sorry having taught UAE national women and Qatari women over a 10 year period they are no different from abused women in other countries, including my own. However, the social stigma of being a "bad wife" as opposed to a "strong husband" is very different in my culture to here.

I have seen women whipped with phone cords, bruised and dazed (both here in the GCC and in Canada). It happens everywhere, unfortunately, if these women do not have a family who will support and protect them they often feel they have little alternative but to stay with their abuser (especially where courts are favourable to the father and his family if they have children in the mix)

I was reading in the Gulf Times that Qatari ladies are either not marrying or getting divorces in unprecedented rates, because they are more educated or have more options? I have had students who have declared they will never marry because their options (their Qatari or Emirati possible husbands) are immature and the ladies don't feel a "need" to marry someone who will not respect them.

Signature line > "You can't fix stupid"