The educational status of Emirati women in the United Arab Emirates has developed rapidly over the last five decades, with females now outnumbering males in higher education institutions. Marriage and motherhood often take place during the years of undergraduate study for women, particularly for those from families who retain Emirati cultural traditions of relatively early marriage and childbearing. This study analyses the role which spouses play in their wives’ pursuit of education, using the theoretical gender and development lens to explore whether a transformation of power relations within the marriage takes place for the growth in female participation in higher education to occur. Spousal behaviours are identified and categorized through the gender and development lens as either enablers or constraints to women’s empowerment and participation in higher education, and potential reasons for these behaviours surrounding gender relations are discussed.

阿联酋妇女在阿拉伯联合酋长国的教育状况在过去五年中发展迅速，现在高等教育机构中的女性人数超过男性。女性在本科学习期间通常会结婚和生育，尤其是那些来自保留相对早婚和早育的阿联酋文化传统的家庭的女性。本研究分析了配偶在其妻子追求教育中所扮演的角色，运用理论性别和发展视角来探讨婚姻中的权力关系是否发生转变以促进女性接受高等教育的增长。