Women of the Middle East Podcast Season 6, Episode 3 Recap

In the third episode of "Women of the Middle East " podcast, I had the pleasure and the privilege of having a deep conversation with Dr. Shurooq Amin , whose refreshing ideas, life, and work serve as an inspiration for all women in the MENA region and beyond. We journeyed through her personal experiences as a woman born in this GCC, as they influenced and shaped her personality, and have led to her choosing her unique form of activism.

I began the conversation by asking her how she would describe herself since she was someone who controlled her own narrative and has embodied different creative modalities and redefined her identity. She eloquently explained that she embodied the multitude of roles that society had ascribed to her - those of a daughter, a wife, a mother, but created other forms of identity that were authentic to her, such as an artist, a poet, an activist, a peaceful freedom fighter, among others. The composite of these roles has shaped the individual she has become, marking a profound journey to understanding that, at her core, she is authentic and real.?

Discussing what it meant to be a woman from the Arabian Gulf, especially Kuwait, she candidly shared that it presented both benefits and challenges. One the one hand, her femininity afforded her the unique privilege of motherhood, which she regarded as a source of both strength and vulnerability. The concern for her children's well-being made her feel vulnerable, yet it also fueled her determination to work harder towards creating a safer and better world for them.

She very sweetly dubbed her children as her “Achilles heel,” expressing a desire for her work to reflect her strength and transmit to her children that embracing their uniqueness and nonconformity could be their greatest strength and powerful force for positive change. She spoke at length about societal gender roles and the significant backlash she experienced as a rebel, artist, and as a poet.?

She went on to highlighting how gender roles and societal expectations in Kuwaiti culture restricted and undermined her activism. Nevertheless, she expressed her belief that these cultural norms and rules might not have been established with malicious intent but did serve to impede the progress of women. She reflected that conforming to these watertight gender restrictions was not innate to her, thereby making her struggles even more difficult. She observed that gender roles in the present were more fluid but that this shift has not permeated all corners of society, which is why the younger generation looks to her as their voice, seeking representation and advocacy in a world still grappling with change.?

In discussing the hybridity of her heritage, being the daughter of a Kuwaiti father and a Syrian mother, she expressed a sense of loss regarding her Syrian identity. She explained that her mother, acutely aware of her status as an outsider, felt pressured to raise her children strictly within the Kuwaiti cultural and traditional framework. She revealed that she regretted not being familiar with Syrian culture and not having the opportunity to visit Syria.?

Moving on to the topic of women’s insecurities about turning 50, she questioned the necessity of such a conversation. She expressed the belief that age is merely a number, emphasizing that internal health and happiness are what truly count. She views this phase of life as a graceful transition, confessing that she feels exceptionally beautiful and vibrant, supported by the wisdom and maturity life has afforded her in fulfilling her various roles. She passionately stated that beauty, strength, and joy originate from within, independent of external cosmetic appearance. According to her, the essence of self-worth is found in how one utilizes their time and the extent to which they value themselves, underscoring the importance of gratitude in shaping one’s perception of self and life.?

Upon me asking her how and why she started working at pushing boundaries, she replied that she didn’t start doing it out of conscious effort; she was pushed into that role which she has now embraced with enthusiasm. She gradually became a vocal advocate for women who are undermined or underrepresented and for individuals who have suffered abuse. She credited her fearless activism to a sense of courage that she has been born that would typically silence fear and caution, leading her to break silence in situations demanding activism. She spoke about the tremendous work she was involved in for raising awareness about menstruation, striving to shift perception towards accepting it as just a part of life and its cycle.?

On being asked about her future, she shared that she had hopes and plans to set up her own foundation to help underprivileged people, the scope and volume of whose work would be as wide, or perhaps wider, than that of the UN. She mentioned that she had been invited by a collective dedicated to aiding those in need and that she has been collaborating closely with influential individuals to foster a more inclusive and supportive world for all. I extended my best wishes for the success of all her future initiatives, hoping they bring about the positive change she strives for.