Speaker to be confirmed
Dr Fawziah Bakr Al-Bakr, Associate Professor, College of Education, Kind Saud University
3.45-4.15 Tea
4.15-5.30 Panel 4
Images in Media and Literature
Dr Gail Ramsay, Sweden
The Image of Women in Literature from the Persian Gulf
Dr Mamon Fandy, University of Georgetown
Women in the Gulf: a sober assessment
Dr Alanoud Al-Sharekh
Ramadan Viewing and the Anxious Female
5.30-6.15 Keynote Address
Dr Rasha Al Sabah, Under Secretary, Ministy for Higher Education, Kuwait,
6.15-6.30 Closing Remarks
Registration
To register, please reply to this email (to [email protected]) with your name and company/organisation name (if relevant), and state whether you would like lunch (£7), and a badge will be waiting for you at the registration desk. There is no charge for the day but if you book to have lunch, the £7 is payable on the day. NB: It is possible to register on the day but lunch must be booked in advance.
Please feel free to circulate this email to and anyone you think maybe interested in attending the conference.
