“But where are the women?”, Twitterati slam UAE authorities over gender balance awards won all by men

The social media users pointed out the irony and expressed surprise that no woman was judged to be worthy of the award. Check reactions here.

Images: Twitter

New Delhi: United Arab Emirates recently felicitated the winners of the ‘Gender Balance Index 2018’ awards which ironically did not have a single woman winner. The authorities of the country are facing heavy criticism after the photos of the winners were shared on the micro blogging website Twitter by The Dubai Media office. In the first glance, it appeared a happy picture in the direction of gender balance, however netizens soon realized that the list of winners did not have any female name. Users on social media expressed surprise that no woman was considered worthy enough for an award in gender equaity. The Index featured winners in three categories—the Best Personality for Supporting Gender Balance, Best Federal Entity for Supporting Gender Balance, and the Best Initiative for Supporting Gender Balance. However, users on social media expressed surprise that no woman was adjudged worthy of getting an award for gender equality. In a statement the Dubai media office said: “The main aim of the Index is to support leaders and federal entities in establishing gender balance as a pillar on which their institutions are founded on. The Index is derived from the highest national and global benchmarks, including the UAE Cabinet’s Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) ‘Gender Inequality Index’. The Index comprises of three categories, and the recipients of the Index’s awards represent the collective gender balance efforts of the federal entities they represent.” In the year 2017 in the Index’s first edition the winners included  female Minister of State for International Cooperation and Chairwoman of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority (FCSA), Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashimy, who received the ‘UAE Gender Balance Seal’. This year, surprisingly no women could make it to the list of winners. The awards were given by the Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum.

. @HHShkMohd honors the winners of the Gender Balance Index 2018. The Index features three categories: Best Personality for Supporting Gender Balance, Best Federal Entity for Supporting Gender Balance, and the Best Initiative for Supporting Gender Balance. #UAEpic.twitter.com/qE5GkYHzTo

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) January 27, 2019

The social media users were quick to point out the irony and soon the UAE authorities faced stern criticism on the platform.

*We are proud of the success of Emirati women. ok let's give all the awards to men* The irony is too strong here! https://t.co/xp4oomBrx7

— AB (@ahlamsaga) January 29, 2019

I'm surprised it wasn't white men who figured out how to so magnificently make gender into another way to congratulate themselves, but hey, we live in a globalized world, where all men are equally entitled to erase women from stories about themselves. (ht @michelefilmat11) https://t.co/UMAV4YPjLO

— Jina Moore (@itsjina) January 29, 2019

When your idea of "gender balanced" means no other gender is included.... ???? https://t.co/7W1pe6pOcW

— DevChick (@jynclr) January 29, 2019

And they say that satire is dead

— S_st (@s_st007) January 27, 2019

then WHERE ARE THE WOMEN? I assume this is a joke and the real winners, the women, will be awarded?

— Elizabeth Burke ???? (@lizburke) January 28, 2019

Nailed it. Nothing says gender equality like a bunch of men awarding themselves for letting 5 women dress head to toe in black and share a stage with them. How's it feel to be free ladies? lol Oh wait...take off your hat and see what happens.

— Linda (@lindaz333) January 28, 2019

You are so scared of women, it’s PATHETIC.

— Minkoff (@Silvia28813545) January 28, 2019