Saudi Arabia’s patriarchal society has been known to be oppressive against women’s rights for many years. The kingdom is a people-driven monarchy, with no single law or document governing the actions and policies of the state. As a result, women’s individual rights and autonomy remain severely limited, and gender norms are deeply ingrained in the culture. In a society where women are still fighting for equal rights, the achievement of full female autonomy remains far out of reach.
The kingdom’s patriarchal social dynamics begin at childhood. Girls are largely excluded from education, with just 64 percent enrollment in primary school, underrepresented in comparison to boys’ enrollment at 86 percent. As a result, the literacy rate for women in Saudi Arabia runs at 73 percent, substantially lower than the male literacy rate of 89 percent.
In addition, the religious body of Saudi Arabia, the Council of Senior Scholars, has issued a set of religious edicts that have legitimized various forms of gender-based violence. Domestic violence is not outlawed, and patriarchal guardianship laws restrict women’s rights in many areas. Women are legally prohibited from driving, accessing healthcare, or travelling alone on domestic trips. They must obtain the approval of their male guardian for work or travel, and in certain cases, require the guardian’s presence in marriage ceremonies to validate the union.
At the same time, women face obstacles in civil and criminal legal proceedings. Females are not allowed to be plaintiffs in criminal court cases, and for any civil matters, testimony from a minimum of two male witnesses is required. In some cases, a woman’s testimony is not accepted, but she is allowed only to make a financial agreement. Additionally, the kingdom has yet to establish a framework for sexual abuse or sexual assault.
International pressure has posed a growing threat to the kingdom’s system of male guardianship. The Saudi government has loosened restrictions in recent years, allowing women to obtain driving licenses, enter the workforce, and open their own businesses. However, these advances have been largely superficial. Women still face immense barriers in their attempts to fully participate in society in the manner they deserve.
Impact of Socioeconomic Factors
The status of women’s rights in Saudi Arabia is heavily impacted by the kingdom’s socioeconomic situation. High levels of unemployment and poverty, in addition to deeply embedded gender roles, have contributed to an oppressive social atmosphere for women. Policy reforms, such as employment and education initiatives, have largely focused on Saudi men, leaving women further behind.
Additionally, cultural perceptions of women’s place in society have played a role in obstructing legal reforms. Efforts to do away with male guardianship have been met with strong criticism from conservative religious scholars and certain members of the Saudi government, who hold that reforms should only go as far as preserving the cultural and religious identity of the nation. This has resulted in a strain between the government’s policies and the general public, as a majority of women want more sweeping social and legal changes.
Effect of Globalization
Globalization has had both positive and negative implications on women’s rights in Saudi Arabia. Access to information via the internet has given a platform to organizations, platforms, and activists who support female empowerment. While this has allowed women access to resources needed to understand their legal rights, they are still subject to prosecution under the state’s restrictive laws. Further, the global economy drives an influx of migrant workers to the kingdom, which has had an additional impact on Saudi women’s rights. As foreign workers take on lower-wage jobs, Saudi female unemployment has become a greater issue due to the high levels of competition.
Role of Media
Media form an important part in bringing awareness to the ongoing struggle for women’s rights in Saudi Arabia. The international community has been largely supportive of the movement, making international news coverage an effective resource for women’s rights initiatives. Similarly, organizations such as Human Rights Watch have launched localized campaigns against the guardianship system in the country. These efforts have helped to bring international attention to the issue, as a greater number of news outlets report on women’s rights developments in Saudi Arabia.
Resistance to Reforms
Although enthusiastic change has been seen in recent years at the governmental level, it has also been met with resistance by social and religious authorities. Change has largely been met with hostility from conservative religious brains, entities who hold deep-seated patriarchal and anti-feminist views. As a result, the government’s progress has been slowed by an underlying cultural clash between liberals and conservatives.
A notable example of the aforementioned trend was seen in 2018, when Saudi Arabia launched Vision 2030, a comprehensive agenda for economic reform. Though the agenda was met with strong support by the international community, it was met with mixed reviews domestically. Certain portions of the agenda, such as the ‘Girls Brigade’, which would have offered programming and educational opportunities for girls, received sharp criticism from religious quarters, who believed that such activities would put girls in inappropriate contact with the opposite gender.
Short Term Responses to Social Injustice
Rights-based organizations in Saudi Arabia have been utilizing strategic programming to combat gender oppression in the kingdom. NGOs such as Women’s Rites Watch have built a focused program to challenge the guardianship system. Similarly, the BRIGHT Network is an organization which focuses on the economic empowerment of women in Saudi Arabia through financial literacy education.
Activists abroad have also responded to the situation. For instance, the Women Deliver advocacy organization has partnered with the Saudi government to introduce gender equity reforms and coordinate with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This has helped to bring greater international engagement for the protection of Saudi women’s rights, a development which has since been mirrored by other international rights advocates.
Long Term Plans and Action for Change
The protection and advancement of women’s rights in Saudi Arabia will take considerable time and effort. Governmental and non-governmental bodies need to work collaboratively to ensure that sufficient progress is made. For instances, strengthening the oversight and enforcement capacity of state bodies to ensure that protections for female Saudi citizens are implemented will be vital going forward. Similarly, advocacy groups should create a more organized campaign to spread awareness about the issues faced by women in the country, and provide support to those affected.
Programs developed to help women adapt to cultural norms should prioritize the recruitment of female experts, for instance employing female instructors or trainers who will be more understanding of the unique obstacles for female employees in the country. Similarly, international labor and human rights laws should be made more accessible to Saudi women in order to create a more informed populace.
Economic Opportunities
The most effective way to improve women’s rights in Saudi Arabia is through economic empowerment. Programs to make business ownership more accessible for women, as well as the establishment of employment protections, taxation regulations, and other financial initiatives need to be implemented in order to ensure that women are not excluded in economic and financial matters. Additionally, creating equal pay for equal work should be one of the major focuses of such an initiative.
A legal framework for sexual abuse and court reforms granting women rights to be plaintiffs in criminal court cases need to be enacted. Greater access to healthcare and other basic services, as well as education, should also be available for the female population of Saudi Arabia. Additionally, tackling conservative religious and cultural perceptions in the long-term will be essential for further progress.
