1. "Qatar: Anatomy of a Globalized State." In one generation Qatar has transformed from a sparsely populated and relatively unknown nation into a serious player in the global marketplace, and its citizens have become wealthy because of its transformation. The discovery of oil and natural gas is the central reason for this drastic change. If there were no international demand for oil or natural gas, modern Qatar would look drastically different than it does today. "Qatar has the highest GDP per capita and economic growth rate in the world, at 19.4 percent in 2010." This from a nation that's main exports, before the oil and gas industries, were pearls and fish. In selling its energy resources to the West, Qatar has adopted some aspects of Western culture, including clothing, chain restaurants, shopping malls, and collections of Western art.

2. "The Plight of Qatar's Foreign Workers." Foreign workers in Qatar are systematically taken advantage of. The estimated 1.2 million foreign laborers (94% of Qatar's total population) are forbidden from forming unions or going on strike. This is a pressing issue considering the boom in construction in preparing for the World Cup in 2022. On one hand, it is positive that these huge construction projects are creating jobs, but this can only be positive if the workers are treated fairly and humanely. With the World Cup, Qatar has the chance to impress the world, or possibly to disgust it.

Qatar is a traditional, conservative Islamic nation. For the most part women, who are outnumbered by men 3:1 (CIA, 2012, https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/qa.html), follow the traditional gender roles of Islam. Women in Qatar generally wear black robes and black head cover, Hijab, but are not required to wear a veil, as in other Muslim societies (Wikipedia, 2012, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_Qatar). Women, just like men, can vote after the age of eighteen, and can run for public office. Women gained these rights in 1999.

36-42% of women work (Toumi, 2011, http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/qatar/qatari-women-moving-forward-with-more-rights-expert-says-1.955444). This is thanks to recent changes in culture and policy. Since the 1990s women have gained more rights and standing in society, there is now a high ranking cabinet position in Qatari government tasked with women's issues. Many women work in government, though none serve in the highest stratas

There is still a lot to be done for women's rights in Qatar, but they are moving in the direction of equality, not away from it.