ABSTRACT
An examination of available literature on the United Arab Emir-
ates (UAE) reflects the remarkable physical, economic and social shifts the society has undergone in its short modern history. The tremendous accumulation of wealth and the accom-
panying material changes and standard of living are impressive. Although the economic and structural transformations of the society have been well documented and publicized, information
about the changes and transformations of family processes is sparse. The study is a first step towards documenting the
changes in family process and the intergenerational transformation of rich and deep cultural traditions as told by three generations of Emirati women. The purpose of the study is to relate
and document some of the historical changes in two aspects of family life: childbirth and parenting.
