Kuwaiti women who studied abroad adjust to life at home

Fatimah al-Qattan, Director of Public Relations in an international company, said she was forced to study abroad because the University of Kuwait did not offer Business Administration as a scientific major. Despite her family's initial concern about her staying alone for a long period of time abroad, they eventually agreed she should go.

"And this was a great opportunity to rely on myself, especially since I studied in the United States and not in one of the Arab countries, which in the end maintains the same framework of Arab culture, customs and traditions," she said.

But her return to Kuwait was not as easy as she anticipated.

"When I came back to Kuwait, I thought I was going to work in the major I specialised in," she said. "Unfortunately, I did not find something that suits me and was in line with what I studied, which drove me to go back to school in Kuwait to complete my studies and reach the position and work that I want."

Al-Qattan is one of many young Kuwaiti women attempting to work in a field not normally open to women.

Al-Ma'rifah magazine published a study earlier this year prepared by global consulting firm Tony Blair Associates, Kuwait Vision 2030, that said the educational system is incapable of preparing the workforce to cope with the challenges of the future.

The Director of Public Relations and Information at the Ministry of Higher Education in Kuwait, Ali al-Halabi, told al-Shorfa the ministry makes opportunities available for young men and women to study abroad regardless of gender.

"The Ministry is providing the opportunity to both males and females to submit applications to complete their education abroad after finishing high school," al-Halabi said.

He said custom, however, including parents' fear of their daughters travelling abroad, keeps the ratio of men to women studying abroad unequal.

"The selection is not made according to sex at all, but according to ratios and school grades, given the fact that the proportion of males normally exceeds that of females, due to the customs and traditions that govern society and make some parents fearful of their daughters travelling abroad by themselves, which leads to the ratio of males reaching 65% and females 35%," he said.

Nonetheless, the decision to leave Kuwait to study constitutes a challenge, especially once young women return to Kuwait and reintegrate into society.

Dalal Ibrahim, an architect, said she has faced great difficulty since returning to Kuwait.

Ibrahim grew up in London, and then moved to live with her family in Kuwait when she was 10 years old. When she finished her high school education, she went to study at the American University in Sharjah.

"My mother objected due to concern that often haunts mothers with regards to their children, especially the girls, but my father was supporting me because he was aware of the extent of suffering that I had been through for the duration of my high school studies because I did not adapt to life and dealing with people in Kuwait," she said.

After finishing her university studies, Ibrahim strived to stay out of Kuwait as long as possible.

"I have already travelled to the United States for six months, which paved the way for me to work in a very prestigious company in Kuwait where I am treated like a foreigner," she said.

Ilham al-Qattan, Social and Psychological Development Advisor, said readjusting to life in Kuwait is more difficult for girls who grew up abroad than it is for girls who only left the country for their studies.

Although many girls are affected by the short years of life away from home, she said it "becomes easier for them to adapt when they return to their original society, with some exceptions".

But the situation of those who grew up abroad is very difficult, because many of the cases that she has dealt with show a clear rejection to adapting with the Kuwaiti society as a result of the customs they acquired in the West, al-Qattan said.