Saudi women migrants and identity construction in Paris

Saudi Female Expats in Paris

International Migrants make up about 190 million of the population of the world today. (Balbo 5) the ratio between migrated men and women is roughly the same. Regardless of the reason a person migrated, the main concept here is that they left their country of origin and moved to another location. Many say that migration goes on to on economically build up a country and it significantly contributes to the GDP of both the countries. (Balbo 5) it should be noted that change of funds, services and economies is not the only thing that takes place when migration occurs. Seeing the altitude of diversity that we have today, it is believed that migration has created third diversity. (Balbo 7) it is the diversity of different cultures and communities that brings out concepts like multiculturalism and collective identity.

Regardless of what an individual chooses to do, it is quite apparent that this topic of crucial. As it is stated earlier, migration is very common in the world today. A major reason why I am going for this study is because it has not been carried out before. For all the people who have had to move from one place to another, it is possible that the experience created strains on the development of their self and their identity. This progression into a new society with changed cultures and traditions is not an easy task. As it is quite apparent, many people get so absorbed in this process that they forget their true identity and forget the culture that they were raised into. Even though a person may not realize it at that time, it can go on to change our identity. Being a Saudi and living in a country that is quite different from my native culture, I want to see how that happens. It is true that Islam and the West have always had their difference. Cultural imperialism is on the peak and is attempting to change people from their original thoughts and original culture. Even though the difference is there, I see some positive aspects in the West that I feel were missing in Islam.

As it would be apparent from the analysis of the interviews carried out, freedom and independence are some of the main components that are not stressed upon in Islam. I feel that women in Islam are not allowed to create much ambition probably due to the extremism on them. Sadly enough, the extremists always go for the ways that actually degrade women in Islam. In reality, I believe that Islam is religion of freedom and respect for women. Despite what the truth is, it appears that cultural and not religious pressures limit women from going out and pursing their potential.

Background

We live in the age of globalization in the cultural sphere today and free markets is not only thing that globalization has given us. Typically, globalization has been linked with the destruction of cultural identities, westernization of the consumer culture and accelerating encroachment of just one culture. (Tomlinson) Some of the anti-globalization activists actually go on to say that globalization are an extension of the western cultural imperialism. (Shepard and Hayduk) Migration and globalization therefore are blamed to be factors that cause a person to lose his or her identity. Identity is basically the representation of self and others as it shaped by an individual based on how they represent themselves and others in their community. (Balbo 7) Therefore, when talking about identity; there are two aspects to look into. One way is the cultural or collective identity that an individual forms. This identity is basically dependant on the culture of that certain individual. These cultural values and traditions are therefore passed on from one generation to the next.

On the other hand, there is an individual identity that is bound to change with space and time. This identity is not only in the hands of that individuals but it also depends about on what others perceive about you. This identity also relies on how well you maintain your interaction with others and how much you adapt to their way of life. Therefore, it should be noted that identity is socially constructed and a person is subject to different sorts of choices. These choices are that a person believes that he or she is part of that identity, then there is the notion that he chooses to be a part of it and then of course there is the option of refusing to be part of that identity. (Olivier)

Problematic Discussion

An interesting thing to note is that identity and cultural relation is not recognized when a person lives around the people of the same culture. When you see people around you believing the same things as you and practicing the same things as you, you feel just like the rest of them. The actual problem of identity comes out forward when a person travels to other places. When these people see how different they are and what their culture is, that is when they develop a conscious awareness of their own culture. Therefore, it is established that when a person sees different cultures around him when he travels or comes to the west that is when they learn more about their identity and their culture.

Research Question

The major research question is that what relationship is present between family, identity and ambition with the female students in the American University in Paris. We need to figure out and discuses that the techniques of self that these girls have formed and how or if these techniques have helped these girls maintain their cultural integrity. It is quite easy for a person to let go of his culture and his norms if his identity is not well established in the first place. Lastly, we will also see how these Saudi girls go on to deal with ambition while living in Paris.

Thesis

The thesis that is presented is that even though these girls are now exposed to a new culture and tradition, they have not completely left their own culture behind. Using techniques that will be disused below, these girls are very much in sync with their religious values, cultural values and tradition. They do not want to mimic a French person or an American but they are open to explore and see different ideas as well.

Methodology

Keeping in the mind the overall purpose and the objectives of the research, the methodology that was used it both qualitative and quantitative. Qualitative research is utilized because it assists in providing coherent and comprehensive explanation of the subjects that need to be researched. It should be noted that all of the subjects were chosen were different in one form or another. Even though the questionnaire provide to the subjects was the same, their responses were varied and needed to be analyzed thoroughly.

The questionnaire therefore makes up the quantitative method of the research. These questionnaires are handed out to the Saudi x-pats in American University in Paris. The interviews basically provided me with the means to carefully analyze every individual in the process. Utilizing discourse analysis, I will be able to study the variable theories of self. On the other hand, content analysis will aid be in examining and analyzing any academic journals and articles regarding the topic in hand. Apart from the academic journals and the articles, I have access to the interviews by eight Saudi girls who live in Paris right now.

The sample group was basically selected on the basis of gender and nationality. This research topic was quite crucial for me as I am a young women belonging to Saudi Arabia and living in Paris. Therefore, my sample size consisted of eight girls who had some linkage to the Saudi heritage at one point or another. Half of the girls analyzed were those that have moved directly from Saudi Arabia to Paris. On the other hand, four girls had lived in places elsewhere before they moved to Paris.

Analysis

To analyze subjects or any topic for that better, it is crucial to have proper understanding of the subject before hand. It is only with adequate knowledge that a successful analysis can be done. Firstly, it should be understood where these girls come from. Most if not all the girls belong to families that are very religious and controlling. Families control where and how much a girl studies and when or to whom she should get married to. Therefore, knowing and understanding all these details, I will conduct interviews with these girls. These answers will be analyzed while keeping all the aforementioned information in mind.

It is important to see that by always staying in the shadow of their parents, these girls have never really been exposed to unlimited ambitions and freedom as such. They always had to look for the approval and the permission of their family. The independence and the freedom that the West offers are quite new to them. It is through interviews and analysis; we will see how these individuals feel about the new cultures and regulations around them. Living in a new place, these individuals can very easily let go of the limitations they were under before. Therefore, their answers will give a sound idea of what sort of struggle they are experiencing with the new culture and how to retain their self and identity.

Limitations.

This study was only carried out on eight students and that is the major limitation of this research project. As stated before, half of the sample size is directly from Saudi Arabia and the other half has lived in countries such as well. Despite these differences, there are other factors such as economic class, religious sect, education and family structure that make each of these individuals different one from another. Due to these differences, the generalization created from this sample set cannot be applied to all young Saudi women.

Discussion

The interviews from the girls conducted all produced different answers and various view points to look it. It should be noted that majority of the girls stated that they would wish to try out the American culture and that they didn't see anything wrong with it. This goes on to show that they have been affected with the cultural imperialism that was mentioned before. These girls were kept in families and in customs that were really tightly bind. Let alone going to a combined education university, these girls were not allowed to dress the way they wanted to dress. These same girls are going off and doing things are strictly prohibited in their religion.

A possible explanation for this act could be the increasing judgmental and suffocating environment that was created for them back home. The kind of society and the people they were exposed to, these girls are actually sick and scared of increased judgments placed on them. The sort of reception they attained from for instance, the subject Anoud stated that she did drink after the seminar and only chose to stop because she afraid of the other Saudis. This shows that she is scared of being judged by her society. It even hints at the doubt and guilt feeling that will be discussed below. Internally, Anoud knows that what she is doing is not what is expected from an Arab Muslim girl. Because she knows that she is doing something wrong, she feels as if she is being watched. On the other hand, the girl Hadeel is quite confident in following things her way and doing what she wants to do.

This again emphasis on staying in the safe spot and not going for any new cultures or any new traditions. She stated that she feels as if others think she is weird but she doesn't care. That personal satisfaction is what the Islamic scholars hint at. In Islam, they have stated that if a person follows their religion, they automatically become carefree about what others think of them. Hadeel also stated that she follows her religion and stays happy doing so.

An interesting thing noted from these interviews was that the students who moved directly from Saudi to Paris were more likely to expand than the students who lived someplace else before. This again builds up on our notion stated earlier in the paper that exposure to more cultures and increased travel actually increased your knowledge about your own culture. Since the other girls like Noor and Hadeel had lived in other places before, they accepted the other culture but didn't necessarily conform to it. The girls who were kept in closed containers were seen to be more excited to let go of their own identity and try out new ideas.

For instance, Reem stated that coming to a different country; she was more proud of her religion and wanted to practice it more. She stated that she did not feel shy in using religious words in front of her friends and she became more of her religion. This again emphasized what we had stated earlier about being closer to your culture and your own religion. The same notion goes for Waed who starting wearing a veil and covering after she came to Paris.

It was seen that none of the girls seem to have a problem with the gender of the teacher. It appears that if they kept themselves to a distance, then the gender differences and the interaction with the opposite gender doesn't matter as much. As it was stated in one of the interviews, having a boyfriend and having male friends is quite common in Saudi Arabia as well. Even though it remains hidden there, doesn't mean people don't do it. Most of the girls were not in favor of the bar and didn't seem it fit for a university. Then again, as mentioned earlier, the girls who were new to being in a different country liked the idea of a bar.

Regarding the nudity in art, the girls had varying opinions to this. Some girls were completely against this and wouldn't even look at this due to their religious obligations. Out of eight, only two of the girls liked it. Four girls were not bothered by it, accepted it as a piece of art and didn't say much against it. Acceptance therefore was a technique they developed to the changing norms and values around them. It should be noted that out of the eight girl's interviews, seven of them stated that they would still consult their family about their plans in the future.

Even though these girls were exposed to more freedom and possibilities of more ambitions, they still could not go wild about making their own life. It should be seen that this sentiment is created not only because of the religious and the cultural values. This is indicative of the strong family structure that is present in the Arab world and other Eastern countries. The girls stated that they trusted their families and would not go against them. Here, we see that family plays a rather supportive and self assuring role rather than being controlling. We can even postulate that this changing viewpoint is due to the different values around the family as well. Family such as the mother and father are aware of the degree of freedom that their daughter now has. They know that they cannot keep imposing and controlling her life like they used to when they were back in Saudi Arabia.

From the discussion over here we see that the major self techniques that the Muslim women have employed are based on their religion and on their faith. They turn to their guiding principles and the morals that have been taught to them. Giddens states that radical doubt does enter a person's mind when they go on to alter their lifestyle. He emphasis that adherence to a clear cut faith can actually go on to reduce anxiety. This is one possible self technique that these women also apply. Even though applying clear cut faith and reducing anxiety is something that many people don't practice, this is something that many true believers go for. (Giddens 180)

Filtering out is basically the becoming of a protective cocoon because there is no proper boundary between confidence and security. (Giddens 181) the Muslims basically go on to believe that their future plans have been planned beforehand by God. This notion might go on to decrease their ambition but it surely makes them retain in their limits. In other words, these people the filter themselves out and stay away from all the things that have been declared illegal for them.

Risk assessment is another strategy that was mentioned by Giddens as well. This becomes crucial when a person is placed in different situations and new possibilities. For a Muslim man or woman, there basic instincts are very important in determining how risky something is. Some of the more pious or religious people go on to trust God and ask for some sort of sign before taking on a venture. In Islam, it has been stressed that anything that takes you away from religion is bad for you and something that brings you closer to God is better for you. For this reason, many people go on take refuge in already established life styles and norms and values. (Giddens 182)

Whenever a person goes to play a certain part in the society, he makes sure that he gives the observer a certain impression. He wants the observer to see that the character he has and he has the attributes that one should possess. (Goffman 28) This therefore, goes on to project a false identity and shows that these people have truly lost part of their true identity. If he is sincere in his own act, then he has now lost touch with his self.

It should be noted that there is a strong correlation between trust and the reliability of the care taking figures. (Giddens 186) These feelings basically give a person a feeling of security and thus lead to a pure relationship. Pure relationships therefore give rise for a person to develop a better feeling of self and self understanding. Thus, it is possible that the girls who were willing to change their identity, they were kept in a very suffocating environment at home. Their relationship was rather oppressive and controlling as opposed to being pure and full of reliability.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it should be noted that these girls did go on to exhibit various self techniques. Some of the techniques that they practiced were using imagination, avoiding what was happening and ignoring the things that bothered them. These people were surrounded by ideas they didn't approve it, but they didn't go on to follow that. The major factor in creating the techniques were deriving from their family upbringing and the religious faith they had developed inside of them. They were so sure about their religion and their beliefs that they were not affecting as to what was happening around them.

In Islam, there is no compulsion in religion. In other words, a person cannot be forced to do something or forced to change their point-of-view. This is exhibited by the girls who merely accepted the new things around them. They did not retaliate against them bur rather accepted it as part of the new culture. Even though they were open for new ideas, they still maintained their adherence to family life and family opinion for their future. Even though the sense of ambition was increased, they were still not completely independent and free to choose what they want. Furthermore, it is seen that their migration to Paris has caused them to change but they still remain close to their original values and beliefs.