Behind the Veil in Arabia: Women in Oman

by Unni Wikan

Through photographs and detailed case histories, Unni Wikan explores the strict segregation of women, the wearing of the burqa mask, the elaborate nuptial rituals, and the graceful quality of Oman's social relations.

"Wikan does provide insights into the real position of these secluded and segregated women. . . . All this is interesting and valuable."—Ahdaf Soueif, Times Literary Supplement

"The book is detailed, insightful, and . . . engrossing. Anyone interested in the day-to-day triumphs and sorrows of women who live 'behind the veil' will want to read this account."— Arab Book World

"Wikan, a fine ethnographer, has an eye for everything that is distinctive about the culture and . . . builds up a wholly convincing picture. Above all, there is a sustained attempt to penetrate the inner lives of these strangely serene people."—Frank H. Stewart, Wilson Quarterly

"This book will certainly be of interest to all scholars concerned with sexual identity in the Islamic world."—Henry Munson, American Anthropologist

Genres: Nonfiction, Anthropology, Middle East, Islam

328 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1982

About the author

Unni Wikan is professor of social anthropology at the University of Oslo, Norway. She has served as visiting professor at the University of Chicago (2011), Harvard University (1999–2000), Goethe University, Frankfurt (2000), London School of Economics (1997), École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales, Paris (1996). She has also been a visiting scholar at Harvard University (1995), guest lecturer at Harvard (1987), guest lecturer at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel (1983) and visiting assistant professor at Johns Hopkins University (1977).

Wikan has worked as a consultant to UNICEF and the World Food Programme in Bhutan from 1989 to 1994, the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation in Palestinian areas in 1999, and United Nations Development Program in Yemen (2004).

For almost ten years, Wikan has campaigned to change Norwegian policies towards immigrants, arguing that generous welfare and a policy of multicultural tolerance are creating a culture of welfare dependence, and destroying self-respect. A reviewer of her book Generous Betrayal: Politics of Culture in the New Europe claims that she used invalid methodology, not giving "a far more complex social reality" its due.

Wikan has performed field work in a number of countries (Egypt, Oman, Yemen, Indonesia, Bhutan, Scandinavia) and her research has resulted in ten books being published. Her works have been translated into Japanese, Arabic, Kurdish, Portuguese, Swedish, Danish, German, and Italian.

Wikan was awarded the 2004 Fritt Ord Award "for her insightful, outspoken and challenging contribution to the debate on value conflicts in the multi-cultural society."

She is a member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters.

Reviews

[Bob Newman · Rating 3 out of 5]

earnest effort may irk tenacious readers

It's not as if there are so many anthropology books written about the women of Arabia and their lives. No, I haven't found a great number. I bought this one some years ago and just got around to reading it. The Arabic-speaking Norwegian author, wife of renowned anthropologist Fredrik Barth, lived in Oman for six months back in the 1970s, not long after the country opened up to the world. It was an excellent chance to study a culture not yet much affected by "globalization" (though many men had worked abroad in the Emirates, Saudi Arabia, India or Zanzibar). I liked her introduction for readers, and all her descriptions of interactions between women, between husband and wife, and between women and their families. I liked the fact that she did not swallow the common Western preconceptions about Muslim or Arab women, but dealt with everything as she saw it, with fresh eyes, as it were. I appreciated her efforts to analyze what she saw and come to some broader statements about the lives, roles, and overall position of women in Omani society (or at least that of Sohar, on the Batinah coast). She realized that many Omani women were not the oppressed creatures often depicted in Western press and literature and she described how they relished their roles, felt comfortable, and proud. So far, so good. Very good even.

But as I read through this study, many questions kept coming up in my mind. First of all, how accurate could this study be if the author only stayed six months in the town of Sohar, split into two occasions ? The topic she'd chosen demanded a longer period of research, though not all anthropology does require it. Secondly, I noted that most of her friends and informants were young girls, between 13 and 19 years old. Would their comments or behavior be typical of women over the whole age range ? No comments from the author about this. Thirdly, though Wikan does put herself into the picture in many places, admitting that she pushed people to discuss subjects they might not otherwise have mentioned, etc., she does not take her overall presence much into account. Might not the silence and the reticence of the older generations be a factor of her presence ? OK, I am someone totally unfamiliar with Oman and the society of Arab women. I could be wrong. But it comes to mind. Fourthly, and rather irritatingly, after long sections of discussion of honor, shame, sanctions, segregation of sexes, the meaning of the burqa, role-realization in marriage, and other interesting topics, I reached page 280 only to read "With such limited material, I shall not be able to penetrate and expose the inner workings of married life in Sohar. But for once, I do not say `unfortunately'. Let Soharis keep their secrets. The dignity with which individuals and couples struggle to comport themselves, so that their lives will embody the gracefulness and style they so value, deserves to be respected." (!!) So what had I been reading up to that point ? I felt the ground taken out from under my feet here. I agree that respecting the people one studies is an excellent idea. Perhaps it is the only idea. But in the case when you don't get information, it behooves you not to try to write a book ! The constant emphasis on the grace, style, and reticence of Omani women began to pale. I questioned whether the author had understood the whole picture. I wondered if the lack of conflict or interest in gossip was not just a function of young women keeping quiet before an older foreign woman.

If you have read my review thus far, you'll see that I have my doubts. Plus, for readers of the 21st century, this is purely social history because Oman must have changed dramatically since 1976. Nevertheless, for some insights into the interactions that Wikan DID observe, for a sympathetic and (I felt) accurate description of how young women felt about marriage, what factors influenced parents to choose a particular husband for the girl, the style of married life, and the segregation of sexes, and for a few Sohar life stories, this is still an interesting and probably useful book. The idea that the Arab woman (at least in Oman) is a submissive, slavish creature with no personality of her own must definitely be tossed out the window (if you hadn't done so long ago.)

[Spencer Beadle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, produced from Wikan’s fieldwork conducted almost half a century ago, was and continues to be a prime example of how we should always approach cultural difference with more questions than answers, and a willingness to embrace the possibility of never knowing anything.

Most particularly about the context of Sohar in Oman, and the lives of women within it, Wikan transcends narrow stereotypes that are still projected onto populations in the Middle-East today by Westerners. For Wikan, there is no need to be sensitive or politically correct as a requirement to compensate for common misunderstandings — she simply presents what is as is.
It is for this reason that the book is timeless in its method by allowing readers to immerse themselves in a very defined period of the country’s history — something Wikan also communicates sensitively without drama, as a force of imminent future change encroaches upon the people she weaves her life amongst.

Compared to many other ethnographies, I can confidently say that Wikan was, for her time, a progressive and refreshing force for anthropology as a discipline. She acknowledges her faults and misunderstandings as her research proceeds. She could have improved on reflections regarding how her position as a Western figure may have influenced the behaviours around her, and her own perception of the environment (though to be fair, the current wave “of acknowledging the researchers’ positionality” has only recently come into practise). Furthermore, she provides sobering advice for how the disciple may improve by appreciating and systematically observing silence more earnestly.

A final refreshing aspect of this anthropological literature is that her summary of marriage within the whole societal context is analysed toward the end of the book, pretty much as a conclusion — a daring task to explain it ‘backwards’ to common convention (as such chapters are often near the beginning), yet she pulls it off well.

In all, Wikan gifts readers with golden moments, sharing insights into a world that are still relevant today, and analyses of customs whose meanings and reasons for existence have permeated until today; even though many of the behaviours themselves have changed, the values behind them have survived, and Wikan brought these deeper values to light many years ago.

[Vaishali · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carefully canvassed and researched, Wikan takes you inside a hidden, private society of a refined and delicate people. Quite surprising to read about a promiscuous housewife and a male prostitute. I wished for more pictures of the women and their exotic face masks.

Hoping Wikan returns to Oman for a second edition book, since many changes have taken place inside the country.

[Holly Westwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read, but a lot of the information seems to be over-detailed. I was surprised to learn several things that were different to most islamic cultures though. I had to read it for a class, but I still think it would be interesting for a free read.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this back in the 90's but I really enjoyed it and learned quite a bit from it. A lot of what I read has stuck with me through the years. I'm glad I live in the United States!

[Hannah Laura Parker · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'll admit that I have something of a kneejerk negative bias against anthropological (as opposed to sociological) writing about modern-day cultures, because I associate it with paternalism and exotification at best and outright racism at worst - but honestly, I was impressed with the sensitivity and respect shown here, particularly for something that was written in the 1970s. Even the handling of homosexuality and trans issues, while not great, didn't feel nearly as bad as it could have been.

[Michele Benson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oman. A middle eastern country bordering Saudi Arabia and the Emirates, Oman was only opened to the west in the 1970s. Men and women live separately and while men are expected to travel and be educated, women rarely leave their homes. Girls marry at 14 and their husbands are usually twice their age. I learned a lot about how Omani women are raised, how they think, and what is import to them, but little about the country itself. I assume this is because they know so little about anything outside of their own households.

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

An insightful look at the women of Sohari in Oman and their relationships with men and other women. I was surprised to learn how culturally different the various sects of muslims are.

[Kelsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of interesting information, but a bit dry to read.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting look at women and gender relations in a particular region of Oman in the mid 1970s.