Shahd Thani is an Emirati poet and blog novelist whose blog The Ramblings of Shah has gained a momentous following. As a novelist, she delves into Emirati love stories that have struck a chord with people from varied backgrounds. Having recently won the first Liz Fenwick Mentorship Fellowship, Shahd is excited to share the Emirati world from a woman's perspective.
How much of your Emirati heritage influences your work?
All of it (laughs). I translate Emirati idioms and use them in my writings. I try very hard to stick close to the culture. I'm very influenced by Elif Shafak who incorporates her Turkish culture into her novels, so I try to do the same thing. No one really knows about Emirati culture unless you are an Emirati or you are friends with Emiratis in the UAE. So I want to give them a glance into that life.
Have you found it difficult being a woman and working in the creative field?
It's not really difficult. I get comments every now and then, but I think. mostly what I found is that people really love it if you're doing what you love. It's contagious.
Do you think women read more than men?
I do (laughs), I do think that men read but women kind of obsess. They get invested in characters they want to know - did she fall in love? Did she get married? What happened to her? Maybe it's the infinite curiosity of wanting to know that these characters are alright, that they made it.
Who is the one woman in your life that has really influenced you?
My mother because she was very insistent that we read. She used to read bedtime stories to us and then when we got older she made us read to our younger siblings and cousins. There are a lot of women in my life that are very influential.
Do you have a message for young women on International Women's Day?
I think the UAE has shown us in general that there is no dream that's unreachable, whether you're a woman or a man. My message is, don't let anyone's opinion change your direction. If it makes you feel happy, if it brings you happiness, go out and do it. Because eventually the negativity falls away and what remains is this dream that you're pursuing.
Are there any stereotypical perceptions of women that you would like to eradicate?
When it comes to the culture, people try to separate you as a woman. You're either an employee or a mother; you're either a daughter or a sister but you can be everything. You can encompass all those roles as a woman and it doesn't affect your abilities. You're a person at the end of the day.
SARA AL BALOOSHI is an Emirati photographer who is pushing the boundaries of perspective and breaking the rules. With over 30,000 followers on Instagram (swaairah), Sara's talent and passion for photography was always highly encouraged by her mother. Her Abaya series gained massive attention for depicting women in an empowering way while still retaining their national identity.
How much of your Emirati heritage influences your work?
When I first started photographing I thought 'what if I put the model who isn't wearing a shayla or abaya at all?' And then I thought about it and I was like 'why?' I could have us as Emirati girls relate to the artwork.
Have you found it difficult being a woman and working in the creative field?
In the beginning it was very difficult for me especially when it comes to where I photograph. I like to photograph in the fish market, the heritage centers - these places don't have a lot of women, it's all men. And specifically labourers. So being in a shayla and abaya, it's not comfortable. It actually gets me more attention. So I faced a lot of problems especially when it comes to photographing, because I like to take pictures of people without them noticing me. And it's hard for them not to notice me. There were issues I faced at first but you just learn, and I feel that they already know me now when they see me (laughs).
Can you name one woman that has really influenced you?
There is actually a lot but I would have to say my mum. Because she always pushed me. My mum pushed me when I started photography and wanted people to see things from my perspective. She pushed me from so many aspects. No matter what people said, she knew that's what I wanted to do and what I love doing.
Do you have a message for young women on International Women's Day?
One thing I want to say is that you should never let people put you down no matter what you want to do. Whether it's something no one has done before or something strange. Because some people look at strange things as a bad thing, they can't understand that because you want to do something different, that it can be right. If you want to do something, you just go for it.
Do you think that Dubai and the UAE provides a great atmosphere for creative women to grow?
I think so. Especially for women. If you asked me twenty years ago, the role of women would basically be in the house, taking care of her kids. Now we are studying, the percentage of girls graduating from university is bigger than the men in the UAE. Just having that and the role of women within the government is growing, especially when you compare it to other Gulf countries. So I feel that the chances we have as women in the UAE to become something in society are bigger than other places.
Are there any stereotypical perceptions of women that you would like to eradicate?
We are always wearing shaylas and abayas and I feel when people look at us they think that there are a lot of things we can't do. And in my (photography) series you can see the model walking through obstacles and she's always alone. We as a society see that a woman has to always be with a man . . . so in my series I wanted to show her alone, without anyone.
