Ethnicities and Identities
In this chapter I will focus onSaudi Arabian ethnicities and identities. I will specifically focus in religious tribes and traditions with in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is largely a Muslim country and there are two main tribes within Islam, Sunni and Shi’a.
One other topic I will focus on is individual identities and formation of those identities of women in Saudi Arabia.
One other topic I will focus on is individual identities and formation of those identities of women in Saudi Arabia.
Sunni and Shi'a Tribe
Sunni’s make up 90 percent of the Muslim tradition, while the Shi’a tribe makes up about the rest. The two tribes split over a dispute over who would be the leader of Islam. The people who became the Sunni group believed the person who was to take Muhammad the Prophet’s place was Abu Bakr, a man not in the Prophets family. The Shi’a tribe believed the man to take Muhammad’s place was to be someone in the Prophets family, a man named Ali who was the Prophets son-in –law and cousin (Ali-Karamali, 84-85). Below you will read some of the differences between the two groups. It is also important to note that although there are differences in these groups there are many similarities. They both focus on the five pillars of Islam, teachings of the Prophet, and believing in one god.
Sunni
The Sunni’s believe Abu Bakr was not a prophet himself; he was a man that led the Muslims. He was a man whose job was to act according to the wishes of the Prophet (Ali-Karamali, 85). Sunni’s believe that the successor of the prophet is more of a political leader in a religious group than a religious leader in that group (Ali-Karamali, 86).
Shi'a
The Shi’a believe the successor’s of the Prophet are divinely selected and are related to the Prophet. The Shi’a call the successors of the prophetImams; this is different form an imam who can be any person that leads prayer (Ali-Karamali, 86).
Personal Identities in Saudi Arabia
In this section I will discuss women’s identities in terms of every day life and religion. I will give examples of similarities and differences found during skype sessions.
Every Day Life
When the Fall 2012 Communications across cultures and genders class began skyping with their partners form Saudi Arabia they found there were many similarities between them and their partners.
One girl in the class wrote in herskype journal, “I could appreciate her cell phone being something that shaped her because she lives far away from her family and uses it to keep in touch with them. I am normally very far away from my parents and younger sisters so being able to call or Skype them is very important to me. Also, everyone mentioned how family has a deep impact on our lives. Even though I’m sure our family dynamics and traditions are different that doesn’t change the importance that it plays in all
of our lives, which I think is cool.” Family was am important part in both girls lives even though they lived in two different parts of the world. Each girl’s family plays a role in the shaping of their lives, which is why communication is so important for each individual.
On one occasion students were asked to present their skype partners with items that represented themselves and their identity. One girl on the United States end wrote, “I did not expected her items to be so similar to items that another girl from the United States might be excited about. She shared with us her high heels, her make-up bag and her Blackberry.”
Some Hope students were surprised to find that popular media in the United States was
popular in Saudi Arabia. One partner from Saudi Arabia listed her favorite musicians as Chris Brown, Pitbull,
and Rihanna. Due to some of the lyrics and imagery connected with these artists it was a surprise. One guy in the U.S. class wrote, “As for movies, however, she enjoyed many American classics. While I figured she would say "Casablanca" or "Gone With the Wind," she referred to "Armageddon" and "Pearl Harbor" as classics. I thought this was funny, as those movies are surely considered good movies, but probably not classics in the sense that Rida thinks of them. When I told her I liked comedies such as "Dumb and Dumber," she said that she liked that one and
that her dad was a big Jim Carrey fan.” This student from Saudi Arabia liked American movies along with her family. It might come as a surprise but American media is influencing Saudi Arabian individuals as well as those in America.
One girl in the class wrote in herskype journal, “I could appreciate her cell phone being something that shaped her because she lives far away from her family and uses it to keep in touch with them. I am normally very far away from my parents and younger sisters so being able to call or Skype them is very important to me. Also, everyone mentioned how family has a deep impact on our lives. Even though I’m sure our family dynamics and traditions are different that doesn’t change the importance that it plays in all
of our lives, which I think is cool.” Family was am important part in both girls lives even though they lived in two different parts of the world. Each girl’s family plays a role in the shaping of their lives, which is why communication is so important for each individual.
On one occasion students were asked to present their skype partners with items that represented themselves and their identity. One girl on the United States end wrote, “I did not expected her items to be so similar to items that another girl from the United States might be excited about. She shared with us her high heels, her make-up bag and her Blackberry.”
Some Hope students were surprised to find that popular media in the United States was
popular in Saudi Arabia. One partner from Saudi Arabia listed her favorite musicians as Chris Brown, Pitbull,
and Rihanna. Due to some of the lyrics and imagery connected with these artists it was a surprise. One guy in the U.S. class wrote, “As for movies, however, she enjoyed many American classics. While I figured she would say "Casablanca" or "Gone With the Wind," she referred to "Armageddon" and "Pearl Harbor" as classics. I thought this was funny, as those movies are surely considered good movies, but probably not classics in the sense that Rida thinks of them. When I told her I liked comedies such as "Dumb and Dumber," she said that she liked that one and
that her dad was a big Jim Carrey fan.” This student from Saudi Arabia liked American movies along with her family. It might come as a surprise but American media is influencing Saudi Arabian individuals as well as those in America.
Some students were surprised with some of the differences between them and their skype partners. One student wrote, “Reem goes on a big vacation every summer. She goes to a different country every time! How exciting! I told her and Becca about how my family and I go on road trips. Reem said she had never been on one but wanted to do one, one day.” This student from the United States was surprised how many times her skype partner had left her own country on vacation. There was a difference in vacationing between the two students lives, one student left the country every summer the other went on road trips.
One student observes, “Reem told us that her family has two drivers and two maids! I was so surprised! My family has never had a driver or maid! Reem told us that she doesn’t really know how to cook either. While I am here at college I am cooking all of my food. She said her family usually eats breakfast and lunch at home but they will usually go out for dinner. My family usually does not go out to eat, but we sometimes do.” Not all families in Saudi Arabia have maids and drivers but since women cannot drive in Saudi Arabia some families have drivers so women can get around easier.
One student observes, “Reem told us that her family has two drivers and two maids! I was so surprised! My family has never had a driver or maid! Reem told us that she doesn’t really know how to cook either. While I am here at college I am cooking all of my food. She said her family usually eats breakfast and lunch at home but they will usually go out for dinner. My family usually does not go out to eat, but we sometimes do.” Not all families in Saudi Arabia have maids and drivers but since women cannot drive in Saudi Arabia some families have drivers so women can get around easier.
Religion
Religion is a big part of Saudi Arabian life; it is a factor in the forming of an individual’s identity. One of the
students from Hope College wrote, “This week she showed us her kuran and said that she is not allowed to touch it because she has her period; while a female is on her period she is considered unclean. She also told us a bit about the cleansing rituals they have before a prayer/worship service. She said that if you go to the bathroom before prayer you must go through a series of cleansing steps of the feet/legs and the hands/arms. If you wear nailpolish and need to cleanse, you will not be fully cleansed until the nail polish is removed because the cleansing water would not have been able to clean the nail underneath the polish without its removal. Reem said that she usually only wears nail polish when she is on her period because it is too much work to constantly remove and reaply the nailpolish between cleansing the rest of the month.” In America nail polish can be seen as a sign of personal expression and
identity. One of the students from Saudi Arabia could not wear it all of the time, she had to wait for when she had her period. This is much less common in the United States than in Saudi Arabia.
students from Hope College wrote, “This week she showed us her kuran and said that she is not allowed to touch it because she has her period; while a female is on her period she is considered unclean. She also told us a bit about the cleansing rituals they have before a prayer/worship service. She said that if you go to the bathroom before prayer you must go through a series of cleansing steps of the feet/legs and the hands/arms. If you wear nailpolish and need to cleanse, you will not be fully cleansed until the nail polish is removed because the cleansing water would not have been able to clean the nail underneath the polish without its removal. Reem said that she usually only wears nail polish when she is on her period because it is too much work to constantly remove and reaply the nailpolish between cleansing the rest of the month.” In America nail polish can be seen as a sign of personal expression and
identity. One of the students from Saudi Arabia could not wear it all of the time, she had to wait for when she had her period. This is much less common in the United States than in Saudi Arabia.
Different situations form our identities, be it religion, technology, family, and so on and so forth. There were similarities found between the Saudi Arabian and American students.
Sources
Ali-Karamali, Sumbul. (2008). Muslim Next Door : The Quran, the Media, and That Veil Thing. Ashland, OR: White
Cloud Press.
Al-Otaibi, Reem M. Interview by Rebecca Weygandt and Nikki Kamp. Personal Skype interview. 2 Dec. 2012.
Rana and Rewaa. Interview By Sydney Timmer. Personal Skype Interview. 17 Sept. 2012.
Bamashmoos, Shoaa. Interview by Chris Ray and Kristin Stevenson. Personal Skype Interview. 30 Sept. 2012.
Sarah. Interview by Danielle Pumfery. Personal Skype Interview. 23 Sept. 2012.
Shoaa and Rida. Interview by Christopher Ray. Personal Skype Interview. 3 Dec. 2012.
Cloud Press.
Al-Otaibi, Reem M. Interview by Rebecca Weygandt and Nikki Kamp. Personal Skype interview. 2 Dec. 2012.
Rana and Rewaa. Interview By Sydney Timmer. Personal Skype Interview. 17 Sept. 2012.
Bamashmoos, Shoaa. Interview by Chris Ray and Kristin Stevenson. Personal Skype Interview. 30 Sept. 2012.
Sarah. Interview by Danielle Pumfery. Personal Skype Interview. 23 Sept. 2012.
Shoaa and Rida. Interview by Christopher Ray. Personal Skype Interview. 3 Dec. 2012.