I am happy to announce that my book ‘Ethnographic Reflections on Marriage in Dhofar, Oman’ has been published by Anthem Press, available here

My interview about the book is available here

My essay about marraige and peace is available here

Table of Contents

Preface – Second Wives

Introduction

Dhofar

Discussion of References

Definitions

Husband, Wife and Marriage

Family

Household

Status

My Positionality

My Background

Limitations

Data Collection

Learning from Teaching

Female Friends and Informants

Working with the “Research Guys”

Men, Trust, Cars and Cats

Men and Self-Control: The Story of Z

Relationships Before Marriage

Marriage – Main Understandings

Age and Marriage

Example Marriage

Choosing a Spouse

Finding a Bride within the Family

Finding a Bride not within the Family

Finding a Husband

Asking to Marry

“Fighting”/ “Convincing” To Marry or Not Marry

Deciding to Marry

Engagement

Getting the Room Ready

Wedding Announcements, Invitations and Photos

Wedding Announcements and Invitations

Wedding Photos – General

Wedding Photos – Women

Wedding Photos – Men

Wedding Parties

When the Wedding is Called Off, Postponed or Changed

Wedding Parties – Men

Wedding Parties – Women at a Hall

Wedding Parties – Women at Home

After the Wedding

Creating a Marital Relationship

A Wife’s Work

A Husband’s Work

Meals

Cars and Hotels

Being Content in Marriage

Not Being Content in Marriage

Gross Misconduct – Extra-marital Sex and Alcohol

Marriage and Placement

Men and Placement

Women and Placement

End of a Marriage

After Divorce or Death of a Spouse

Second Wives/ Co-wives

Children

Pregnancy

Birth and Naming

Female Genital Mutilation

Differences/ Distinctions – Which Culture Does Marriage Better?

Family Time

Who Has Free Time (and When)

Health

Coda

References

(photo by Onaiza Shaikh)

Reflections on Ethnographic Research in Dhofar Oman

Reflections/ Research on Teaching Cultural Studies and Literature

Reflections on Ethnographic Research: Getting it Wrong

Practicalities: Managing a Short Research Trip to the Arabian Peninsula