continued: "Arab Women and Satellite Broadcasting" by Hussein Amin
page 2 of 2 / page 1

The footprint of satellites in the area usually covers the entire Arab region. In the euphoria over the potential of satellite broadcasting for women, there is a tendency to emphasize the many things that become feasible when women have ready access to information sources not available before. However, Arab-Islamic society is highly defensive of its traditions and cultural values (Amin, 1998). Researchers throughout the area have conducted many studies seeking to examine the impact of satellite broadcasting on Arab society and particularly on cultural mores and values. There is a broad perception that satellite broadcasting represents a form of cultural imperialism and is highly corrupting of traditional values. Schleifer (1995) posits that satellite broadcasting that has content that offends Islam or includes negative statements about religions or beliefs will create rejection and antagonism of Arab audiences. Harbi (1996) mentioned that the social impact of satellite viewing creates new and different manners and attitudes in the Arab world.

The thought that satellite broadcasting is carrying alien values also acts as a barrier for women in general and young girls in particular since their parents do not want them to be subject to this content. Some fathers in the Gulf states equate satellite channels with pornography and ask their sons-in-law to promise not to allow their newly wedded daughters to have access to satellite broadcasting. Harbi (1996) argues that high school girls in the Arab world who are exposed to satellite channels, especially to American satellite television programs, look forward to travel in the Western world, especially the United States and Europe. El Fawal (2001) indicates that satellite television affects reading habits and radio listening. Harbi also suggested that there is a positive correlation between satellite exposure and adoption of Western values and that satellite viewing causes superficiality, distortion, and ambiguity. In contrast, Ahmed (1995) did a study examining the impact of American soap operas on teens' perceptions and retention and concluded that there is no effect whatsoever on the teens from watching American soaps. Labib (2001) stated that there is no solid evidence yet to prove this influence, but he does not deny the anecdotal evidence to suggest an influence on women and girls in fields such as fashion and clothing as well as fast food consumption.

Entertainment programs are the most popular with Arab women, and many studies have indicated that movies and soap operas are usually ranked first in terms of satellite use. Popular American movies and entertainment programs have gained a great deal of popularity with Arab women (Abu-Lughod, 1995). Fahmy (1997) says that most of the studies measuring the impact of satellite television have focused on the cultural impact and not the sociological impact, on image and not the trend.

Since it has been expressed at times that satellite broadcasting has a negative, corrupting, and immoral influence on individuals and societies, many calls have been made to restrict satellite viewing (Killini, 2001). Arab society is still fearful of the danger of the cultural impact and worries that satellite broadcasting may have an effect on Arab families. Accordingly, programming that threatens family ties or condemns family values are not acceptable; materials that favor divorce as a means to solve family problems or programming that includes obscenity, nudity, arousal of sexual instincts, or acceptance of premarital sexual relations are forbidden in Arab society (Schleifer, 1995). It is still not acceptable to see these things in the cinema, and films in most countries are censored before being released to theatres. Since satellite television viewing is a social activity that is carried out by the family, fear of the content of satellite programs is widely documented (Labib, 2001).

The traditional reality of Middle East cultural environments in general reduces the capacity of ordinary women to control the decisions that others make about their media viewing. But satellite broadcasting in the Arab world is currently providing Arab women with educational, entertainment, and cultural and artistic services. Fahmy (1997) indicated that a good percentage of Egyptian women have started to play some role in modernizing Arab society and helping Arab women obtain knowledge about each other as well as providing education. It also has also begun to play a part in enhancing the information flow as a comprehensive program provider. In addition, it reaches a good part of the region and does away with the isolation of desert and rural areas. Because of the multi-channel environment it creates, it invites Arab women of the Middle East to take the opportunity for fair and equitable access to local and global resources and facilities for conventional and advanced channels of communication; to receive opinions, information and ideas; to receive a range of cultural products designed for a wide variety of tastes and interests; and to have easy access to information.

In spite of fears, satellite broadcasting is an excellent opportunity to access information and knowledge for Arab women through the different satellite services that provide news and public affairs programs, since these programs are good vehicles for increasing awareness of international issues (Fahmy, 1997). As women access international channels for news and information, they are finding that women are discussing topics that were previously considered taboo. Discussion about female genital mutilation as an international issue first took place when CNN International broadcast a comprehensive report about female circumcision during the UN Conference on Population and Development held in Cairo in 1994. The reporter videotaped the circumcision and interviewed the participants. The report shocked and horrified the local community for portraying something that was not publicly discussed. The report was so graphic that it attracted the attention of millions of viewers throughout the world. The CNNI report put this issue on the Egyptian government agenda and sent a signal to the government that it must deal with the issue on a national scale (Amin and Napoli, 1997). Since the time of the report, both governmental and non-governmental organizations have established projects, frequently headed by women, to eradicate the procedure.

In conclusion, satellite broadcasting has begun to affect all walks of public life in the Middle East and to influence Arab women in particular. As with all change, there are those who see the negatives as outweighing the positives and will resist its implementation. Satellite broadcasting has immense potential for Arab women, as a forum for the exchange of thoughts and ideas, as a means to gain a public platform for development and empowerment, as a medium for education that overcomes barriers of distance and time, and as a tool to advance communities, speed progress, and enhance development. TBS

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Alterman, Jon B. (1998). New Media, New Politics: From Satellite Television to the Internet in the Arab World. The Washington Institute for Near East Study policy paper No. 48.

Amin, Hussein. Y. (1999). "American Programs on Egyptian Television." In Yahya Kamalipour (ed.) Images of the US around the World. State University of New York Press.

Amin, Hussein.Y. (1997/ 1998) "Satellite Television in Egypt." Journal of INAMO (Informationsprojekt Naher und Mittlerer Osten/Information Project Near and Middle East), Issue 12, Berlin, Germany.

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