How the Cultural Values of Saudi Arabia Affect the Performance of Women in Public Agencies - Research Proposal Example

How the Cultural Values of Saudi Arabia Affect the Performance of Women in Public Agencies Affiliation with more information about affiliation, research grants, conflict of interest and how to contact How the Cultural Values of Saudi Arabia Affect the Performance of Women in Public Agencies Introduction: Saudi Arabians are deeply linked with Islamic antiquity values and culture. The legitimacy and foundation of Saudi Arabia is also linked inextricably to Islamic tradition. Saudi Arabia follows the monarchy system of rule. The cultural effect of Saudi Arabia is entirely different from other countries particularly in terms of participation of women in politics or other public agencies and affairs. The constitution of the state is based on the doctrines of Koran and Sharia, the Islamic Holy Scripture and law respectively. The rulers enforce the Islamic law in handling the state’s executive, administrative and judicial functions. The country’s most significant natural resource is oil and the main business areas are oil refinery, jewels etc. Development plans and policies are based on the Islamic values. Background of the Study: All Saudi Arabians are Muslims and some are included in a minority of Shia. They are following Handbali School of Islamic law. The women may not have any rights like men in the society. They have limitations to enter in to the society. They are not allowed to drive and without permission of male guardian (Muharam) they will not travel abroad. “Women are employed in girls schools and the womens sections of universities, social work and development programs for women, banks that cater to female clients, medicine and nursing for women, television and radio programming, and computer and library work. Sections of markets are set aside for women sellers. However, only about 7 percent of Saudi Arabias formal workforce is female” (Saudi Arabia, 2011). The separation is considered as the mechanism for sexual modesty. Their status is high in the family, in their role like mother or sister. A significant number of women are succeeding in academic, business, literary production etc, even when facing restrictions to public. This is because of the gaining popularity of women’s literature than earlier times. The social and cultural rights of Saudi females are circumscribed by the values of sexual segregation that leads to restrain or limit their activity. Working in Saudi Arabia is a challenging factor, especially for women. Saudi Arabian culture and values are different it is highly oriented with Islamic religion. Their dresses also express religious piety. It must not be very fit for body and it must not attract any attentions. “Like a womans clothing, a womans role in Saudi Arabia culture is largely dictated by the prevailing religious beliefs. Unlike in the West, where a womans equal partnership with her husband is at least given lip service, a Saudi marriage is often arranged” (A Women’s Perspective on Saudi Arabia Culture, 1995). Aim and Objectives: 1) To identify the various cultural barriers faced by the women in performing the public agencies in Saudi Arabia. 2) To identify the how the cultural values of Saudi Arabia affect the performance of women in public agencies? 3) To identify the various problems faced by the women in Saudi Arabia. Significance of Study: Saudi Arabian women are facing a big challenge to perform in public agencies. They feel like tied in the home. They do not have permission to enter in to the society or to be active in any economical or political field. The traditional culture and law make them feel bad for themselves. Western countries are giving high consideration to women’s opinion and participation. They do not face any restraints in entering in to the society and can travel at night also. They are self-sufficient and work in high positions in various organizations. Saudi women, also, have the urge to become independent and self-sufficient and they yearn for those things. But there are many cultural barriers that oppos women’s participation in a working area. This paper, therefore, discusses the topic of ‘how cultural values affect the performance of women in public agencies’. Thesis Statement: The individuality of women in Saudi Arabia is obtained from their presence, however distanced they are from the public sphere. The political, historical and socio-economic situation in Saudi Arabia is a crucial facet for understanding the position of a woman in Saudi society. Women in Saudi Arabia face lots of cultural barriers to perform at the public agencies than any other country. Main aim of the study is to identify the how the cultural values of Saudi Arabia affect the performance of women in public agencies. Freedom of movement of women in Saudi Arabia is very limited. They are not supposed go away from their homes or any of their neighborhood without the consent of their male guardian. This will affect the participation of the public agencies of the Saudi women. Women in Saudi are not permitted to drive. But there has no written prohibition on driving of women but law of Saudi needs inhabitants to make use of the locally issued driving license at the same time as in the country. Literature Review: The main objective of this literature review is to find out the cultural effect on the performance of women at the public agencies in Saudi Arabia. It consist of various cultural barriers faced by the women in performing at the public agencies in Saudi Arabia, cultural aspects prevailing in Saudi Arabia and various problems faced by the women in Saudi Arabia. According to Joanna Kerr, Ellen Sprenger, Alison Symington, Mama Cash (Organization), in the book called ‘the future of womens rights: global visions and strategies’ says that Culture is an idea that determines how we look at feminism as a theory and how we approach the politics of attaining the fundamentals of the theory in different political and cultural milieus. The difficulty of a cultural relativism may be easily distinguished by its political belongings; it brings women activists together, who wish for freedom, choice and equality for women whereas the allies, with regressive movements and governments that desire exactly the opposed, wish to maintain women in bondage. “Consequently, a Saudi woman may be forced to provide intimate details of her legal, financial, or family affairs to male judges and lawyers” (Nazir & Tomppert, 2005, p. 260). According to Amani Hamdan in his book called Women and Education in Saudi Arabia: Challenges and Achievements, say that the past political and socio-economic circumstances of Saudi Arabia are an important aspect in understanding the attitude of women in Saudi culture. The persistence of women’s proscription from public life in present Saudi Arabia is one of the important heated debates, not only between Muslims, but also international, as Saudi society comes under more and more inspection globally. In 1980, there were more female graduates in the humanities than males in the University. Women could study only similar subjects, which were exempted by their male correspondents, as it could have led to their mingling with men. “Saudi Arabia’s laws and policies do not generally protect women from gender-based discrimination. Numerous enforcement authorities, including the regular, religious, and (Secret police) have the power to accuse and detain suspects, and each may apply the laws of the country arbitrarily. Saudi Arabia has a hierarchical society that provides privileges to men over women and the elite over the common people” (Doumato, n.d.). Research Methodology: Methodology plays one of the most important roles in any of the research undertaken. The primary and secondary research will sketch out the helpful insights into cultural effects in the women’s performance at the public agencies in Saudi Arabia, which makes it an appropriate research methodology. “Methodology is the pathway or an approach to get the needed information by locating the data from different sources which are primary & secondary” (What is Meaning and Definition of Research Methodology? n. d.). Both primary and secondary data collection method is used to conduct the study. Working in Saudi Arabia is one of the extremely challenging issues, especially for women, than the other countries. But, at the same time, they are permitted to work in some professions like medicine, teaching, nursing and housekeeping, etc. This shows the cultural effects on the work performance of Saudi women. Hence, primary data collection method is the most suitable method to obtain the authentic information from the respondent in Saudi Arabia. The persistence of women in exclusion from performance in public agency and public life in modern Saudi Arabia is one of the heated questions, not only between Muslims, but also globally, as studies on Saudi culture is being made globally. Primary and Secondary Data Collection: Primary research method is one of the generally used methods to collect information from the respondents. In this study Interview, questionnaire and survey method are used to identify the various cultural barriers faced by the women in performing at the public agencies in Saudi Arabia. Through primary data collection method, necessary information can be obtained directly from the respondent. This, in turn, also helps to receive the most accurate information from the target respondent. Secondary data are already prepared data, which include journals, magazines etc. “Secondary research lays the groundwork and primary research helps fill in the gaps. By using both types of market research, business owners get a well-rounded view of their market and have the information they need to make important business decisions” (The Difference Between Secondary and Primary Market Research, n. d.). Hence, both primary and secondary data collection methods are used to collect information from the target audience of the Saudi Arabia. Primary data collection method used to collect data regarding the cultural values of Saudi Arabia is interview method. This will helps to shows the affect of cultural values of the performance of women in public agencies. Interviews are done with women at work in order to find out how Saudi culture affects them. The interview method is an necessary and much useful method in identifying the accurate and the requisite, information from the women and they are collected by the two methods of the interviews, they are the structured and the non structured interviews, the structured interviews forms the series of questions and the one after the other unstructured interview consists of questions which are not in a series and any questions like the detailed or the objective can be asked at any time. Analysis and Discussion: There are some cultural effects, such as religious obstacle, mixing with men at working place, need of guardian’s permission, etc., which affect women’s performance at the public agencies. But they are allowed to work as doctors, teachers, nurses, house maids etc. The employment rate of women in Saudi is very low. The government also has taken measures to improve women’s participation in work-field by giving occupational training and trying to eliminate obstacles like sexual segregation, guardian’s permission, etc. Women also have the support of Law to enter in to the work fields suitable to their nature. They are also allowed to drive, choose their spouses etc. as per new norms. The ministry of Foreign Affairs and Education have placed many women in some of their senior posts. “A Saudi woman’s freedom to choose her profession is limited more by social than by legal norms. The vast majority of working women are employed in the public sector, and of these 84.1 percent work in education” (Doumato, n.d.). Today, Saudi Women also have the support of Law and the Government to work in even in mixed–gender business enterprises. Reference List A Women’s Perspective on Saudi Arabia Culture, (1995). Majon International. Retrieved October 26, 2011 from http://www.majon.com/articles/books-magazines-journals/Saudi_Arabia_culture_1648.html Doumato, E. A. (n.d.). Women’s Rights in the Middle East and North Africa: Saudi Arabia. Freedom House. Retrieved October 26, 2011 from http://www.freedomhouse.org/uploads/special_report/section/174.pdf Nazir, S. & Tomppert, L. (2005). Womens Rights in the Middle East and North Africa: Citizenship and Justice. Freedom House. Retrieved October 26, 2011 from http://books.google.co.in/books?id=5spje12_is4C&pg=PA260&dq=women+performance+at+the+public+agencies+in+Saudi+Arabia&hl=en#v=onepage&q&f=false Saudi Arabia, (2011). Countries and Their Cultures. Retrieved October 26, 2011 from http://www.everyculture.com/Sa-Th/Saudi-Arabia.html The Difference Between Secondary and Primary Market Research, (n.d.). All Business. Retrieved October 26, 2011 from http://www.allbusiness.com/marketing/market-research/1310-1.html What is Meaning and Definition of Research Methodology?, (n.d.). Blurtit. Retrieved October 26, 2011 from http://www.blurtit.com/q3890772.html Read More