A recently published World Bank study has shed light on the evolving attitudes of Keralam Muslims who have returned from Saudi Arabia. The report notably underscores a concerning shift towards conservatism, particularly regarding gender norms and perspectives on domestic violence. This study, released in March 2022, had initially gone largely unnoticed until it was brought to public attention by various prominent figures.

The findings indicate that Keralam migrants from Saudi Arabia exhibit more conservative views than their non-migrant counterparts on a range of gender-related issues. This troubling trend includes attitudes related to household decision-making and gender-based violence, raising alarms about the longer-term implications for gender equality within the community.

Shashi Tharoor, a Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram, has publicly expressed his concern regarding these findings. He has emphasised the necessity for introspection and dialogue within the Muslim community to address these emerging issues. The data suggest that attitudes towards gender roles and domestic violence have intensified following migrants’ exposure to more conservative cultural environments in Saudi Arabia.

Significant Gender Norm Shifts Among Saudi Returnees

The research, led by a team from the World Bank, employed data from the Kerala Migration Survey 2013, which surveyed over 14,000 households statewide. The findings revealed stark contrasts between attitudes of Saudi returnees and those of individuals who have never migrated. Specifically, Saudi returnees were found to hold significantly more conservative views, with indicators showing shifts around issues such as gender-based violence and household authority.

Quantitative comparisons showed that Saudi returnees were 6.0 standard deviations more conservative regarding general gender attitudes, and 3.0 standard deviations more conservative about gender-based violence. Conversely, their attitudes towards women’s employment were more progressive, indicating nuanced perspectives on workforce participation.

The authors of the study delineated Saudi Arabia from other Gulf nations due to its notably conservative social environment, especially regarding women’s roles. This separation allowed for a more focused analysis of the impacts of Saudi culture on returning migrants compared to those from other Gulf countries.

Responses to Findings prompt Community Reflection

The findings have attracted various responses from social and political figures, including Shamika Ravi, a member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister. Ravi noted that the report’s conclusions align with anecdotal observations from the region over the past three decades regarding conservative attitudes among returning migrants.

The study also detailed shocking insights into underlying beliefs, revealing that a significant proportion of Saudi returnees support harmful views related to domestic violence. For example, 43 per cent of them believed a husband has the right to physically discipline his wife for disobedience. Such attitudes represent a departure from Keralam’s historical commitment to communal harmony and education.

The implications of this research extend beyond immediate social attitudes and challenge the understanding of migration’s effects on cultural norms. The changing dynamics within Keralam’s Muslim community prompt serious reconsideration of how external influences shape societal values, especially in a region renowned for its tradition of coexistence and progressive practices.

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