Education and the Reverse Gender Divide in the Gulf States: Embracing the Global, Ignoring the Local (International Perspectives on Educational Reform Series)

In this groundbreaking work, the author provides a close examination of the relationship between gender and education in the Gulf Cooperation Countries (GCC) and reveals that women's participation and achievement in education is rapidly outpacing that of men's. Ridge refers to this situation as a ''reverse gender divide'' and examines the roots and causes of this imbalance, as well as implications for the future. Based on timely material that is largely unavailable to other scholars, the book further describes how GCC countries, in their desire to be perceived as modern nation states, have enacted and embraced education policies that leave no space for local policymakers to acknowledge boys' deficits and challenges. In addition to the important implications for educational policy and practice, the author also explores wider social and political issues, such as the impact on the workforce and future sustainable development in the region. In this groundbreaking work, the author provides a close examination of the relationship between gender and education in the Gulf Cooperation Countries (GCC) and reveals that women's participation and achievement in education is rapidly outpacing that of men's. Ridge refers to this situation as a “reverse gender divide” and examines the roots and causes of this imbalance, as well as implications for the future. Based on timely material that is largely unavailable to other scholars, the book further describes how GCC countries, in their desire to be perceived as modern nation states, have enacted and embraced education policies that leave no space for local policymakers to acknowledge boys'deficits and challenges. In addition to the important implications for educational policy and practice, the author also explores wider social and political issues, such as the impact on the workforce and future sustainable development in the region.'This book offers a refreshing perspective on education in the Gulf States. Reframing the conversation about gender equity in education, Natasha Ridge studies how teachers and schools contribute to the growing educational marginalization of young boys in the Middle East. This book should be required reading for anyone interested in the region and in deeply understanding the centrality of gender equity as a goal of modern education.'—Fernando M. Reimers, Ford Foundation Professor of International Education, Harvard Graduate School of Education'Focusing on the resource-rich monarchy states of the Arabian Gulf, Natasha Ridge makes a compelling and nuanced case that the international discourse on gender and education has overlooked the growing academic marginalization of boys. Analyzing relevant political, economic, and social factors, she provides a critically important study that dispels myths, examines the impacts of gender-related educational disparity, and offers thought-provoking suggestions relevant in the Gulf countries and beyond.'—Ann Austin, professor, Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education, Michigan State University'This volume provides a well-researched and insightful examination of gender differences in school achievement and retention in the Gulf States. It makes a timely and important contribution as it debunks widely held misconceptions and adds nuance to our understanding of the dynamics of education and employment in the region. This volume in a ‘must-read'both for those concerned with gender issues in education and those interested in the social and economic development of the Middle East.'—David W. Chapman, professor, University of MinnesotaNatasha Ridge is the executive director of the Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research based in Ras Al Khaimah (RAK), UAE. She has also been an educational consultant for the World Bank, UNICEF, and USAID in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Cover 1 Contents 6 Preface 8 Introduction I. Oil and the Expansion of Education in the Gulf 18 Education as a Development Priority in Kuwait 19 Development of a Formal Schooling System in the Trucial States of the Lower Arabian Gulf 25 An Education Mission in Bahrain 33 Islam as a Driving Force for Education in Saudi Arabia 37 Striving for Education Quality in the Sultanate of Oman 41 Qatar's Progressive Reform Efforts: Education for a New Era 45 Moving Forward 49 2. The Rise of Women in the Gulf 50 Expansion of Schooling Opportunities for Girls 55 Better Educational Outcomes for Girls 58 Rapidly Expanding Female Participation in Tertiary Education 63 Conclusion 68 3. The Quest for Modernity: Gender, Education, and Development 70 Constructing a Discourse Linking Gender, Education, and Modernity in the Middle East 73 The History and Trajectory of the Modernization Project in Education in the Gulf 77 Current Gender, Modernity, and Education Discourses 79 Casualties of the Gender, Education, and Modernity Discourse 86 4. Leaving the Boys Behind 89 Boys Falling Behind in GCC Schools 91 Teachers, Gender, and Nationality in Boys' Schools in the GCC 97 Expatriate Teachers and Boys' Education 100 Conclusion 112 5. Placating the Populace: Nationalization, Gender, and the Threat to Education 114 The Rentier State and the Rise of Nationalization Initiatives 115 The Issue of Nationalization and Implications for the Education Sector 119 Common Characteristics and Challenges of GCC Nationalization Policies 122 Nationalization, Education, and Gender Policies at the State Level 125 Unintended Outcomes 134 6. The Value of Education Beyond Work: Implications for Gender 138 Returns to Education 139 Returns to Education in the GCC 148 The Value of Education Beyond the Labor Market and the Implications for Gender 159 7. The Future of Gender, Education, and Development in the Gulf 161 The Gender Gap in the GCC 164 Barriers to Change 168 The Potential of Gulf Education Systems to Ensure Opportunity for All Students 170 Reimagining Gender and Education in the Gulf States 175 Notes 178 References 180 Index 213 About the Author 225