I have realised recently that most advertisements I hear on the radio during my daily commute indicate that women only want to shop and men are interested in nothing but fast cars and sport.
While I have become too tired to do anything but roll my eyes when subjected to these, what really struck me was a recent segment in which a male DJ made the argument, “but women are the emotional ones”. Even if this was meant in jest, the very patronising and dismissive way he said it reminded me of what I believe to be a harmful notion that we continue to reinforce in society: emotions are feminine and a clear indication of weakness.
Emotions are not a weakness ,just as pink isn’t only for girls and blue is not just for boys. While biologically men and women differ, narrow definitions of what is feminine or masculine can also be damaging. I think to make real strides in society we need to address these damaging stereotypes.
I could go on and on about the shocking ways society and the media help perpetuate unhealthy images of women, whether through constantly objectifying them, scrutinising them or undermining their ability to be powerful. One of my favourite instances of this in recent years was when Hillary Clinton was asked during an interview: “What designers do you prefer?” She responded: “Would you ever ask a man that question?” To which the moderator admitted: “No.”
To some, this line of questioning may seem harmless but if you are a woman and have been indirectly told from a young age to believe that the most important thing about you are your looks, then it is an absolute insult to your intelligence and achievements. Doing nothing to end the pressure to be perfect is a huge factor in the ridiculously high levels of girls and women who have eating disorders, lack confidence and suffer from anxiety.
In parallel, I strongly believe we need to also address the confining stereotypes that boys are exposed to as well. Whether it be abroad or right here in this country, I have often witnessed or overheard the same type of messaging, favouring dominance over empathy and physical strength over compassion. Basically, feelings are for women and men do not cry.
Multiple studies conducted in the US demonstrate that boys are more likely to be expelled from school than girls, more likely to engage in violent crime, abuse substances and become suicidal. These studies attribute this in part to boys being expected to repress their emotions and strive for unreal standards of “masculinity”. I believe this to be an issue that needs more attention and especially in this part of the world, where mental health is still something of a taboo. Many men feel as if they are supposed to show strength at all times and not admit to have any problems, let alone emotional ones. This just creates an endless cycle of repressed emotions, depression and has spillover effects.
I feel that these stereotypes create two parallel realities.
If you do not understand what the other person is going through, then you do not understand their problem.
One clear example is how some men are truly baffled by why women complain when a stranger “flirts” with them. They do not seem to understand the context. While for some women these might be light-hearted compliments, overwhelmingly there is a level of disrespect, infringement on personal space and discomfort involved during these interactions. To make matters worse, society still tends to blame women or remind them that they somehow should be preventing this behaviour.
As a society we need to do more in creating a conscious and compassionate culture for both girls and boys. We should empower and encourage each other to be our authentic selves by being aware of the environment that we help perpetuate.
Fatima Al Shamsi is a globetrotting Emirati foodie, film buff and football fanatic
The Great Derangement: Climate Change and the Unthinkable
Amitav Ghosh, University of Chicago Press
Indian construction workers stranded in Ajman with unpaid dues
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
Where to submit a sample
Volunteers of all ages can submit DNA samples at centres across Abu Dhabi, including: Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec), Biogenix Labs in Masdar City, NMC Royal Hospital in Khalifa City, NMC Royal Medical Centre, Abu Dhabi, NMC Royal Women's Hospital, Bareen International Hospital, Al Towayya in Al Ain, NMC Specialty Hospital, Al Ain
Anna and the Apocalypse
Director: John McPhail
Starring: Ella Hunt, Malcolm Cumming, Mark Benton
Three stars
ABU%20DHABI'S%20KEY%20TOURISM%20GOALS%3A%20BY%20THE%20NUMBERS
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Russia's Muslim Heartlands
Dominic Rubin, Oxford
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
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THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre, four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: seven-speed dual clutch automatic
Power: 169bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh54,500
On sale: now
Score
Third Test, Day 1
New Zealand 229-7 (90 ov)
Pakistan
New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat
THE%20SPECS
%3Cp%3EEngine%3A%203-litre%20V6%20turbo%20(standard%20model%2C%20E-hybrid)%3B%204-litre%20V8%20biturbo%20(S)%0D%3Cbr%3EPower%3A%20350hp%20(standard)%3B%20463hp%20(E-hybrid)%3B%20467hp%20(S)%0D%3Cbr%3ETorque%3A%20500Nm%20(standard)%3B%20650Nm%20(E-hybrid)%3B%20600Nm%20(S)%0D%0D%3Cbr%3EPrice%3A%20From%20Dh368%2C500%0D%3Cbr%3EOn%20sale%3A%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Florida: The critical Sunshine State
Though mostly conservative, Florida is usually always “close” in presidential elections. In most elections, the candidate that wins the Sunshine State almost always wins the election, as evidenced in 2016 when Trump took Florida, a state which has not had a democratic governor since 1991.
Joe Biden’s campaign has spent $100 million there to turn things around, understandable given the state’s crucial 29 electoral votes.
In 2016, Mr Trump’s democratic rival Hillary Clinton paid frequent visits to Florida though analysts concluded that she failed to appeal towards middle-class voters, whom Barack Obama won over in the previous election.
WWE Super ShowDown results
Seth Rollins beat Baron Corbin to retain his WWE Universal title
Finn Balor defeated Andrade to stay WWE Intercontinental Championship
Shane McMahon defeated Roman Reigns
Lars Sullivan won by disqualification against Lucha House Party
Randy Orton beats Triple H
Braun Strowman beats Bobby Lashley
Kofi Kingston wins against Dolph Zigggler to retain the WWE World Heavyweight Championship
Mansoor Al Shehail won the 50-man Battle Royal
The Undertaker beat Goldberg
Bundesliga fixtures
Saturday, May 16 (kick-offs UAE time)
Borussia Dortmund v Schalke (4.30pm)
RB Leipzig v Freiburg (4.30pm)
Hoffenheim v Hertha Berlin (4.30pm)
Fortuna Dusseldorf v Paderborn (4.30pm)
Augsburg v Wolfsburg (4.30pm)
Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Monchengladbach (7.30pm)
Sunday, May 17
Cologne v Mainz (4.30pm),
Union Berlin v Bayern Munich (7pm)
Monday, May 18
Werder Bremen v Bayer Leverkusen (9.30pm)
Bookshops: A Reader's History by Jorge Carrión (translated from the Spanish by Peter Bush),
Biblioasis
More from Neighbourhood Watch
Teaching your child to save
Pre-school (three - five years)
You can’t yet talk about investing or borrowing, but introduce a “classic” money bank and start putting gifts and allowances away. When the child wants a specific toy, have them save for it and help them track their progress.
Early childhood (six - eight years)
Replace the money bank with three jars labelled ‘saving’, ‘spending’ and ‘sharing’. Have the child divide their allowance into the three jars each week and explain their choices in splitting their pocket money. A guide could be 25 per cent saving, 50 per cent spending, 25 per cent for charity and gift-giving.
Middle childhood (nine - 11 years)
Open a bank savings account and help your child establish a budget and set a savings goal. Introduce the notion of ‘paying yourself first’ by putting away savings as soon as your allowance is paid.
Young teens (12 - 14 years)
Change your child’s allowance from weekly to monthly and help them pinpoint long-range goals such as a trip, so they can start longer-term saving and find new ways to increase their saving.
Teenage (15 - 18 years)
Discuss mutual expectations about university costs and identify what they can help fund and set goals. Don’t pay for everything, so they can experience the pride of contributing.
Young adulthood (19 - 22 years)
Discuss post-graduation plans and future life goals, quantify expenses such as first apartment, work wardrobe, holidays and help them continue to save towards these goals.
* JP Morgan Private Bank
SPECS
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Xpanceo
Started: 2018
Founders: Roman Axelrod, Valentyn Volkov
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Smart contact lenses, augmented/virtual reality
Funding: $40 million
Investor: Opportunity Venture (Asia)
The%20specs
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