Safe spaces
You don’t usually find a safe space, you have to make one.
Research participant
Our team wanted to explore whether young people in Kuwait feel like they have access to safe spaces to openly explore their identities and manifest them in non-normative ways. We conducted several in-depth interviews as well as two focus groups, and found that universities are seen as safer spaces for discussing these topics compared to the outside world. However, not all professors are comfortable discussing non-normative identities openly in class, either due to their personal beliefs or concerns about negative reactions from students. There's also an unspoken understanding that some groups, even within universities, are less accepting of these identities. On a positive note, university clubs and friend groups are seen as safe and accepting spaces for individuals with non-normative identities. Unfortunately, Kuwait, as a conservative society, is viewed as unaccepting of these identities, and interviewees have little hope that this will change in the near future.
We began our research focusing on key themes and believed these were the most important questions to ask our peers.
Legal Consequences
• Who is responsible for upholding people’s right to express their identities in ways that are sensitive to gender?
• What are the laws that are framed around gender in Kuwait and the ramifications of those laws?
• What are the potential effects those laws can have on people?
• Do the same rules apply to Kuwaitis and expats?
• Are physical assaults on people that derive from gendered roles have any legal consequences for the perpetrator?
General Questions
• Are there places where it's safe for people to explore their identities and have open conversations?
• What is considered a safe space?
• Who is responsible for keeping these spaces safe?
Government
• Is there a database/registry for those who have been accused of violating laws governing gender or relationships?
• Does the government have any guidelines to follow when accusing/identifying someone who has broken those laws?
Cultural History
• Why is the issue of sexuality sensitive?
• When did the issue of freedom of sexuality become prevalent?
• What are the oral stories about sexuality?
Media
• What role does social media play in this?
• What does the media show us about sexuality and relationships or possible different kinds of identity in Kuwait?
And as any research project goes, we were full of assumptions that would later be clarified by some very succinct realizations.
Assumptions
• Lack of knowledge and exposure to non-conservative messages upholds their belief systems
• Kuwait is a conservative society that ostracizes people based on gender.
• Students who don’t fit the cultural norms are ostracized and diminished on university campuses
• There is a lack of open-mindedness among students and administration towards those who are different
• Media messages in Kuwait are controlled to project and communicate conservative messages
Realizations
• Although people may appear to live in a non-normative way, it does not mean that religion is not an important component of their lives. Having a different identity does not equate to being a non-religious person.
• Online was the safest space mentioned - relatively speaking
• Universities are perceived as safer spaces for people to explore their identity than outside of university, particularly among friends groups and in certain university clubs, although there are still different levels of comfort when it comes to being open about their identity on campus and in the classroom.
• Kuwait is perceived by all students as an unforgiving space for people who are different. None of the students on campus felt safe expressing themselves outside of campus, although there are a few exceptions, such as in en.v and Trashtag Kuwait, two nonprofit organizations.
• Kuwait media represents people in set stereotypical ways with more traditional roles, as opposed to representing diverse identities, and often if a different identity is included it is stereotyped in a negative way. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram give people of many different backgrounds, identities and life experiences the chance to speak for themselves and represent themselves in positive and authentic ways that differ from representations in traditional media.
Key insights from our research
Being different or unique is not culturally accepted in Kuwait.
There is a fear of authorities - and lack of freedom of speech - which makes people unwilling to publicly question what they think are unfair norms or rules.
Relationships with parents and family are complex, as there is a wish to protect from both sides, and hide the pain of discrimination.
Outside of university people hide their differences or keep them secret for their own safety. People who can, move abroad to environments that are more open.
Inside the university you have a higher chance of being safe to be yourself and to have a well-balanced support system because of all the diversity.
Our conclusion
Our team consists of young people with family and friends who don’t entirely fit normative cultural expectations. We ourselves have all been marginalized in the past for different reasons, whether around ability, gender, tribal identity, national origin etc and understand the importance of building safe spaces in society because of this. Through experience, we know that open and safe spaces make people feel comfortable, allow them to thrive and prosper, and empower them to contribute to society. Because Kuwait is a conservative society, non-normative identities are not openly discussed. Therefore, this research also aims to break barriers and more openly and positively discuss - and deeply contemplate - non-normative identities and give youth and their allies more space to do so as well.