Berkley Center

Beginning my second semester abroad in the Middle East, I’ve found myself once again consumed with questions about identity. With more than 40 nationalities represented, SFSQ harbors so many cultural and national identities. Passing through the hallways, my normal walks to class have become mini excursions around the world. Indeed, I’ve been in Doha for about four weeks and while this melting pot of culture amazes me, I also find it somewhat troubling.

With a population of roughly 2 million, the Gulf state keeps growing as it transforms into one of the main cosmopolitan hubs of the Middle East. But, this has serious implications for Qatar and Qatari culture at large. According to recent statistics only 20 percent of Qatar’s population is actually Qatari.

So the question then becomes, how does one maintain culture when they’re a minority in their own land? In my brief time here, I’ve seen many inroads within Doha to cement Qatari national identity. The government is currently working on several nationalistic projects—such as the Qatar National Museum and general preparations for their hosting of the World Cup in 2022. But it’s interesting to see all the infrastructure being built using very Western-modern architectural styles. The famous souk in Doha, Souk Waqif, is literally brand new but designed to look like it has been there for centuries. This paradox is too jarring for me.

But looking just within Georgetown-Qatar, I find my fellow Qatari classmates showing their cultural identity not through extravagant buildings. Rather, it’s far simpler; all you need to do is look at their clothing. Visit SFSQ and you will undoubtedly notice girls in black abayas chatting on their way to their next class or guys in thobs drinking coffee in the cafeteria. In fact, you’ll see this anywhere in Qatar.

I talked with one of my Qatari friends and asked her why she—and many other Qatari women—chose to wear the abaya. Her response actually surprised me. To her the abaya is more than just traditional outfit; rather it’s how she chooses to show her pride for her country. She isn’t opposed to the fact that her country is mainly made of expats. However, she also stresses that she doesn’t want her country’s identity to get lost in mix.

But don’t get her wrong. See her on a normal day and you’ll see a crazy printed top or coral pants peeking through the black cloth of her abaya. According to her, it’s not a competition. Rather it’s striking the balance between her individual and national identity. Both can coexist. And frankly, I find her perspective quite refreshing.

While my experiences in Doha have made me think about cultural identity within this ever-changing region, it has also shown me the fight for cultures to remain relevant in a shrinking world thanks to globalization. As the country continues to develop, this struggle will persist for Qatar. However, this is a problem all too common all around the world. As we become a generation of “global citizens,” I think we must ask ourselves if we really have to choose between the nationalistic and the cosmopolitan, or can we actually have our cake and eat it too?