In Yemen, 600,000 of 3.6 million people that have Internet access are Facebook users. Facebook is a social networking site that allows people to stay connected with friends and family by sharing status updates and photos. However, due to social stigmas in Yemen, according to The Yemen Times, many women, public figures, and activist register on Facebook with fake profile pictures, and usernames.
In a Yemeni society where women are rarely seen outside without concealing there bodies with abayas, niqab, or veils, women are discouraged from posting pictures of themselves online. A report by socialbakers.com shows that the male to female Facebook user ratio in Yemen is 79% to 21% compared to 46% and 54% in Kazakhstan and 50% and 50% in Mongolia. It’s said by another Yemen Times article, that if a women shows her face, it reflects poorly on her character.
Fathia Al-Jaradi, a young university student said “My sisters and I have no pictures of us with the whole family. The traditions and customs don’t allow girls to appear in photos with the family. Our relatives think that outsiders may find the photo and spread it in order to manipulate us.” Women in Yemen fear repercussions of appearing in photos because threats by the Yemeni conservative society.
Fatima Al-Jabri, a 21-year-old student at Sana’a University says that it hard for her family to accept the fact that she is in school. “What would happen if they knew I had a Facebook account, [and was] chatting with young men and strangers?”Al-Jabri also tells Yemen Times that she keeps her Facebook account a secret from her family and she doesn’t post any photographs of herself.