The Role of Omani Bedouin Women in Shaping the Identity Of the Traditional Headdress

Abstract

Abstract

According to the previous studies the role of Omani women in shaping and developing the identity of the traditional jewellery is very limited. Therefore, this study aims to find out the extent to which Omani women have actually played a role in shaping the identity of traditional jewellery through a specific headdress.

During the fieldwork, the researcher started to explore how social contexts relate to traditional and cultural identity, by interviewing the owners of jewellery and craftsmakers involved in jewellery production such as the expert women who made the traditional headdress (shaabook). The researcher began to understand the value and importance of leather and to explore potential design inspired by smell, weight, sound, and storage of jewellery.

In contemporary jewellery, the material used can be a prominent part of the overall concept. Such material is frequently the core of the art piece. The researcher explored traditional materials such as leather which inspired him to create jewellery. The material itself became a focal point of the researcher work and a tool to convey his concept. The use of leather in the work became a central concern in designing, making and as a symbolic reflection on the Bedouin community identity.