|
|
Lifestyle
The lifestyle of Kuwait's society must be understood
within a framework of Muslim religion, Arabic tradition
and local customs. The process of modernization has made
inroads into certain aspects of housing, occupations,
dress and handicrafts but other aspects of the Kuwaiti
lifestyle have stood the test of time. The changes
brought about by the discovery of oil and the subsequent
modernization have not in any way undermined Kuwaiti
people's distinct identity.
Kuwait was never a colony and the Kuwaitis have always
been free to manage their affairs among themselves as
they see fit and develop their unique cultural
characteristics in their own way. The Kuwaiti of the
pre-oil era survived, in the harshness of the desert or
sea, through a mix of finely honed skills and highly
developed social organization based on family, can and
tribe, which provided the economic and political support
necessary for survival. In return for this support, the
individual gave unquestioning service and loyalty to his
group. This gave rise to clan based networks, which are
still extremely strong and provide the basis of social
relations between Kuwaitis today.
Global influence is most apparent in areas like Salmiya
and Gulf Road where shopping complexes and restaurants
are crowded on weekend nights. Kuwaiti women enjoy shopping at the new
fancy malls as much as they do at the covered markets or
'souks'. They wear western clothes or the 'dara'a', just
as the men choose between western wear and the 'dishdasha'.
Shopping for gold ornaments in the magnificently laid
out markets is another favourite pastime of Kuwaiti
women.
The Family and life within it
The pivot around which everything revolves continues to
be the family. The
family unit is the most important thing in Kuwaiti
society. Arab names themselves contain a sort of
genealogy. After the birth of a child, the parents are
often referred to by derivatives of the child's name:
Abu Khalid is the "father of Khalid", and Umm-Bader is
the "mother of Bader". The Kuwaiti family is generally
very closed and private. It consists of a closely-knit
extended family circle, some of whose members may be
only distantly related. It is not unheard of for cousins
to marry, and in fact it used to be the norm. Thus the
family is a cohesive institution with individuals
helping out with the different tasks within, supporting
each other, rallying around in times of difficulty, and
often pooling resources for business ventures or to
overcome hardship.
Gatherings and lunches with the extended family and
friends are a regular affair. The men of the family and
neighborhood socialize in the diwaniyas just as their
forefathers did.
Kuwaitis love children. The traditional average family
size is around ten. Males carry more prestige than
females. Members of the older generation are accorded
much respect and appreciated for their wisdom, for they
represent an era lost to the present generation.
The Kuwaiti child was taught from an early age to serve
and protect older family members and also, to ensure
cooperation between clans, not to embarrass the family,
The degree, which a young Kuwaiti was successful in
learning his role was reflected in the amount of face he
earned.
The concept of face has the same meaning as respect and
reputation in the west, except the face has intensity
about it that is almost inconceivable to a westerner.
But face accrues not only to the individual but also to
the group, and a youth is considered mature once he view
personal success as being synonymous with the success of
the family or group. Face is expressed through
hospitality, generosity and loyalty to family or
particular group. A Kuwaiti spends his life building his
personal and social face and the sense of face lies
behind many social behaviors
in Kuwait.
The exemplary lifestyle of Kuwaiti society is a blend of
the old and the new, of modernity and tradition.
Return To Top |
