Gendered Social Capital within the Extended Family: Exploring the Experiences of Young Emirati Women

Abstract This study explores the role of the extended Emirati family’s social capital in producing and reproducing gender differentiation. Participants include 45 young Emirati married women aged 18–27 living in the central Sharjah region. In-depth interviews were used to collect data. Line-by-line coding, thematic coding and the constant comparative method were employed to analyze and interpret the data. Analyses revealed five gendered themes that women perceive as benefits derived from family social capital as well as four gendered restrictions that women view as responsibilities tied to their social roles. The five gendered benefits are a secure life, emergent assistance, solving problems, financial support and facilitating living. The four restrictions are freedom, independence, relationships and raising children. The study findings indicate that family social capital restricts women’s freedom, placing them in a subordinate position, despite having pillars of independence such as work, money and education. This highlights the pervasive influence of gender ideology within family social capital.