There are so many dichotomies in Saudi Arabia and especially when it comes to women. I’ll share some thoughts in regards to women in the work force. To begin with, if a Saudi student makes the grades in high school, he or she is entitled to continue with their undergraduate education. If he or she continues to make the grade, he or she is entitled to go onwards for their Masters and then PhD. As long as they make the grades, their education will be paid for by the government and in many cases, they will also receive a monthly stipend. Additionally if he or she is in the top five percent, this may also mean opportunities for higher education outside of the Kingdom where a housing stipend and other benefits are included as well. In many families it is considered a loss of face or honor for a daughter to not receive a university degree since it is something all eligible nationals are entitled to – whether a female has any intention of applying that degree or not. The degree in some cases may make a daughter more “marriageable” when she is of that age and the family is seeking a husband for her.
However even though a female is entitled for educational opportunities that does not automatically mean she will easily receive the opportunity to study. There are various approvals and authorizations that must be met along the way. To begin with, the mahrem (male guardian) must provide his permission and no objection to his daughter (wife, niece) studying at a University. And if a University is only accepting “x” number of students, in some cases eligible women may be passed over to allow some “almost eligible” men on the premise that the man needs the opportunity and the education more as he is or will be responsible for a family whereas a woman will study until she marries or has children. In fact, if a Saudi female student marries the husband then naturally becomes the mahrem and she must also obtain permission from him to continue her studies. The same rules in regards to the male mahrem also apply when the Saudi female wants to join the work force. She must have the requisite approval from her mahrem.
Now you might say that it is not fair for eligible woman to be passed over, whether as a student or maybe for a job. But in fact, the statistics do favor the side of the men on this one. A large majority of women do drop out of University or do not complete University once they have married. Many women become unreliable as an employee until on becoming pregnant they resign from their position. Naturally there are always those few Saudi professional women who simply shine and set excellent role-models for younger generations. It’s just too bad that there are not more of them around yet.
It is very easy to spot which Saudi women are serious about their chosen profession and view it as a career whether presently married or single. It is also easy to identify the Saudi women who may be students or working half-heartedly and will likely quit once they have married. These are the women who are frequently late for work, late for meetings, leave early, are not prepared, do not volunteer or show initiative and spend much of their time on the phone or surfing the internet instead of the job at hand. And sadly enough, the latter women are not unintelligent but simply disconnected and disinterested. They are performing the minimal duties that are expected of them until they obtain their MRS.
This mindset could possibly be prevented or altered if ethics and discipline were better enforced. Instead the lackadaisical attitude is readily accepted. On a positive note, King Abdullah is positive and progressive towards introducing more opportunities for Saudi women in both universities and in the workforce. Their have been recent reforms making it easier for women such as Saudi women can now travel and stay without a mahrem at a hotel; she can also open her own bank accounts; make investments. I recognize that those who read this post from a Western perspective and may not be as familiar with the customs and traditions of the Kingdom may find these words repressive or barbaric. Regardless these are the facts and the only way to move forward towards positive changes and reforms for women is to acknowledge and face the realities.
Filed under: Saudi Arabia, Saudi culture, Saudi customs, Saudi education, culture, gender, islam, relationships, religion, travel
Ive recently read a book on saudi arabian women but wow, it totally contrasts from what the narrator(women). I guess it’s really hard to really construe what those Saudi Arabian women really feel towards their limitations; especially when it comes down to education. But anyways, thanks for putting this up! It definitely hit me.
A very interesting article. It’s nice to get a different perspective on this. One thing that makes it so difficult to judge progress for women’s rights in Saudi, in my opinion, is that there are so many contradictory stories from day to day. I believe that the general trend is towards more freedom, but have no idea of the pace of change. Any thoughts?
David
http://thesinosaudiblog.wordpress.com/
Kelsey,
I’d be interested in hearing what book you read. You will find that with Saudi women (and the Kingdom in general) the views and feelings will go across the spectrum. I’ve attempted in my post to present how there are multiple views and thoughts on the issue and impacted by outside factors as well.
David,
I also believe that the general trend in regards to womens rights is indeed towards more freedom and this is a subject the King will routinely speak upon as well. However the pace of change will be at Saudi time which basically means changes will indeed occur but perhaps not as fast as most of the world (or women in the Kingdom) would like.
Kelsey and David, thanks for posting your comments and welcome to the blog.
What are some great books to read regarding women in Saudi? I will try to look them up on amazon.
Thanks!
I had a different impression of Saudi women, probably because I interacted mainly with female Saudi doctors and medical technologists. In fact, I was responsible for training one of them. During the first week of our professional relationship, I noticed that she was very aggressive, and didn’t want to take direction from me. We had words. Our boss sent us “out to the hall,” which meant, “Go walk up and down the hall of the hospital and hash this out. Don’t come back until you fix things.”
So we walked up and down the hall, talking, getting to know each other on another level. We ended up working well together for the next several years, and even became friends of a sort. We earned each other’s respect.
BTW, she never wanted to retire. She already had a husband and a child, and did not want to be too dependent upon the family for either financial or emotional support. And this was fifteen years ago!
Marianne,
Of course “Girls of Riyadh” has received a lot of acclaim especially as it was written not all that long ago by a young Saudi woman. I did a review of the book in an earlier post. There are the “Princess” series books but I would not recommend them as a realistic portrayal of day-to-day life of a woman in the Kingdom. Gee…maybe I’ll just need to write my own book! (laugh)
Marahm,
Yes; many working Saudi women can be very aggressive. Actually, let me retrack that… I think in general Saudi women can be much aggressive than Western women. I have high respect for the Saudi female doctors whom I’ve had the honor of getting to know.
While the potential misogyny in the system is its own beast, what immediately leaped out at me in this post was the mention that the government pays for that entire education with the grades. I’ll never cease to be stunned when I consider that. I live in America now and certainly have to fight much more for funding my education.
The educational benefits here in the Kingdom are among the best I have seen. And as an American parent who had a son go through the US University system, how I wish there was some kind of a similar educational program in the USA for citizens!
Hi Carol,
Interesting to know that the Saudi king is slowly liberating the Saudi Women from the clutches of their Mahrems where they can have their own bank account and invest their money (atleast financial independence) and travel on their own without their Mahrem. It is a step forward! Bravo!! As long as King Abdullah is alive.. I have a feeling that he will try his best to reform the rights of Saudi women.
I don’t read your blogs regular but when I start reading them Carol… I read them all.
Good to hear from you Gladys!
Yes; King Abdullah is a very strong advocate for woman and also for reforms in the general.
I’m happy to share that the Chicago Sun Times chose to publish this post:
http://www.suntimes.com/news/blogentries/index.html?bbPostId=CzCso0daZ4bnXBEZgr4vZTMqJBzvLOjMka1peBEvl9O8oTExZ