The Equality of Men and Women in Saudi Arabia - Essay Example

Maher Al Sulami Guided Research Instructor: Asha Kansal   Second Draft October 4, 2015 The Equality of Men and Women in Saudi Arabia As most of the world continues embracing modernization trends and cultures, some derogatory cultures are considered a thing of the past. However, in some nations or societies, accepting changes arising from modernity has been marred with various setbacks. The challenges result from deeply rooted cultural and religious beliefs that are difficult to change. Arguably, achieving gender equality and women empowerment is one such development that has experienced unassailable challenges (Cole, 494). While different nations have significant levels of gender discrimination tendencies projected against women, the trait is more profound in most Arab states. This is strongly attributed to the dominating Islamic culture and religious principles that emphasize on the submissive roles of women. Saudi Arabia, for instance, is an example of Islamic state where gender discrimination is overlooked and to some extents acceptable Saudi Arabia has a lot of traditions that make it a unique and interesting country in the world but doesn't make it a perfect one. Saudi Arabia is a Middle Eastern country located in the Arabian gulf region. Saudi Arabia was established in 1932 by King Abdul-Aziz Bin Saud, who was the founder of Al Saud family. House of Al Saud was the most powerful family in the Middle East region. They have been ruling Saudi Arabia for approximately 120 years. The kingdom of Saudi Arabia has become one of the wealthiest countries in the world after the discovery of the oil in 1938. Saudi Arabia, commonly considered as the birthplace of Islam is home to two of the world’s most sacred mosques namely Masjid an-Nabawi in Medina, where Prophet Muhammad was buried and Mecca’s Masjid al-Haram, the annual Hajj pilgrimage destination. Reports indicate that in Mecca alone, there are over twenty thousand mosques (Khalili, 315). All Saudi Arabian citizens are Muslims whereas almost all South Arabian citizens are Muslims. This serves to explain the deeply rooted Islamic religious and cultural beliefs that govern and control the people’s way of life. The governing law is the Islamic Sharia which is derived from the Sunnah and Quran teachings. Since the establishment of Saudi Arabia, issues such as human rights and gender inequality are prevalent. A lot of western media houses have launched a war against Saudi Arabia in terms of human rights and the right of women driving. According to the article entitled Women and Education in Saudi Arabia: Challenges and Achievements, “women’s rights and responsibilities have been equally controversial among conservatives and progressives in the Saudi society” (Hamdan, 43). Clearly, women rights have been a problem for Saudi Arabia for a long time, specifically gender inequality and forbidden driving for women. Also, there are numerous problems regarding the gender equality in Saudi Arabia, such as job opportunities, which basically means that men have a better chance for getting a job compared to women. In addition, women cannot leave the house unaccompanied by a male figure even in an emergency situation. What is more, for a woman to be granted a divorce she endures long court processes contrary to her counterparts who are required to write three words explicitly, TaliqTaliqTaliq. Moreover, the most important debate not only in Saudi Arabia but also the Muslim countries is the Hijab. The main issue is whether the Hijab is useful and whether it can protect women from sexual harassment. Also, another form of inequality is women’s inability to travel alone. They are required to have “Mahram,” which means someone who is responsible for her and makes decisions for her (Sonawane p. 1). In the past ten years, King Abdullah altered the rights of women in Saudi Arabia. He permitted women not only to vote but also to participate for the first time in the Shawra council, which is connected directly to the Saudi king for making any decisions. In my opinion, gender equality is essential and it is more than a vote or a participation in a council. First Saudi Arabia ought to know that women are capable of anything and they are necessary for building economic and social stability. One ought to appreciate the Saudi women who are fighting for their rights and encourage them to continue pursuing their dreams.   Among other several fields of shocking inequality in Saudi Arabia, is the ban on women to drive. The drivers’ licenses are issued to men only, and women thereby are chauffeured by their husbands or close male relative. Women are prohibited from driving though it is not actually a law to prevent women from driving, but it is deeply inculcated in the culture to a point that it looks official. One of the key reasons to prohibit women from driving is the likelihood to threaten the ‘guardian system,’ which is enforced in the Kingdom. The guardian system is a law enforced in Saudi Arabia that dictates that a woman will travel with a male guardian, usually the husband or close male relative; therefore, it will be like giving women freedom by going out whenever they want. Also, women are banned from driving because it is viewed as part of western imperialism and consequently an invasion to sharia laws governing the kingdom. The Saudi women began campaigning and demanding for driving rights after encountering American immigrants working at oil companies, who enjoyed the same privileges. It is the firm’s belief that allowing women to drive will lead to cultural erosion, as well as conformity to western culture (Vidyasagar). Also, driving always involves women driving with their faces uncovered, which are not accepted by the sharia laws, and it is disobedience to Quran. Therefore, women who drive are labeled ‘haram,’ which means forbidden, and hence most women who are still conservative support the ban on women driving. Furthermore, those who are in support of the ban argue that permitting women to drive will eventually result in women abandoning their house chores and leaving their homes; a deviation from their place in the society. Consequently, lifting the ban will give provision for the mingling of women with other males who are not their guardians. Surprisingly, there are some Saudi women who are in support of the ban and they claim that Saudi Arabia is the ideal Islamic state and if the ban is lifted it will lead to erosion of cultural and religious values. Many women activists have tried to campaign for the prohibition on women driving to be lifted but have never succeeded. Some women daringly drove illegally in the capital. This action attracted the attention of both the pedestrians and the law enforcers, such as cops (Shmuluvitz, 2). Women campaign in Saudi Arabia has also been demonstrated through the collection of signatures. As a way of demonstrating, some women have uploaded their photographs and videos of them driving and uploading in the social media. There are many campaigns to lift the act of denying women licenses to drive. However, so far, they have not yielded any success. Nevertheless, there are still a substantial number of women who are in support of the women ban on driving, as they view it as an invitation to western openness and imperialism. The Saudi government is incredibly defiant to this matter and has not lifted the ban, instead, it has reacted cruelty to women activists through its law enforcing arms. Women who are campaigning have been jailed, whipped, stripped their jobs, as well as confiscating their passports (Shmuluvitz, 4). In my opinion, I think women must drive and what they tried to do to lift the ban is amazing also the government’s reaction towards the campaign was extremely inappropriate.                Islam has a different opinion from what we think about women’s rights especially driving. Saudi Arabia is strictly guided by the Wahhabi interpretation of Sunni Islam, and it is these religious guidelines that govern the daily endeavors. However, critically looking at Quran, it has permitted the participation of women in every aspect of her life and it doesn't mention that women are forbidden from driving. This depicts several examples of independent Muslim women in Islamic history. Moreover, the Muslim women took part in social, economic, and political activities long before even the western women did. Besides, other women in Islamic states are treated equally to their male counterparts (Vidyasagar). As a result of Islam opinion towards women’s rights especially driving that will raise a serious question. Does Saudi Arabia practicing Islam or the unwritten rules do?   In Saudi Arabia, job opportunities are numerous due to the growing economy. Currently, the Saudi Arabian economy is diversifying to other sectors. Therefore, there is a need for skilled labor. Notably, the women in Saudi Arabia are educated in secondary and tertiary education (Hamdan, 59). Sadly, due to numerous factors, the women are unemployed. The majority of women professionals in Saudi Arabia are expatriates. In addition, parental restrictions and Islam laws bar the women from working. Women in Saudi Arabia are educated in tertiary institutions, but that does not guarantee opportunity in the job market. Despite their qualifications, women are barred by various factors to join the occupational force in Saudi Arabia (Hamdan, 59).          Causes of job inequality in Saudi Arabia can be classified into social, legal, educational, and occupational limitations. In detail, social limitations include traditions, gender roles, stigma, and resisting reforms. Arabian social set up encourages women to work on their homes. As much as the law does not limit the women rights. Likewise, the women who work are stigmatized by the society. Education in Saudi Arabia encourages rote learning and prevents analytical and critical thinking of both men and women. As a result of that women have less awareness about their rights. Also, men have less knowledge about women’s right. In addition, one of the causes of job inequality in Saudi Arabia is occupational factors, such as discrimination and lack of unions block women from working. Further, managerial posts that require thinking and decision-making are not given to women. The society perceives women as weak with poor judgment. Women are denied jobs, such as judges and public officers. On the same note, promotions at work are not based on merit. In the service industry, women should serve their mates only. Talking to male strangers is forbidden. In brief, the environment in Saudi Arabia dissuades women aspiring to pursue careers (AlMunajjed, 23). Resultantly, the low women employment percentage, unemployment, and numerous expatriates are issues that are common in the kingdom. As much as women in Saudi Arabia are educated and hold degrees, they rarely get employment due to the conservative culture. In comparison to men, more women in Saudi Arabia are unemployed. Likewise, the number of expatriates in Saudi Arabia has increased. The demand for labor is high and since women are forbidden to work, expatriates grab the opportunity. Lastly, Saudi Arabian women have a limited range of work. As mentioned earlier, positions that require strategy and critical thinking are denied from both men and women. Conclusively, educated Saudi Arabian women’s lack opportunity to have careers, and as a result, expatriates have increased, and so has the unemployment rate of women in the kingdom (AlMunajjed, 23). I think women should have the right to work in Saudi Arabia because it is the right thing to do. Currently, the Saudi government is making efforts to eliminate some of the discriminative laws that hindered women from freely travelling within and outside Saudi Arabia. Various women groups comprised of women activists and men championing for change have urged the government to lift some of these laws and embrace modernization changes which grant people the freedom to travel freely in and out of their countries. While discriminative laws have prevented Saudi women from driving, others have significantly curtailed their traveling freedom (Shmuluvitz, 2). According to Arab traditional cultures honor is the locus of virtue for men, while for women it is modesty. Since modesty is subjective and relative, women are expected to be modest before mahram and other men who are not their husbands. This further curtails women’s freedom of travelling. In order to board a plane, Saudi women are expected to present their male guardian’s (mahram) written permission (Sonawane). Until they are forty-five years old, women cannot make any major decisions about their travelling without involving their male guardians. Guardianship not only denies Saudi women agency but by limiting their travelling rights hinders their access to freedom, pursuing opportunities or enjoying their life. Despite the efforts to eliminate the discriminative laws against Saudi women’s travelling, the laws that have been in place have strongly impacted the beliefs of some of the Saudi men. Most of the mean are more unlikely to allow women, who are their wives, daughters or sisters to travel without accompanying them. Others airlines are still reluctant to allow women to travel if they are not accompanied by a close male relative. This has not only limited travelling opportunities for Saudi women, but made it difficult for other women who intend to travel temporarily to Saudi Arabia to live with relatives or to get married there. These women are expected to follow the country’s laws about travelling which in most cases interferes with their freedom. Until recently, even if a woman was accompanied by a male counterpart while travelling outside Saudi Arabia, the woman’s closest male relatives would receive a text message alert. This has strongly been criticized by various women activists. Manal al Sharif, for instance, condemns this saying, “it is an abuse of technology, which uses technological innovations to perpetrate backwardness with the aims of keeping the women silent and imprisoned (Sonawane).” It is sad that in the wake of new innovations, some strict discriminative laws are being supported by developments that were meant to improve human lives. Hampering the efforts to grant women their travelling rights, however, are supports for the ban by other women activists, professionals and housewives. This agrees with views from different feminist writers that “women are their own enemies.’’ In my opinion, limiting women from driving and travelling imposes restrictions on their interactions with the outside world. Such calculated restrictions are aimed at protecting women from interacting with strangers and mostly keeping them safe. The sole purpose of these restrictions is to prevent women from interacting with men hence averting infidelity and sexual sin. Evidently, they are tactics used to avert sin that may result from such interactions. The restrictions, though discriminating women, borrow from Quran teachings. Arguably, religious considerations are foundations under which some of the Islamic discriminative laws are built. This leads to questioning the purpose and role of religion in the Islamic society on whether it aims at achieving the overall good are contributing to human suffering. Additionally, it is critical to question whether imposing discriminative restrictions on women undermined the dignity of women or encourages morality. Evidently, discriminative traits will always have more negative implications than positive. Similarly, driving and travelling restrictions imposed on Saudi women has more negative impacts. These restrictions limit women’s efforts to be more useful but instead rely on their guardians or husbands for everything. It interferes with personal independence in pursuing various opportunities available at different places. Research shows that most Saudi women are confined to their houses despite the fact that they have house helps who perform all the house chores. As a result, the women are generally inactive and suffer from related diseases and disorders such as high blood pressure and obesity. These restrictions are further indicators of lack of trust for women’s ability to make correct choices in their interests and family or community interests. The hijab, a veil worn by Muslim women to cover their heads and chest, has brought about arguments on whether these pieces of religious clothing perpetrate discrimination against women. Most women beyond puberty wear the hijab as a modest form of attire in the presence of males who are not members of their immediate family. Some interpretations also elaborate that the hijab is worn in the presence of non-Muslim women who are not members of Muslim’s immediate family. The hijab further denotes face or body coverings worn by Muslim women as symbols of their modesty. Additionally, in embodying the metaphysical dimension, it symbolizes or represents separation of humans from God. The Surah and Quran teachings admonish women to observe decent dressing to cover their genitals and breast (Moghadam, 192). The fact that these clothing stipulations are meant for women only and encourage modesty rather than feminine honour makes the hijab seem more gender discriminative. In Arabic, the hijab literally means curtain or screen (Kareem). According to the Quran, it refers to a partition. The Quran urges Muslim men to talk to Muhammad’s wives behind a curtain. In effect, this curtain was men’s responsibility and not that of Muhammad’s wives. As such, there are increasing claims and counter arguments against the hijab claiming that the clothing was meant for the wives of Muhammad and not all women in general. According to the Westerners views, the hijab is a tool used by Muslim men to silence and control their women (Charad and Amina). Conservative Muslims that through protective jealously, enforcing hijab-wearing by women preserves a man’s honour and a fulfillment of his responsibilities as protector of woman. Evidently, despite the good religious intentions of encouraging the hijab in order to promote morality, the cloth has been used to facilitate gender discrimination against women by most Muslim men. There are different types of hijab which are used differently by Muslim women (Al- Rasheed, 34). The first type, commonly worn by Western Muslims is simply referred to as the hijab. It is a square scarf worn around the head and neck but does not cover the face. Secondly, there is the shayla which lime the hijab covers the head and neck leaving the face clear. It is rectangular in shape and usually wrapped around the head and pinned at the shoulder. The khimar is a cape-like scarf placed around the head then left to hang freely to the back covering the head, neck and shoulders. Similar to the hijab and shayla, it leaves the face clear. The Chador, on the other hand, covers the Muslim woman’s entire body dropping from the head to a woman’s feet. Additionally, the niqab is another type which is a face covering that only leaves the eyes clear. Finally, the burqa covers the entire body and face. It leaves a small mesh screen around the eyes through which the woman sees. Wearing the hijab, in my opinion, although encouraging modesty principles is the cultural interpretation of the Quran scriptures. Saudi Arabia’s insistence on women wearing the hijab is more discriminative than beneficial. It is more of an insistence on external values rather than inner values which are more important. Most Muslim women who do not wear hijabs believe that these values that are espoused by hijab-wearing could be achieved in other ways that focus on internal values. In other non-Muslim countries the hijab attracts people attention towards the Muslim women hence serving a purpose contrary to its intentions. Clearly, the masculine perceptions about the hijab have undermined the clothing’s intention focusing on the external practices rather than the internal values. It is more important to focus on the internal values and spiritual relationship with God. In Saudi Arabia, wearing hijab for women is law. However, Muslim women are currently rising up to champion for freedom of choice on whether to put on hijabs or not. Personally, I agree with these campaigns. It is important to encourage decency for decency purposes rather than decency for dominance purposes as perpetrated by laws enforcing the use of hijab. Conclusively, different laws and legislation promote gender discrimination in Saudi Arabia. As such, achieving gender equality is difficult, if not impossible. Efforts to achieve gender equality are faced with opposition from government, religious leaders and other women who base their arguments on deeply rooted religious beliefs and Islamic culture. However, following these strict Islamic laws have resulted to more focus on external factors and women behaviour rather than emphasizing on the most important aspects of human existence which are the internal values. Cases of inequalities in education, the legal system, job opportunities, limited freedom to driving and travelling and controlling dress codes are some of the gender discriminative traits evident in Saudi Arabia. Clearly, Saudi Arabia has all the characteristics of a patriarchal society. These traits are limiting to women’s opportunity and potential, which most of the times goes unnoticed. The world should join hands with the Muslims advocating for change towards gender equality for unified development. Work Cited Page AlMunajjed, Mona. "Women’s Employment in Saudi Arabia A Major Challenge." Insight, Ideation Center. 2010. Web. 29 Sept. 2015. 1-24. Retrieved from             http://www.strategyand.pwc.com/media/file/Womens_Employment_in_Saudi_Arabia.pdf Al-Rasheed, Madawi. A most masculine state: Gender, politics and religion in Saudi Arabia. Vol. 43. Cambridge University Press, 2013. Charrad, Mounira M., and Amina Zarrugh. "Gender, Religion, and State in the Middle East." Emerging Trends in the Social and Behavioral Sciences: An Interdisciplinary, Searchable, and Linkable Resource (2015). Cole, Donald Powell. "Struggle in Saudi Arabia." Current Anthropology 55.4 (2014): 494-495. Hamdan, Amani. "Women and Education in Saudi Arabia: Challenges and Achievements." International Education Journal 6.1 2005. Web. 29 Sept. 2015. 42-64.Retrieved from             http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ854954.pdf Kareem, Mona. "A Most Masculine State: Gender, Politics, and Religion in Saudi Arabia." Arab Studies Journal 22.1 (2014): 312. Khalili, L. (2014). The Complexities of Gender Relations in a Masculine State. WSQ: Women's Studies Quarterly, 42(3), 314-316. Moghadam, Valentine M. "A Most Masculine State: Gender, Politics, and Religion in Saudi Arabia. By Al-Rasheed Madawi. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2013. 334p. $99.00 cloth, $29.99 paper." Perspectives on Politics 12.01 (2014): 191-192. Rea, David &VidyasagarGirija. "Saudi women doctors." Women Studies International Forum 2004. Web. 29 Sept. 2015. Retrieved from http://www.researchgate.net/publication/248557043_Saudi_women_doctors_Gender_and _careers_within_Wahhabic_Islam_and_a_'westernised'_work_culture Shmuluvitz, Shoshana. "The Saudi women2drive campaign: just another protest in the Arab Spring?." Tel Aviv Notes 5.14 2011. Web. 29 Sept. 2015. 7. Retrieved from             http://www.dayan.org/sites/default/files/TA_Notes_SHMULUVITZ_Women2Drive_ 072611[1].pdf Sonawane Vishakha. “Saudi Arabia to Issue New Travel Rules for Women, Official Says Regulations in Line with Advanced Countries.” International Business News 9.6.2015. Web. 12 Oct. 2015. Retrieved from http://www.ibtimes.com/saudi-arabia-issue-new-travel-rules-women-official-says- regulations-line-advanced-1958025 Read More

  Among other several fields of shocking inequality in Saudi Arabia, is the ban on women to drive. The drivers’ licenses are issued to men only, and women thereby are chauffeured by their husbands or close male relative. Women are prohibited from driving though it is not actually a law to prevent women from driving, but it is deeply inculcated in the culture to a point that it looks official. One of the key reasons to prohibit women from driving is the likelihood to threaten the ‘guardian system,’ which is enforced in the Kingdom.

The guardian system is a law enforced in Saudi Arabia that dictates that a woman will travel with a male guardian, usually the husband or close male relative; therefore, it will be like giving women freedom by going out whenever they want. Also, women are banned from driving because it is viewed as part of western imperialism and consequently an invasion to sharia laws governing the kingdom. The Saudi women began campaigning and demanding for driving rights after encountering American immigrants working at oil companies, who enjoyed the same privileges.

It is the firm’s belief that allowing women to drive will lead to cultural erosion, as well as conformity to western culture (Vidyasagar). Also, driving always involves women driving with their faces uncovered, which are not accepted by the sharia laws, and it is disobedience to Quran. Therefore, women who drive are labeled ‘haram,’ which means forbidden, and hence most women who are still conservative support the ban on women driving. Furthermore, those who are in support of the ban argue that permitting women to drive will eventually result in women abandoning their house chores and leaving their homes; a deviation from their place in the society.

Consequently, lifting the ban will give provision for the mingling of women with other males who are not their guardians. Surprisingly, there are some Saudi women who are in support of the ban and they claim that Saudi Arabia is the ideal Islamic state and if the ban is lifted it will lead to erosion of cultural and religious values. Many women activists have tried to campaign for the prohibition on women driving to be lifted but have never succeeded. Some women daringly drove illegally in the capital.

This action attracted the attention of both the pedestrians and the law enforcers, such as cops (Shmuluvitz, 2). Women campaign in Saudi Arabia has also been demonstrated through the collection of signatures. As a way of demonstrating, some women have uploaded their photographs and videos of them driving and uploading in the social media. There are many campaigns to lift the act of denying women licenses to drive. However, so far, they have not yielded any success. Nevertheless, there are still a substantial number of women who are in support of the women ban on driving, as they view it as an invitation to western openness and imperialism.

The Saudi government is incredibly defiant to this matter and has not lifted the ban, instead, it has reacted cruelty to women activists through its law enforcing arms. Women who are campaigning have been jailed, whipped, stripped their jobs, as well as confiscating their passports (Shmuluvitz, 4). In my opinion, I think women must drive and what they tried to do to lift the ban is amazing also the government’s reaction towards the campaign was extremely inappropriate.                Islam has a different opinion from what we think about women’s rights especially driving.

Saudi Arabia is strictly guided by the Wahhabi interpretation of Sunni Islam, and it is these religious guidelines that govern the daily endeavors. However, critically looking at Quran, it has permitted the participation of women in every aspect of her life and it doesn't mention that women are forbidden from driving. This depicts several examples of independent Muslim women in Islamic history. Moreover, the Muslim women took part in social, economic, and political activities long before even the western women did.

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