Opportunities
The Roles We Play
A Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar student sneaks a peek at her new diploma at graduation. She is joining more than 84,000 other CMU alumni, some of whom have gone on to be CEOs and Nobel Prize winners. “Much is expected of you,” says President Cohon in his charge to the graduates. “No I don’t expect each of you to win a Nobel Prize, but I do expect that each of you will have a positive impact on the people around you, in the places you work, in the communities in which you live and in the world.”
Women. Can’t live with them, can’t live without them. But who exactly is “them?” We are all constantly shifting from one identity to another. From the innocence of youth and the comfort of friends, to the responsibilities and pressures of earning money, holding a job and starting a family.
a Toulmin h s A g u b tter . oday shu T n a of Qatar m n o e m W o w few ries of a o t s e h t captures
The trio Three teenage girls pose for a photo during their martial arts lesson. Off to the side of the class, they separate themselves from the boys. One wants to go to university in America (she has only seen it in the movies) – “do you have facebook?” they ask me, giggling. They have never met anyone from the United States before.
Girl talk Friends gossip over sundaes in a Haagen Daaz at the Souq Waqif. Another almost identical group of four women gather on the other side of the shop to talk. Waiters carve up the ice cream, lathering on hot fudge in the chit chatty atmosphere, where girl secrets and fears are being discussed and divulged.
Strength
A brown belt shows me some of her fighting moves. “Boys, girls, the lessons are the same for both of us,” she says. As the teacher calls them back over, I watch them take centre mat and run through their exercises, kicking, jabbing and punching at an invisible enemy.
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Shop talk Two customers discuss a jewellery purchase with a clerk at Villaggio mall. There are so many stalls and shops to choose from, let alone the different styles of rings, bracelets and necklaces. Pearls, silver charms and diamonds look enticing under the plate glass. They talk for five minutes, asking about prices, but walk away without a purchase.
do and be
A participant at a female professional development workshop discusses her work related stress. The women are lined up in a spectrum, on one side “being”, on the other “doing.” She is at the very end – only “doing” right now in her life and career. The ideal position lies in the middle of the spectrum. There, the balance of both will give you happiness at work and home, according to the workshop facilitator.
inspection A room attendant goes through a twin bedroom at the Four Seasons Doha. She is meticulous. Every desk drawer is opened; no bed skirt is left unturned. All the light switches, all the appliances are checked. Her workload depends on the occupancy of the hotel, how many guests are checking in and out. “If there are 42 rooms, then I check 42 rooms that day,” she says.
poised
A model poses at the end of the runway during the Al Motahajiba bridal fashion collection debut. Cameras go off all around her. She will reappear a few more times during the show in different abayas, but with the same highheeled shoes. She places her feet carefully one in front of the other, while swinging her hips and selling her garment.
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chores Wife and husband share a laugh while doing the dishes. “We don’t have a lot of time to hang out with just each other now that we have the kids,” she says. She wipes the plates, he puts them away – they have a system. The stack of plates and bowls slowly shrinks and shrinks down to an empty sink.
baby love
Mother and daughter share a moment, playing around on the couch. The mom coos, propping her child up, bringing the little stuffed bear back and forth between the two of them. The little one squeals when she sees my camera. Her eyes follow it around, curious and excited, wondering what it could be.
i do
Another model poses at the iWed exhibition. She sits with several other girls, contained in her gem-studded dress as a live mannequin. A large crowd draws around. People stop and stare, they take photos, and ask the girls questions. Some women picture themselves walking down the aisle in her outfit.
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Presenting dolly As her family relaxes at the end of the day, a little girl shows me her pram and dolly. “Take a picture of me,” she says, proudly showing me her little bundle of plastic joy. She parades her fake baby girl around, wheeling her from side to side of the room, occasionally posing to smile for the camera.
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