Emirati Women Journalists : Bargaining with Patriarchy in Search of Equality

This book presents a rare investigation of the media landscape and gender dynamics in Emirati newsrooms, with a socio-cultural focus on the influence of tribal patriarchalism in determining Emirati women’s role as news-makers. Shedding light on the stories of 40 Emirati and Arab expat journalists, including pioneer Emirati women journalists, the book offers insight into how these journalists construct gender differences and identity, and how this influences their everyday attitudes, conversations, routines, and journalistic practises.

The empirical study is supplanted with ethnographic explanations of the newsroom norms and journalistic practises from the author, who used participant observation inside two major news centres in Abu Dhabi and Dubai to understand the socio-cultural factors that shape the lives of Emirati and Arab expat journalists, their thoughts and beliefs about the media environment in the Emirates, and their opinions on the authoritarian political control, censorship, and the outdated media law. This book will interest students and scholars of journalism and journalistic practice, media policy, international journalism, gender studies and Middle East studies