Job Discussion Forums

[tweaka]

Hi again,

I'm burning with a question. As I looked through employment pages and photo galleries I couldn't help but notice that most of the teachers at places like HCT looked obviously western.

I am African American and had planned to wear an abaya while I was in the UAE. Would that keep me from getting a good job? With all credentials and experiences being even... would I do better without? I don't wear it here in the US, for obvious reasons, but you would think it would be easier in the Gulf. From what I have seen in pictures it might work to my disadvantage if they are appearance conscious.

Thanks

[veiledsentiments]

Yes, most of the English teachers are Westerners, but in the content courses you find a mix of teachers from around the world... mostly Indian and other Arabs. Many of the teachers were Muslim from other countries, but when I was there none of them wore abayas. They wore what they normally wore in their own countries. The first thing that the students do upon entering the door is take off the abaya to start the daily fashion show.

Personally I think I would go over there without... and check out the attitudes with the other Muslim women. Some of them I spoke to felt that the abaya was a Gulf fashion rather than something required in Islam and for them to wear one would be more like playing dress-up. I am not sure what the attitude of the locals would be towards your wearing one. At least one teacher who posts here - another American convert - said that she got a negative reaction from the other Muslims on the faculty and staff to her wearing one.

There is a huge variation in how women dress in the Muslim Middle East and I think that the Gulf style abaya is more the exception than the rule.

VS

[Gulezar]

There seems to be a bigger problem than the abaya.

I've known American Muslim women who always wore the abaya (in the States and during travels) and there were no problems at work in the UAE because of it, at least as far as I could see. I've also known Western women who wore the abaya as a lark in the UAE and were censured because of it. Therefore one should understand that you might have to justify to some women the light switch "turn it on, turn it off" attitude. However, there are other women who will just take it as, "When in Rome ..." and leave it at that.

It is probably best to stay with your normal Islamic dress which you would wear in the States ... covered for modesty sake.

The bigger problem is that you seem to be going to the UAE and expecting to be a local hire. A local hire will probably not be given the same priority as an external hire. You might, also, find more problems with racial prejudices than with "not fitting the profile" of Western dress.

So even "with all credentials and experiences being even... ", you could expect that being a local hire rather than an external hire and being a person of color is probably going to have a much greater impact on your candidacy for a job in the UAE than an abaya.

If I am correct that you will be interviewing under those circumstances, I would suggest that if you wear the abaya, commit to it and don't back out down the road. Being seen in the abaya at work and without it when you are shopping at City Center will definitely be seen as a political move on your part. Your usual modest Islamically correct dress would probably be a better option.

[tweaka]

Gulezar and VS,

Thanks for your comments. No I am not thinking to be a local hire. I have never been in the Gulf and would definately be an external hire. My motivation for going to the gulf is financial first, culture second.

You are correct about having to commit to wearing it. I used to wear a scarf here and when I decided not to it became a huge issue with the muslim community.

I love the way abayas look and have a few here just for special mosque type deals. I was just wondering.

Thanks

[Mia Xanthi]

I know that I am probably going to get all kinds of grief for what I am about to say, but here goes: most of the hiring done at the better places of employment is done by middle-aged, white, non-Muslim men, more often than not from England or Australia. These men WILL discriminate against you for being (in order of importance) an American, an African American, a Muslim, wearing "local dress" and a woman.

If you really want to wear an abaya (and I understand because I enjoy wearing one even though I am not Muslim), you should certainly wait until after the interview, and it is probably best to wait until you have worked at the place a couple of months. There are many people who will not give you the time of day even if you have your hair covered, let alone if you wear an abaya. Some will see it as "dress-up" and some will just avoid you as they will place you in a social class with "locals" - out of hatred and fear. Not all the westerners who work in the middle east have a desire to interact with another culture or religion. Some are just there for the money and bring their prejudices with them.

I am a white American non-Muslim, and I experienced a great deal of overt hostility just for being American. I had never experienced such a group of racist, sexist people in my life. I'm not even a particularly politically correct American, but the things they said behind people's backs were just appalling. I still get sick just thinking about it.

Don't mean to put you off with this, but just be aware that there are some horrible attitudes out there. My advice would be to get the job first before donning the abaya.

[mishmumkin]

I've noticed an increase in non-Gulf Arabs wearing the abaya-mainly Muslims from other countries. The reason that I've been told this happened is that two part: some women think that if they are mistaken for being Emirati that they will get more respect from those that they deal with on a daily basis (taxi drivers, shopkeepers, etc.). The other reason was supposedly the general move to "wahabi-ism"-the abaya somehow representing that more conservative interpretation of Islam.

My two cents is that you will receive more feedback from Emiratis than expats on this; much of that feedback being critical, as VS mentioned. If you do not wear the abaya (let alone, the hejab) at home, I would not suggest wearing it to teach in the UAE nor to the interview. Being African-American, I think you'll face enough challenges in getting a job in the UAE. Some employers might view converts (or those believed to be converts) as coming to the UAE with an agenda. Does that make sense? A culturally and religiously sensitive agnostic would be a safer hire, in the eyes of many, simply because they would dress as expected, teach class, and go home. A convert who was hoping to come to the UAE and wear the abaya and shayla in an institution in which they were trying to "sell a western image" might be rocking the admin's boat.

Just my take...

[veiledsentiments]

Well Tweaka, this has turned into an interesting thread...

[tweaka]

Well, that was special. You're right VS it did get interesting. It wasn't all that serious, truly. I don't cover here in Texas and thought.. well.. maybe. I can honestly do without.

Like I said, I have a buddy there who is African American and she seems to be happier there. I guess that since I am used to discrimination as a double minority in Texas, what they will come up with there will just be par for the course. Sad but that's life.

Thanks ya'll

[uaeobserver]

Depends on where you are. I know a few westerners that cover with an abaya.

Again - depending on location, supervisors may occasionally comment on it --- usually with disdain.

There are a variety of motivating factors, which I won't go into.

Suffice it to say - they think they're reformers --- and that you're a barrier to that reform.

[turtlepi1]

To wear or not to wear is up to you.
I would suggest if you do not wear it in the interview and then show up wearing it, then there is the potential for problems with your employer.
(and really I guess, deservedly so) Some employers could care less and others will. If they do and they feel you have been disingenuous it will stick with you for a long time.

[mishmumkin]

[DesertStar]

[Umm Banat]

I have just left the UAE after teaching for 3 years in a women's college.
The students tend to keep the abeya on more now in class, but the sheyla comes off more.
Non Emirati Muslims usually wear western type dress (full skirts) with the hijab. We have several women (of colour and not) who take this option without anyone taking a second glance.
Western women in abeyas are normally those married to locals.

[15yearsinQ8]

case of CYA which experienced teachers always do
ask in emails what the dress code is - ask to see faculty handbooks/policy letters.
once hired, ask in writing for a dress code explanation - get an answer in writing, ask personnel and the staff lawyer
university language centers are part of a larger faculty so go directly to university dean/provost/president's office - otherwise you MIGHT be stabbed in the back

[DesertStar]