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Gender Differences and Work-Related Communication in the UAE:

A Qualitative Study

By; Kamarul Zaman Ahmad

College of Business Administration, Abu Dhabi University,

United Arab Emirates

Summary:

In the literature review, the researcher stated that a combination of two approaches is taken, Women in Development (WID) and Gender and Development (GAD). The WID focuses in including women in the development and shift their roles as working employees within the organizations while the GAD considers social structures and the relationship between men and women. In addition, he explained the need to look first at the two approaches in the west to understand the issues that the Emirati women may now be facing, and the complexity of the inter-gender relations in the UAE. Thus, the researcher discussed two main points, Gender Differences in the West and Domestic Roles in UAE.

Firs, Gender Differences in the West: Some of the topics that discussed by researchers in the West and its findings are summarized below:

1. Working with Others

· Men prefer to do things by themselves, tend to evaluate the competence of others when interacting, and more competitive.

· Men tend to value male input over female input and assume that men are more competent than women.

2. Emotions, Self-Worth and Other Personality

· Women are completely at the mercy of their hormones.

· Women measure everything in terms of relationships, and men measure in terms of logic.

3. Asking Questions and Agreeableness

· Women are more likely than men to ask questions and agree with others, and women are less likely than men to challenge others’ statements and frame others’ arguments.

· Women have greater concern for cooperation and connection in their relationships.

4. Directness

· Women are often indirect in their communication.

· Women tend to soften their demands and statements. Men tend to be more direct.

5. Problems

· Women talk about their problems in order to have a connection with other. They don’t seek a solution.

· Men often try to solve their problems on their own, and if they are not able to, they will discuss their problems with others and expect solutions to be given.

6. Personal Details

· Women convers about topics of a more personal type.

· Women go into details in their speech in order to involve people.

Second, Domestic Roles in the UAE;

· In the past, Married women spent their time within the environment of the home. Unmarried girls may assist their mothers in the kitchen.

· Now, Most Emirati families have domestic maids.

· In many families, men shop for food as part of their duties of representing and handling family business in the external environment and preventing women from interacting with strangers.

· Women can always be seen at shopping malls.

Then, the researcher conducts his research on 418 UAE nationals comprising of 218 Emirati males and 200 Emirati females ranging from the age 20 year to 55 years. The research revealed new and interesting findings unique to the UAE. Some of the implications of the findings are summarized below.

1. Communication straightforwardness and tone, and group communication

· Efforts should be made to make women share their ideas with the group.

2. Communicating by phone

· Face-to-face communication is better when there is a situation that is sensitive, or that has the potential to result in conflict.

· When dealing with women face-to-face, be prepared that they do not make eye contact with you.

3. Communicating with other nationalities

· Emirati women should not be pressed into continuing the conversation when an Emirati male appears on the scene.

· Male should not invite Emirati females to go out and gave coffee of dinner.

4. Body language

· Make eye contact when talking with men to show that one is listening.

· Expect women not to make eye contact because of shyness and culture boundaries.

5. Forming Opinions, expressing them and receiving feedback

· Discussions with men can be done on a task-oriented style.

· Discussions with women can be done on a relationship-oriented style.

6. Expressing emotions

· Men have to be asked to tell you how they feel.

· Women will not hesitate to tell you.

7. Listening and engagement in conversation

· Men tend not to be good listeners.

· Women show engagement while talking and listening to others.

8. Sharing and solving problems

· Emirati men may appear aloof to others about sharing personal problems.

· An expatriate should not be surprised if Emirati women confide in them.

9. Openness, disclosure and details in explaining things

· Men do not share their personal information with others like , their wealth, job, business.

· Women discuss everything and anything with their friends and family.

10. Multi-tasking

· Men prefer to do one thing at a time

· Women are more likely to do multiple things at the same time.

11. Conversation topics at work

· Women talk about their problems, fashion, medical issues, beauty and talk about people.

· Men talk about cars, business, hobbies, and make fun of some their friends.

12. Ability to convince others in a sales presentation

· Men have very domineering personalities especially when trying to convince others because they have the courage to talk to both genders.

· In the UAE society, men’s words are believed to be more trustworthy, compared with the women’s.

Critique:

Gender differences and gender-related communications are examples of the most common topics in many discussions not only in this course but also in different courses in the MSA program. However, it is often difficult for international students to relate and participate in these discussions not only because of the backgrounds and cultures differences that are oriented by different fundamentals and principles but also sometimes because of the stereotypes that are labeled to them or their cultures as well as the nature of the relationship and gender interactions styles in their societies.

In this study, the researcher investigates the true nature of any differences between men and women, in the way that they communicate at the workplace. He describes the value of the study that there have been generalizations and negative stereotypes about Arab men, Islam and gender roles in the Middle East since the 9/11 incident as well as the fast rate of development in the UAE and more women entering the workplace. I think that the uniqueness about this study that it takes place in United Arab Emirates, a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) where six countries shares not only politics and economics matters but also cultures and religions among their people . Therefore, I find the findings of this study are more likely applicable to all the GCC countries where Saudi Arabia is a member of the council. It also provides valuable insights to anyone who wishes to work and do business not only in the UAE but also in the GCC countries, from the perspective of gender differences and gender interaction.

Reference;

Ahmad, Kamaru Z. (2014). Gender Differences and Work-Related Communication in the UAE: A Qualitative Study. International Journal of Business and Management, 9 (3), 185-195

Powell, Gary N. (2011). Women & Men in Management. Thousand Oaks, CA; SAGE Publications, Inc.