YouTube & Arab Women

Marilyn Thipthorpe

In the past five years, a growing number of women in the Middle East have been making waves on YouTube. Between 2014 and 2015, the top four YouTube channels led by women in Saudi Arabia saw an increase in subscribers of more than 200%, according to numbers provided by YouTube. These women are out there to break down stereotypes and boy they’re doing one hell of a job!
The girls often complain that they become frustrated because they can’t find any Arabic-speaking women from the Middle East. Most of the women found on YouTube, while fun and interesting, discuss a life that is unfamiliar to them. When Sajer, who goes by the name Jay started her channel, a lot of men told her to quit because YouTube wasn’t “the place for a girl”.
Hessa al-Awwad, who is obsessed with Japanese pop culture, started her channel, Miva Flowers, to discuss beauty, fashion, anime, and her favorite Japanese bands. Since it went live in 2011, the channel has had more than 45 million views. More than 2.9 million people have watched a video where she talks about what she carries in her handbag.
Awwad said her main message for women in her country is that girls can pamper themselves and feel stronger and free. “Saudi women can vote in elections now, things are changing,” Awwad told BuzzFeed News. “For young women, YouTube is giving us a platform to express ourselves and not be afraid to be outspoken.”
We know that this is a step forward for the women in the world and we give kudos to these brave ladies who are taking the step to break down the prejudices they face in everyday life.