Qatari women are pioneering in many fields, according to a visiting artist who described her experience of local women as an inspiration and a reminder of aspects of life which have been forgotten in other parts of the world.

Hazel Thompson, a British photojournalist who works for the New York Times is currently in Doha as part of the ?My Father?s House? exhibition, organised by the British Council in conjunction with the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage.

Hazel Thompson's website www.hazelthompson.com

Her exhibition, ?Measure of a Woman,? focuses on the role of women by studying subjects in both Qatar and Bahrain. To create her collection, Thompson lived in both countries, staying with eight women whose lives she documented on camera.

Describing her experience as ?completely positive,? Thompson said that she came to the region with several misconceptions which were quickly disproved on arrival.

The Wife of H.H. the Emir has given prominence to the role of Qatari women and created an environment that encourages them to meet their social obligations and participate in public life.

H.H. Sheikha Mouza endorses women's conferences, which discuss women's issues and recommend solutions for the problems and challenges that confront women who work outside the home.
english.mofa.gov.qa