University of San Diego Digital USD Dissertations Theses and Dissertations 2020-05-17 Exploring Intergenerational Value Changes across Three Generations of Emirati Women Using Focused Ethnography Ebtesam Ali Alteneiji University of San Diego Follow this and additional works at: https://digital.sandiego.edu/dissertations Part of the Developmental Psychology Commons, Leadership Studies Commons, and the Sociology of Culture Commons Digital USD Citation Alteneiji, Ebtesam Ali, "Exploring Intergenerational Value Changes across Three Generations of Emirati Women Using Focused Ethnography" (2020). Dissertations. 172. https://digital.sandiego.edu/dissertations/172 This Dissertation: Open Access is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses and Dissertations at Digital USD. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital USD. For more information, please contact [email protected]. EXPLORING INTERGENERATIONAL VALUE CHANGES ACROSS THREE GENERATIONS OF EMIRATI WOMEN USING FOCUSED ETHNOGRAPHY by Ebtesam Ali Alteneiji A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy May 2020 Dissertation Committee AfsaneH Nahavandi, PhD Robert Donmoyer, PhD Christopher Newman, PhD University of San Diego © Copyright by Ebtesam Ali Alteneiji All Rights Reserved 2020 University of San Diego School of Leadership and Education Sciences CANDIDATE’S NAME: Ebtesam Alteneiji TITLE OF DISSERTATION: EXPLORING INTERGENERATIONAL VALUE CHANGES ACROSS THREE GENERATIONS OF EMIRATI WOMEN USING FOCUSED ETHNOGRAPHY APPROVAL: _____________________________________, Chair Afsaneh Nahavandi, PhD - _____________________________________, Member Robert Donmoyer, PhD- _____________________________________, Member Christopher B. Newman, PhD DATE: April 14, 2020 ABSTRACT Intergenerational value change, influenced by technological advancements, economic development, formal education, and urbaniZation, becomes especially complex when it occurs in times of rapid changes, as in the case of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Through the lens of social change and Human development theory, heavily constructed in the Gemeinschaft/Gesellschaft paradigm, this focused ethnography explored the push and pull of traditional boundaries within a collectivist society and the necessary navigation of infused WesterniZed philosophies promoting individualism and autonomy. Participants in this study (N = 24) were members of 8 family triads of grandmothers, mothers, and daughters who represented 8 different Emirati tribes from 4 cities in the Emirates. Data were collected during semi-structured interviews using prompts and vignettes and through observation and the generation of field notes. Thematic analysis revealed 3 themes that described the Emirati women’s unique cultural experiences: (a) cultural value change (gender equity and roles, family connectedness and relatedness) is evident across generations; (b) change in cultural values is the result of multiple factors (e.g., wealth, education, heterogeneity, independence, need for and acceptance of change, negotiation); and (c) resistance to change (e.g., gender roles, respect, connectedness, relatedness) slows the changing of values. The findings underscore the need to support young Emirati women as they navigate value change and try to rectify often conflicting role expectations. Insight gained from this study informs the field of cross-cultural leadership and female leadership development in the Gulf region. DEDICATION I remember when I was 5 years old and dreaming of pursuing a PhD in the United States although I had no idea what that entailed. All I knew was what my mother explained to me in simple terms: I will teach adult people at the university. This passion was inspired by my mother’s close friend who broke out of the traditional pattern and decided to fly to the United States in the mid-1990s to pursue her PhD in education. This was not the norm back then, but she challenged her surroundings and her Bedouin family to follow her passion and she did! I remember the stories she used to share with my mother about her journey in the United States every time she came home to visit. The stories were truly inspirational and constantly shaped my passion to dream big and aim high as a female. I am so grateful for this early exposure that inspired me to study culture and change and that drove me to realiZe my dream at the young age of 30. I am equally as grateful to my father, mother, grandmother, and siblings, in particular my sister Nouf, for always being huge supporters of my PhD journey and personal growth. I dedicate this dissertation to them. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my dissertation committee: Dr. AfsaneH Nahavandi, Dr. Robert Donmoyer, and Dr. Christopher Newman. To my chair, AfsaneH Nahavandi, you have been a true inspiration to me. Thank you for introducing me to the field of cross-cultural leadership and for your continuous support through my master thesis and now my doctoral dissertation. Dr. Robert Donmoyer, this dissertation topic was born out of your class. I am grateful for your feedback and continuous support that helped shaped this dissertation. Dr. Christopher Newman, thank you for believing in me, for pushing me to realiZe opportunities beyond the USD campus, and for engaging me as the collaborative lead in a study abroad course to the United Arab Emirates. I could not have produced this researcH without the grandmothers, mothers, and daughters who participated in this study. I truly appreciate and am grateful for your willingness to welcome me into your private residences, for unconditionally sharing your personal life experiences, and for your kind hospitality. Indeed, my fieldwork was the most enjoyable part of my PhD journey. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ................................................................................................. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................................................. vii LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................. xi LIST OF FIGURES .......................................................................................................... xii CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY .................................................... 1 Problem Statement .......................................................................................................... 2 Statement of Purpose ....................................................................................................... 3 Research Questions ......................................................................................................... 5 Conceptual Framework of Social Change and Human Development: A Lens for Exploring Intergenerational Change in the UAE ............................................................ 6 CHAPTER TWO REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE ....................................................... 8 Social Change and Human Development ........................................................................ 8 Origins of the ModerniZation Paradigm ...................................................................... 9 Criticism of the ModerniZation Paradigm ................................................................. 10 Beyond the ModerniZation Paradigm ........................................................................ 10 Bidirectionality of SocialiZation ................................................................................ 12 The UAE Today ............................................................................................................ 13 Before the UAE ............................................................................................................. 14 The Formation of the UAE ............................................................................................ 16 Rapid Change in the UAE ............................................................................................. 16 Contribution of Oil .................................................................................................... 17 Vision 2021 ................................................................................................................ 18 Sociodemographic Change ............................................................................................ 19 vii Empowerment ............................................................................................................ 20 Education ................................................................................................................... 20 Employment ............................................................................................................... 21 Family Life ................................................................................................................ 21 The Need to Better Understand Intergenerational Tensions ......................................... 23 Summary ....................................................................................................................... 25 CHAPTER THREE METHODOLOGY .......................................................................... 26 Research Questions ....................................................................................................... 26 Research Design ...........................................................................................................