The Civilization of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - Essay Example

?Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: Spatial realities of rich and poor neighbourhood Introduction The civilization of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia was first inhabited by a villager of fisherfolks about 2,500 years ago which later became the strategic center for navigators and for commerce. Spices were among the leading products at the market when the sea port was declared by Caliph Osman Ibn Affan as entry point of Muslim pilgrims who travel to Holy city of Makkah and Madinah. The influx of tourists from international communities was crucial in the development of established cosmopolitans there (Jeddah Urban Observatory , 2011, p. 1). This center is geographically located on Tihama coastal plain which is about 75 kilometer west of Makkah and is bordered with hills levelled akin to the Al-Sarawat Mountains from the east (Jeddah Urban Observatory , 201, p. 1). The region earned natural environmental distinction with wide desert, eroded plateau at the central region, and the weather is arid and bit high in temperature in summer although winter brings its cold season (Jeddah Urban Observatory , 2011, p.1). The historic Red Sea is also part of the many wonders among sociologists and travellers. Coined as the bride of the Red Sea, Jeddah stretched in a spatial area of 1,320 km2 (Jeddah Urban Observatory , 2011, p.1). This prominent city bustled with life as it scaled up as an urbane commercial capital of Saudi Arabia and is tagged as the wealthiest zone for business managers and religious pilgrims as well. But has this holistically described the situation in Jeddah or it’s merely concealed some significant sociological realities about its social and economic disparities? Objective, Problem and Hypothesis This study aims to investigate into the spatial differences of deprivation that exist in Jeddah. It will attempt to clarify, investigate and comparatively review the present social condition of the city by delving into the household condition of residents, economic situation of its people, job security of its human resources, and concerns pertaining to access or delivery of social services. The latter is inclusive of information on healthcare, education, and security aspect of the city. In delving into these major issues, researcher will be answering the following question, ‘do the more deprived areas of Jeddah have a higher quality of life than the less deprived regions of the town? It will also explore the hypothetical presumption that despite the advancement reached by this civilization, there is a significant portion of its populace that is suffering poverty, of inaccessibility to social services and healthcare; and, it’s also confronting problems on underemployment or unemployment of its people. Methodology Researcher employed a mixed qualitative and quantitative approach in this study as a systematic and logical method of inquiry of meaning grounded on empirical proofs and experiences. The inquiry will make explore qualitatively how respondents of this study made sense on their experiences as residents of Jeddah (Creswell, 1994; Morse, 1991, p. 120-123; Morgan, 1998, p. 362). In examining the quantitative aspects of the study, researcher will use interpretive approach in understanding their conditions citing figures generated from the sample of respondents randomly chosen by respondents from the selected communities of Jeddah. The result of the survey was subjected into statistical analysis by an expert professional statistician to generate the outcome in percentages. Survey is a descriptive research method in collecting data and information to assess the behavioural, attitudinal and characteristics of the subject being investigated (Fink, 1983, p. 8; Fowler, 1993, pp 4-20). In this study, longitudinal survey was conducted to generate data to analyse population and some changes transpiring within a span of period (Fowler, 1993, pp 4-20). Information and data are generated through questionnaires which constitute as the primary sources of the study. Secondary sources of information are gathered from scholarly studies done by social scientists who have invested similar serious interest about Jeddah (Chen, 1997, p 5-8). Results of the survey will be explicated and interpreted with reasonable flexibility based on contextual factors and other significant social dimension. Mixed method permeates initiation through nested and transformational design that integrates qualitative and quantitative components to arrive at corroborated and holistic comparative findings (Caracelli and Greene, 1999, pp 6-10; Creswell, 1994, pp. 4-29; Morse, 1991, p 4; Morgan, 1998, p 362-376). Jeddah: Social profile Sociologists regarded Jeddah as a liberal city in a Muslim nation of Arabia albeit its stature as the best gateway for Muslim religious hajj and business ventures. As of 2011, the city has an estimated population of 4.14 million but this fluctuates as influx of migrants and tourists vary from different continents of the world for religious, employment and business undertakings (Jeddah Urban Observatory , 2011, p.1). The development of oil industry in the 18th century and its advancement this millennium also drove the employment of migrant professionals and non-professionals, thus, the city became an avenue for intercultural exchanges and of multiculturalism (Jeddah Urban Observatory, 2011, p.1). Ethnical diversity is evident here that in other cities of Saudi Arabia thus, social relation here is bit cohesive and tolerant. While the social status of the city showed significant improvement in its tourist, entertainment, market and transportation industries, but there are still social disparity in terms of how people, e.g. rich and poor neighbours, relate their social being to governance and to political structures (Jeddah Urban Observatory , 2011, p.1). Details of these are illustrated in the result of the survey conducted, to wit: Number of family members As earlier mentioned, Jeddah has reached an estimated population of 4.14 million of population with an average annual growth rate of 9% (Jeddah Urban Observatory , 2011, p.1). The increasing population deserved to be investigated at the household level to see if there is a necessity for state intervention for population control and to establish the correlation of the number of members from these sampled families to its social and economic subsistence. Economic experts posit that the family size and the average revenue of every family dictate the microeconomic condition of urban community. Survey showed that 50% of the respondents coming from affluent families had an average of 3-6 family members; 35.3% have 6-9 siblings; 8.8% had more than nine family members; and, only 5.9% had an average of 0-3 members of the family. Conversely, the respondents coming from the poor families showed that 19% of them have 0-3 family members; 27% have 3-6; 52% have 6 to 9; and only 2% have more than 9 family members. Both sectors apparently have fewer differences in the average number of children and the figures simply described their population in each respondent’s’ household. Material well-being (Income) With a thousand years of trading undertaken herein and as haven of successful merchants, it is already conventional to note that Jeddah is the commercial capital of Saudi Arabia (Dajana & Tomislav, 2010). The city's geographical location provided people direct access for those who wanted to go Middle East and North Africa. It is also considered as prestigious financial centre of banks and financial houses. However, the city’s economy and its people’s relation with the market can best be demonstrated by the amount of salaries they are receiving (Dajana & Tomislav, 2010). Data revealed that the approximate average income in Saudi rial per month for rich respondents vary depending on the nature of work and the capacity of companies to accord sufficient salaries for their respective human resource. Survey showed the following income distribution in percentile. Average income monthly in bracket Percentile of respondents which fell within the given income bracket (rich respondents) Percentile of respondents which fell within the given income bracket (poor respondents) 10,000 11.8% 12% 10,000 – 20,000 35.3% 29 % 30,000 – 40,000 23.5% 51 % 40,000 – 50,000 2.9% 8 % More than 50,000 26.5% 0 % Table 1. Data showed the disparity or income of rich and poor communities in Jeddah. Data showed that the affluent families are earning more and therefor have high purchasing power compared to poor families. But respondents coming from poor community cannot be comparatively viewed as having the status of those marginalized emerging nations because majority of them can very well live within their means if they lead modest lives in as much as their income can still permit a comfortable lifestyle within the bracket of 20,000 to 50,000. Health care Health is a human right. This is a basic right that should be afforded by the city government to its citizens to address concerns on children and maternal care. Government must be interested on health to ensure that its human resources are vigorous to sustain its public and private affairs (Phillips, 1999, p 67; Mburu, 1994, p 1375; Abdullatif, 2006, pp. 2-4) . Officials must secure its people by investing on healthcare services to lessen mortality and morbidity rates (Ahmed, 1981, p. 25). Survey bared that 79.4% of the affluent families have access to health care while the remaining 20.6% claimed they no access to health providers in their areas. Survey also showed that 62% of the respondents from poor families can avail medical services while 38% have none. High infant mortality rate is observed from poor community at 14% than the rich neighbourhood at 11.8% . Respondents from wealthy families have 88.2% who professed that they succeeded in sustaining the lives of their infants while 86% of respondents from poor community similarly affirmed same experience. Respondents from poor families likewise bared that 12% of them had members who died at the age of 40; 52% had family members who died at the age between 40-50; 35% professed that some of their family members died at the age of 50-60 and only 1% had family member who died at the age between 60-70. The rich respondents, meanwhile, showed that 52.9% of them had family members who died at the age of 70 years; 14.7% died at 40 years old; 5.9% died at the age of 50-60 years’ and, 38.2% died at the age between 60 to 70 years old. Since the rich can readily access hospitalization and healthcare, it’s understandable that they enjoy lengthy lives compared to those living in poor communities. Jeddah government must therefore look into the plight of its constituents who have no access to healthcare and outline intervention to address this concern. Immunization of children should be prioritized as a program to save new born infants and such should be coupled with comprehensive program for maternal health care. Education Education is key to development. Through education, government will be assured of skilful, intellectual, innovative and resourceful human resources. Its graduates will be the state’s intellectual capital and will determine the capacity of the state to stand in self-reliance knowing that its people can work intelligibly in production, marketing, industry and for government affairs (Grosskopf , Margaritis, & Valdmanis, 2001, pp. 83-90). On empirical note, survey revealed that 88.2% of the respondents who are enjoying affluent lives have access to the education nearby and the remaining 11.8% said that they have none. Survey further bared that 29.4% of them have 6-9 family members are literate; 32.4% said that more than 9 members are literate; 23.5% of them have 3-6% literate family members; 11.8% of them have1-3 literate siblings; and about 2.9% of them are not literate. Of these educated respondents from the rich class, 38.2% attained high school degree; 17.6% reached high school level; 8.8% availed high school degree; 29.4% graduated with a bachelor degree; 2.9% attained associated degree; and, 2.9% achieved college level but have not achieved a degree. The survey further showed that 32.4% of their fathers have a bachelor degree; 38.2% had a graduate degree; 11.8% attained an associated degree; 8.8% have attained an associated degree and the remaining 8.8% have less than high school level of education. With regards to their mothers, 38.2% of the respondents professed that their mothers attained bachelors’ degree of education; 17.6% gained high school level; 23.5% have moms who have attained high school degree; 8.8% reached college level; 5.9% earned an associated degree, and another 5.9% got a graduate degree. Respondents from poor families on the other hand, have also showed that 7% of them are non-literate; 16% has 1-3 members of the family that can read and write; 58% said that 3-6 members of the family are literate and 19% had 6-9 siblings attained level of literacy. Survey further bared that 33% of these respondents have attained high school level, 40% graduated from high school; 1% is able to achieved college degree, nobody attained an associated degree; 13% got a bachelor degree and only 2% attained a graduate degree. With regards to fathers, 20% of the respondents have fathers that have attained high school level; 50% finished high school; 4% attended college but unable to complete it; none got an associated degree; 14% got bachelor’s degree; and, only 2% got an associated degree. Moreover, 40% of the respondents have mothers that have attained high school level; 30% completed high school; 10% got into college but have not completed the course; nobody attained an associated degree; 10% got their bachelor’s degree and the other 10% have mothers who have completed a graduate degree. Data simply affirmed that those who can afford education earn more degree while the poor community necessitate avail education from public schools. Jeddah government must consider providing alternative education for those poor but deserving families and offer scholarship to their children. Security Although Jeddah is also a community of religious people, but crimes are still happening in this region. Despite this fact, there are still those who professed that they felt secured within Jeddah. 91.2% of the respondents from affluent families felt safe in their neighbourhood while the other 8.8% said they are not. Survey also further revealed that 82.4% of the respondents heard about 0-10 criminal cases happening in their neighbours annually; 11.8% said that they have an estimated of 20-30 crimes happening yearly; 2.9% said that there are about 10-20 criminal cases happening; and the remaining 2.9% said that there are more than 50 criminal cases happening in their neighbourhood. From the economically-challenged communities, 45% felt safe with their neighbours but 55% professed otherwise. About 44% of these respondents reported that they have heard 20-30 criminal cases happening within the neighbourhood in a year; 27% said that they heard 30-40 crimes transpire annually; 14% accounted that there were 10-20 criminal cases heard; 11% of these respondents noticed 40-50 crimes; 3% noted that there were more than 50 criminal cases happening and only 1% have heard of 1-10 crimes in their communities. Quelling criminalities is the responsibility of state police and military forces. Jeddah should strictly enforce policies that will mitigate the crime rate of the city. Comprehensive security management plan should be done which will serve as blueprint in institutionalizing peace and order in the city. Job security Human security is about job security. The latter is a requisite for family to enjoy food security and healthcare. It is the role of the state to afford protection to labour, provide access to employment, ensure equal opportunities for all, provide security of tenure, and human conditions of work (El-Baradei, 2006, p. 1). In this study, survey showed that 61.8% of rich respondents professed 1-3 members of their family are employed; 17.6% have 3-6 family members who are working; 8.8% have 6-9 employed siblings, another 8.8% have 6-9 family members that are working and the remaining 2.9% have more than 9 members of the family who have accessed to jobs. Survey further indicated that 41.2% of the respondents pointed non-availability of jobs as leading cause of unemployment; 55.9% have other reasons; 8.8% professed that they lack back up or recommendations to avail job opportunities; and the other 8.8% said that they are not qualified for posted jobs. Of those 55.9% who attested other causes of unemployment, 60% said that they are yet completing their education, 15% said that they are old and retired; 10% spent their times as housewives; 14% said they are still young and 1% relied on other family members who have employments. Further, survey revealed that of these respondents from poor communities, 57% have 1-3siblings that are employed; 35% had 3-6 siblings who are already at work; 2% have 6-9 family members that are employed and 6% of them have no siblings that are working. On unemployment status, 38% expressed that there are no available job; 40% said that they are not qualified; and 8% said that they have no connection or recommendations. Jeddah government must increase creation of job opportunities in their region and prioritize their poor residents instead of those overseas workers. Government must also synergize the courses in school to the kind of jobs demanded by industries and market to mitigate issues on skills mismatched. Patronage should also be discouraged in hiring employees, instead standard labour laws and policies should be promoted. This way, fair and just opportunities can be availed by all. Conclusion Quality of life cannot be enjoyed by everyone if there is evident disparity and inequities in access to resources, employment, education , healthcare and security. It is not enough that Jeddah dreams of attaining quality life by becoming a resilient and prominent tourist destination site. It should come into terms with its economic, political and social structures to address disparity of opportunities and services, as well as remodel the community as an urban center that can equitably provide security for all (El-Laithy and McAuley, 2006, pp 3-4; United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, 2005, pp 3-8). 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