[APPLAUSE] JAWAHER AL-SHAMARI:
Bismillahirrahmanirrahim. As-salamu alaykum,
warahmatullahi wabarakatuh. I am Jawaher Al-Shamari, a
Muslim woman, an Arab woman, a Qatari woman, a Bedouin
woman, and a researcher. Growing up, I noticed a
lack of representation of my intersectionalities, which
fueled my passion for amplifying diverse voices. Growing up as the
eldest daughter, I had to quickly
become independent. Until sixth grade, there
was a turning point. When my teacher saw the
potential in me and ensured I stayed in good schools. From then onwards,
I was more aware of the importance of
quality education. My access to higher
education was far from easy. But I'm grateful to
stand before you today at Brown pursuing
my master's degree. By the grace of god, then
the people who supported me and advocated for me. I want to do that for others. Giving them a voice and allowing
for their discussions, thoughts, and ideas to shape policies. My research examines the
existing laws, state empowerment project, and the lived
reality of women in Qatar. And through this
study, I shed light on experiences that
may be similar to and different from mine. Now, let's delve into
the heart of my study. Focusing on women's
rights under family law, comparing their legal status
with the state's goals like the Qatar 2030
vision for boosting women's public participation
and bringing that together in their lived experiences. Utilizing standpoint
theory, which means our social position
shape our perspectives, this recognizes the experiences
of women and minorities as valuable sources
of knowledge. As I uncover both progress
and ongoing challenges, I conclude we need urgent
legal and cultural shifts for true empowerment. Now, allow me to tell you about
the nature of the interviews. Firstly, I considered
various factors such as generational, familial,
educational, cultural, and marital backgrounds. Despite the potential
challenges and risks, I reassured participants
of our shared goal. Understanding realities. And advocating for policy
improvements aligned with the state's
vision, I reassured them that I'm part of the
community and we're here to share our voices, our
stories, and experiences for our beloved country, Qatar. Secondly, the findings
of my interviews of the semi-structured
interviews where a collective narrative of
not only their experiences, but those of their
social circles too, which was very powerful. In general, participants
expressed hope and concern emphasizing the vital role of
women's agency and autonomy. Now, let me share some of
the stories that emerged. Some interviews
unveiled fear stemming from societal norms such
as a woman recounting a relative's escape from
the patriarchal system. Despite having supportive family
members who didn't pressure her into marriage, she
couldn't shake off the haunting stories
of abuse, control, and restrictions faced by
her sisters and friends from their husbands. Feeling vulnerable within
this close knit fabric of Qatari culture, she felt
she had no option but to flee. This shows how the
lack of absence of clear laws
safeguarding women can create an atmosphere
of uncertainty and fear leading to potentially
harmful situations. In terms of legal
obstacles, two mothers faced challenges regarding
their children's legal matters. Despite their husbands absence,
the male guardianship system restricted their authority. For instance, one
mother while trying to renew her children's passport
while her husband was abroad, faced bureaucratic hurdles. The officer insisted that
a male should be present and suggested their uncle
should do it for them if the father was not present. This discriminatory procedure
exemplified the mother's exacerbation, as she remarked. As long as a
mustache is present, it doesn't matter
that I'm their mother. Despite the nurturing role
of mothers under family law, they lack decision-making
authority for their children. And now in terms of
state empowerment project and reflecting on
my own experience, I recall feeling pressured to
attend the segregated university for my undergraduate studies. Fortunately, accessible
US institutes enabled me and others of
pursuing higher education without travel constraints. This opportunity is
particularly significant given Qatar's goal of a
knowledge-based economy. Many, including myself, have
benefited from her highness Sheikha Moza's vision of
establishing education city as a hub of
prestigious institutes. Despite the challenges we
faced, and I personally faced, graduating with honors has
been immensely rewarding and we are grateful for that. Overall, participants
expressed hope. And overall,
participants voices are essential in shaping bottom
up policy change ensuring dignity, agency, and autonomy. I invite you all to
join this conversation. Listen to other
stories without bias, and recognize the importance
of diverse voices and driving meaningful change. Because this work
isn't just about Qatar, it's about creating a better
world for women everywhere. Thank you. [APPLAUSE]
