Muscat: Women in the Sultanate of Oman have come out with flying colours. They are doing well in their positions as ministers, diplomats, entrepreneurs, teachers, doctors, engineers and sportspersons. They have equal opportunities to grow and excel. They are making the nation proud with their contributions to the country in all possible ways.
Women in business is a growing trend, and numerous women entrepreneurs in the country play a significant role in the SME sector.
Dr Marwa al Hinai, assistant professor of marketing at the College of Economics and Political Science, Sultan Qaboos University, is on the other spectrum. She has the opportunity to groom and mentor young women and men of today.
She received her PhD degree from the University of Edinburgh in 2018, and her thesis focused on the diffusion and adoption of social marketing practice in public health.
Interestingly, her area of interest is in influencing positive behaviours through social marketing techniques, a relatively new field that uses marketing techniques in addition to behavioural science and psychology to develop campaigns that positively influence societal behaviours.
“I remember when Late Sultan Qaboos first announced Omani Women’s Day at Saih al Shamikhat. It was a very memorable event, and we felt honoured as women to have a special day that recognises and celebrates our contributions to the development of the country. It is also a chance for us to reflect on our progress and achievements on a personal level and collectively. I also feel very proud to belong to this country that extensively supports and empowers women in various fields.” She pointed out that women are highly represented in all fields, both in the private and public sectors.
“We are also protected, and we feel safe to know that many laws and regulations preserve our rights as women. Omani women are playing an increasingly important role in business in Oman. They are starting their own businesses, leading established companies, and holding senior positions in government-owned enterprises, and that is not a surprise given the characteristics of Omani women who have always been ambitious, resilient, hardworking but also kind and compassionate,” she explained.
She pointed out that one of the aspects that distinguishes Omani women is that despite having a modern outlook in their careers, the women are still very much strongly attached to their traditions and values.
When asked about the obstacles facing women today, Dr Marwa said, “One of the main challenges for women in all fields is being able to strike a balance between their careers and personal life. While a work-life balance is not always easy, but achieving it is possible through time management, setting priorities and, most importantly, having supporting families who value what you do inside and outside the household. It is also important for Omani businesswomen and those in the workforce to always stay up to date with the latest developments.” Learning to adapt is important, she said, because the business world is constantly changing, and it is important to be open to change and to adapt to new trends and be prepared to adjust your plans as needed.
She said the success of Omani women in various fields also inspires other women in the country.
She also takes time to encourage her students to aspire and get inspired by the success of others.
Dr Marwa stressed the importance of continuous learning.
“The success of Omani women shows that women can achieve anything they set their minds to. I think that women should always work on their personal and professional development by always considering themselves “learners”, as there is no limit to what you can learn in all aspects of life. Learning is an ongoing process, and that is what I always tell my students to keep doing, even after completing their university degrees. With all the technological advancements, learning has become accessible to everyone, everywhere, as there are free online workshops, training courses, podcasts, audiobooks, lectures and educational videos. This is also a way of empowering yourself with knowledge and skills,” she concluded.
PRIVILEGED TO BE PART OF OMANI WOMEN'S DAY INITIATIVE
Shamsa al Harthi was part of the group working with the former minister of social development Shariffa al Yahyai, who submitted the proposal to the Late Sultan Qaboos to establish the Omani Women’s Day.
“I have always felt we were born in the golden era for women as ours was the generation blessed with education for all. The parents might not have had formal education, but they were open-minded to encourage us and educate us with the available facilities by then,” Shamsa said.
She added, “It was a privilege for me to be part of the Omani Women’s Day initiative and the day when His Majesty declared it was a great day for every woman in Oman.” Reflecting on the achievements of women, Shamsa said a woman is an essential element of society in terms of motherhood, being a sister, a friend or in leadership roles.
“In many countries, women have lost their identity, but in Oman, we still enjoy our femininity, and we have the opportunity to become leaders,” she pointed out.
She believes that if you want to empower women, educate them; everybody in the family should be educated. With education, we can change the whole nation. Right from the beginning of the Renaissance, education was established as a foundation for the nation.
“We were fortunate because we had supportive parents and government. Our parents had not gone to school, but they supported us in every way,” she remembered.
She says that one of the challenges women face today could be competition.
“We can overcome competition with knowledge. As women, we are created with the ability to multitask. Balancing it all is important,” she noted.
According to her, emotion is not a weakness, “I think it is more of an intuition on what should be done. We are human, so emotion is natural. Faith, self-motivation, creativity, etc., help develop intuition.” Giving is the most important aspect of life, along with self-development and taking care of mental health.
“Regardless of nationality, every woman with different roles is a human being who requires respect and opportunities to achieve more,” she noted.
Shamsa continues to be an active volunteer in society, supporting every initiative and holding the post of Director-General at Dar Al Atta... She is also an artist, and recently, she was part of the voluntary team that just finished the project, ‘For You Palestine.’
SPECIAL DAY TO FEEL SPECIAL
The corporate world is conscious of gender equality, even though the debate continues about equal pay.
Muneera al Balushi has been working in the advertising field. She first celebrated Omani Women's Day at her office at Prime Advertising.
"I was happy and realised a woman is special, not just as an Omani woman but all women. There are challenges," she pointed out.
"One of the challenges is competing with men. However, everywhere women are now given equal opportunities today." Asked what is Omani Women's Day to her? she quipped: "It is a special day, and I feel special, and I'm happy to know that women are valued and I am valued. Today, women want to improve themselves in so many ways," she noted.
So, what makes her feel strong? Interestingly, motherhood gave her that special strength, she pointed out.
"Now that I am a mother, I feel strong. I did not feel that way before. It is how they love me, and my role is to protect and raise them right," Muneera reflected.
She feels it is important how and what we speak to daughters.
"We should not tell them you cannot do something because you are a girl. We should tell girls, 'you can do what a boy can do.' I also explain to my sons that their sisters are equal to them in every way and should be treated with respect," she said.
She believes gender equality begins at home.
Ask her what is important to a girl, education or wealth, and she is quick to respond, "Education is at most important. Even if she is competing with men in the world, knowledge is what makes her equal. Education empowers a girl, and it will provide her financial independence as well."
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