A Battle Against Stereotypes: Role of Arab Women in the GCC Countries

It is believed that Arab women are pitiful creatures who follow their husbands like a dark shadow, is forced to remain silent and obey their husbands at all times, and is granted a body only to deliver more children, perhaps more in competition with her husband's other wives. The typical Arab wife, as perceived by the mass media, has no real say in the running of the household and that it is the men who decide on each and every issue. However, there is an astonishing mismatch between the actual lives of Arab women and the image setup by the media. Because of the medias, so to speak, "actual" image, stereotype spins uncontrollably, becoming wild and absurd. Thus arises a question asked by many people who believe on the lives that have been represented by the American Media.
In what way are Arab women in GCC countries battling stereotypes in education, family, workplace as well as politics, but yet they wish to keep their identity with the hijab as well as create a niche for themselves in the world?
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