Dilemmas in International Social Work

Education in the United Arab Emirates:

Islam, Localization and Social Need

Introduction

This is about social problems in the United Arab Emirates society being compare to other Muslim nations.

I.  The Context of Social Work in the UAE

            A. Social work is at a developmental stage.

            B. Poor pay, sexism, discrimination

II. Social Work Education in the UAE

            A. Is offered at the universities.

            B. The curriculum about the family is very relevant.

            C. Islamic Issues considered forbidden are avoided

III. Implications for Social Work Education in the UAE

            A. Accepting Diversity

                        1. Emirati students used to see immigrants as uneducated servants.

                        2. They realized they are only 20% of the population.

           B. Working with Challenging Client Groups

                        1. Students in social welfare highlight deficiencies of the curriculum.

                        2. Most were school social work positions follow by health based positions.

                        3. Internships students were completely unaware of their existence.

IV. Meeting the Needs of communities

            A. Elder Abuse

                        1. Rural villages have become isolated inhabited primarily by elders

                        2. Exploitation and abuse of female migrants employed as domestic workers.   

            B. Child Abuse

                        1. Sexual abuse is a taboo subject

                        2. They prefer to manage the issue privately within the family

            C. Disability, Stigma and Marital Rejection

                        1. Polygamy is a common practice

                        2. Mothers of disable children are abandoned

V. Lessons for Educators and Practitioners

            A. The Islamic Worldview

                        1. Students withdraw from classrooms for prayers

                        2. Muslims sex segregation is carefully observed

            B. Demonic Possession and Mental Distress

                        1. Cultural belief of diverse forms of distress require traditional healing methods

                        2. They typically present psychosocial and/or psychiatric problems

Conclusion        
Social Work in the UAE is still developing. They don’t see a problem however this may change due to increasing social need and demand for professional intervention to align with international expectations of educational protocols.

In Booming Gulf, Some Arab Women Find Freedom in the Skies

Introduction

Some Arab single women are flying away from home and becoming independent. Flight attendants have become the face of new freedoms for women.

            I.  Flight attendants have become the public face for the Arab families.

                        A.  A subject of social anxiety

                                    1. Some families won’t let their daughters go at all

                                    2. A decade ago unmarried Arab women working abroad were very rare

                                    3. Even though family think they are crazy now more women are doing so

                                    4. For more families their daughter virtue will be questioned and threaten 
                                        her marriage prospects.

                                    5. It can led to alienation from their home countries

                        B. A subject of social fascination

                                    1. They travel to other countries were layovers may last many days

                                    2. They stay in nice hotels and receive allowances to cover food and

                                         expenses.

            II. Flight Attendants who live in Abu Dhabi

                        A. Experience a Lonely Existence

                                    1. New lives for some women away from home become almost nun like.

                                    2. Other women may find themselves in the arms of unsuitable men

                        B. Treated like heroines

                                    1. They delight in their status as pioneers, role models for other women

                                    2. When they go home female families would ask about where they went 
                                         and how was it and they ask for pictures.

                                    3. Independence has changed their belief about themselves

                         C. A Feeling of Displacement
                                     1. They find that flying makes it difficult for Muslim women fulfil
                                         religious duties like praying five times a day and fasting during Ramadan.
                                     2. Some women tell stories of fellow flight attendants who have run away
                                         without giving notice to the airline.
                                     3. Young women often find to their surprise that work has made them
                                         unsuitable for life with their families.

           Conclusion
           Although, flight attendance encounter loneliness and displacement, it becomes very difficult
           for them to go back home.  They like their independence and freedom.

          Ashencaen Crabtree, S. (2008). Dilemmas in International Social Work Education in the
                 United Arab Emirates: Islam, Localization and Social Need. Social Work Education,
                  27(5), 536-548.

           Zoepf, Katherine. (2008, Dec 22).  In Booming Gulf, Some Arab Women Find Freedom
                 in the Skies. New York Times (New York, NY): A.1. SIRS Issues Resercher. Web.
                 03 Jul 2012.