BY AZMAT HAROON
Like their male counterparts, many young, single women come to Qatar in search of better opportunities.
Whether they are here to pursue their career goals or to support their families, going out to have ‘fun’ is not only the least of their concerns, it is also a challenge for some.
The parks and beaches of Qatar are among the preferred destinations of single working women on their days off. Many of them say that instead of going to shopping malls they prefer to be outdoors as it helps them relax.
Almost all of them say that they feel safe in Qatar, maybe even safer than back home.
Far fewer in number than men, the single working women here are employed in a variety of sectors, with a huge majority working in the education sector and in the mushrooming malls and hypermarkets.
“I came to Qatar almost three years ago. There are only a few places I go to on my days off,” said a teacher from Britain working in an Independent school.
The initial challenge for her was trying to figure out how to dress for public places.
“I knew we were supposed to dress modestly. Many of the women I know have great respect for the local culture. But at times, it can be very confusing as well as challenging to get used to a new social conduct, especially if you were not brought up in the Middle East,” she said.
It was during her second year in Qatar that she came to know of some restaurants and clubs, where she goes with her friends whenever she can.
“Qatar also has some very beautiful beaches. I like to go there every once in a while,” she added.
Many teachers living in accommodation provided by their school say they do not have easy access to transportation. At best, they have to rely on taxis, which can be hard to find.
“We have a curfew for the female staff living in the hostel,” said a teacher working for a community school.
Because of the curfew and the absence of proper transportation facilities, going out in search of entertainment is not a top priority for her, she said.
“I have a family back home that I am supporting. I try to focus on my work. The most fun I have is when I go to visit my family,” she added.
The woes of single working women here are not limited to a life without family support; many also say that they have to deal with a lot of pressure, particularly at work, as they are often dominated by men.
“I think it is only now that I am seeing more and more women vying for good positions in different organisations,” said Ayesha, who did not want her full name to appear in print. She has been working in the banking sector for almost a decade now.
Ayesha said that although banks here had always had qualified female professionals, in the past they were either limited in number or confined to a particular department in a bank.
“I think many banks prefer to hire women who are already living in Qatar,” she said.
Getting employment visas for single women can be difficult for companies. Ayesha said this depended on the nationality of the woman being hired.
Single women working here as maids or janitors face their own challenges. They usually get only a day off in a week, and depending on their sponsor or the family with which they are staying, their opportunities for having ‘fun’ can be severely limited.
A Filipina maid, who works as a cleaner, said her friends working as maids had practically no social life.
“It’s not that they never go out, but sometimes their madams can be very suspicious. So they prefer to stay indoors. Whenever they’re out with the family, they have to look after the children,” she said.
“On my day off, I usually go out with my friends. Sometimes we have a small party in someone’s house,” she added. Another young woman, who works in a bank, said the Corniche and Aspire Zone were her favourite places. “Whenever I’m depressed or tired from the pressure at work, I go to the Corniche to relax. Just looking at the big blue sky is very relaxing,” she said.
THE PENINSULA
