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Baz · Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Posts: 32

I'm currently applying to universities in the UAE. If it works out, I would move with my wife, who is Taiwanese. (She is fluent in English.)

I wonder if there is much racial / class prejudice against East Asians in the UAE. Anything we should know? Also, she is a certified Mandarin teacher. Is there any market for that language?

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

You will find that the Gulf is filled with marriages of mixed nationalities. I suspect that there are plenty of Taiwanese around so that she doesn't miss home too much.

But, yes... there is class structure that assumes that any person of Asian descent must be a maid or other service worker. She needs to be aware that it can occur, but it is merely irritating. (white women have to deal with the assumption that we are Russian hookers... so we all have our little aggravations...) The Gulf is generally a safe place for women, but what danger exists would be to Asian women out and about alone in the middle of the night. An easy enough situation to avoid...

I'm not sure of the market for Mandarin, but she could advertise (on supermarket message boards) and give private lessons.

VS

Baz · Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Posts: 32

Thanks, VS. My ex experienced similar attitudes in New York City. Some people in that that supposed mecca of tolerance and diversity had a hard time believing that a woman with an advanced degree and a high-profile job could actually be Mexican-American.

I've since looked over some much older posts in this forum and seen some alarming (alarmist?) reports of harrassment visited on Asian women. Any opinions about that? I admit I have a quite low tolerance for that sort of thing.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Baz,

Much depends on your wife. She will get a certain level of harassment... it goes with the territory. The danger is minimal, but how she adjusts depends on her personality and self-esteem. Can she accept that it isn't personal and ignore their silliness?

My ME experience began in Egypt and walking to the university every day was like running the gauntlet. Rolling Eyes

But, after a couple weeks, I could pass through Tahrir Square and didn't even hear or see them. And the Gulf is nothing compared to someplace like Cairo. In the Gulf it is mainly the constant staring by every male on the street, and mostly whispered inuendo and invite. If she is very sensitive to this kind of public attention, you may be in for problems.

VS

Baz · Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Posts: 32

Thanks, VS! By the way, how would you compare the experience she'd have and in Oman?

helenl · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 1202

would be pretty much what she would expect in UAE (as per VS's description)

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

I'd agree with helen1. I'd say it is true for the whole Gulf area.

But, harassment in general is lower in Oman. I found the 'stare' level significantly lower and they don't have the hooker problem, so women are not as often confronted with unwelcome offers. Oman in general is just a more reserved culture... and the expat workers tend to follow the lead of the locals. In Oman, the situation is worse in the villages than in Muscat area. Omani village boys are a rambunctious lot.

VS