Life In The Omani Society
The location of the country influences the gender roles in Oman. In the country's inner desert regions, women participate more actively in economic pursuits. They play significant roles in politics and society there as well. In the agricultural oases settlements, women are more frequently in charge of the home and of raising children. Many women work outside the home in the education, social service, and other sectors in cities and towns. Omani women are revered and have a lot of power in the home. Both men and women make decisions about the family. There are also initiatives to increase the number of women in the government.
In Oman, marriages are frequently arranged, ideally including cousins. Marriage is primarily a union of two families. The main goal is to have children so that future generations can be sustained. Polygamous unions are rather common. Islam allows a man to have up to four wives at any given time. Rich men are more likely to marry more than one woman because they can support many households. However, in recent years, males have tended to divorce their ex-wives, get remarried, and leave many women penniless and dependent on the government for financial support.
Domestic units are typically made up of one huge extended family or several houses in a large compound housing connected families. In a patrilocal household, wives reside with the husband's family. Elderly men and women in the family wield the most power, and their judgments are frequently taken as final in domestic disputes. In Oman, inheritance is exclusively governed by Islamic law, or Shariah.
The mother and other female family members look after the children. They are expected to take on adult responsibilities at a young age and to show respect for the elderly. Despite the fact that both boys and girls go to school, early dropout rates are prevalent, particularly in rural areas. The most frequent causes of these dropouts are early marriages and the necessity to raise additional funds for the family.
Omanis are extremely polite when they meet one another. The younger generation offers assistance to the old. Members of the opposite sex who are not connected to one another rarely interact. However, interactions between friends and family members of the same sex are warm and friendly.
