(MENAFN-Khaleej Times) Panelists express concern over leaving children in maids? care, changing social and personal values, says Dhanusha Gokulan
The high incidence of Emirati children being left in the care of maids and nannies is a matter of grave concern, according to a group of expert panelists at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature (EAFL) on Wednesday.
According to Dr Rima Sabban, Assistant Professor of Sociology at Zayed University, recent research among Emirati families found that 63 per cent of respondent families admitted that they cannot live without housemaids.
“This kind of dependence must stop. Emirati families must not depend on household help to raise their children. They must take up this responsibility and raise their own children,” said Sabban.
She was speaking at ‘The Wednesday Watani Debate’ on ‘Family Values - As strong as ever?’ at the 6th edition of the literature festival.
Dr Amal Humaid Belhoul, Dr Hala Kazim, Yasir Suleiman, Dr Mona al Bahar and Dr Rima Sabban during the panel discussion on ‘Family Values: As strong as ever?’ on the second day of the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature in Dubai Festival City on Wednesday. — KT photo by Juidin Bernarrd
Are family values as strong as they have ever been or, with the advent of modern technology, exposure to other cultures and the fast pace of modern life, have they been diminished or even lost? Panelists spoke on the subject of nannies raising children and how Emiratis must try and hang on to traditional and Islamic values, especially because the local population of the UAE is much lower as compared to other GCC nations.
The session was chaired by Yasir Suleiman, Professor of Modern Arabic Studies at the University of Cambridge.
Dr Sabban was joined by Dr Mona Al Bahar, member of the Federal National Council and Professor of Social Work at the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU); Dr Amal Humaid Belhoul, who has served in positions and responsibilities in many areas, including educational and consulting, in addition to positions and volunteer experiences in the field of studies, research and counselling; and Dr Hala Kazim, founder of ‘My Private Collection’ and ‘Journey through Change’, an organisation that helps people change their lives in a positive and constructive way.
The panelists noted that like any country across the world, the UAE is also undergoing a period of transition, where Arab, Islamic and traditional values are slowly changing. “Which is not necessarily a bad thing,” said Dr Kazim.
“The empowerment of women might have a major role to play in this matter. The values of marriage have changed — women play an active role in leadership within the family — and I personally stand for change,” added Dr Kazim.
A mother of five children, Dr Kazim said: “My kids occasionally ask me to start using social media websites like Facebook and Twitter more actively. It is something that is bound to happen. You don’t become a different person because you are adapting to change, it is anything but natural,” she said.
However, Dr Al Bahar said human values can be divided into two types. “Values are variable in nature, and they are constantly changing. Material values like the use of technology are something that will change over time. However, some values that arise from customs and heritage must be preserved,” she said.
Smaller Emirati population
Adding on to the comments of Dr Al Bahar, Dr Sabban said: “The roots of a tree cannot move or change, however, the branches and its leaves can be modified. The upcoming generations must work very hard in order to preserve some Islamic and Arab cultures.”
Unlike other GCC countries, the UAE has a small Emirati population. Only about 16.5 per cent of the country’s population is natives. “The Emiratis itself are a minority. We have 200 nationalities living in the emirates and today, the size of an Emirati family is also small. Now, there are two crucial authorities that work towards the preservation of Emirati culture and society. Firstly, the government plays a huge role in doing so, and secondly, the nuclear family itself plays a big role in preservation of its values,” added Dr Al Bahar.
The panelists suggested that the milti-cultural society of the UAE could be one of the reasons that traditional Emirati values are slowly changing. “The youth is encouraged to interact with other nationalities which, of course, is very important, especially to move ahead with the changing times,” she said. “Unlike a few years ago when the advice and counsel of older members and extended families were taken very seriously by family members, people in the age group of 18-35 now seem to have very little respect for the older generation,” said Dr Belhoul.
“The younger generations must, however, realise that the personal values and respect for family values are of primary importance.”
The upcoming generation of Emiratis, who were attending the debate, were advised to exercise discipline and curb spending on expensive material substances.
Female focus
Nannies, marriage and success
on the agenda
A series of sessions examining the challenges affecting women in the modern world will be the subject of the ‘Female Focus’ morning today as part of the sixth Emirates Airline Festival of Literature at the Intercontinental Hotel, Dubai Festival City.
Sessions include a panel discussion on how to measure success, led be culinary entrepreneur Prue Leith and top novelist Jo Jo Moyes; a debate on whether cultural differences in the approach to marriage can be a predictor of the institution’s success; and an assessment of the impact of the reliance on nannies in the rearing of children, particularly where nannies do not speak the child’s mother tongue.
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