Oppressed Women in Saudi Arabia, Research Paper Example

Introduction

The roles women play in Saudi Arabian society today are not greatly different than those of the past, and this is chiefly due to the traditions of the Islam faith which dominates the culture. In basic terms, the Saudi woman is not a free citizen, certainly not in any Western sense of the phrase; legal rights are drastically withheld, and cultural expectations carry perhaps even more weight in dictating female behavior.  It is easy to perceive the treatment of Saudi Arabian women as blatantly oppressive, as it contradicts the modes of living in virtually all industrialized, modern nations. It is important, however, to understand that the culture itself does not recognize this treatment as “oppressive”. What a Western power views as unjust and inhumane practice is, for both Saudi men and women, merely the established culture operating as it always has.  Saudi women today do enjoy a few liberties their ancestors did not, but the greater reality remains that Saudi Arabian women are willing participants in their Islamic culture.  That it is regarded as gender bias, or even outright oppression, is an external viewpoint.

Background

There can be no understanding of any Saudi policy in regard to gender without the acceptance of how Islam is the foundation of it.  Sharia is Islamic law, handed down virtually unchanged for thousands of years, and it does not admit to the female as an independent being in any manner.  The history of women in Saudi Arabia, in fact, is remarkably free from any signs of evolution; as the customs and restrictions of the past were observed because of the influence of Sharia, so too do the majority of the same customs and behaviors exist today.

This goes to an interesting aspect of why women are treated as they are in Saudi Arabia.  That is to say, the structure of Islam has never been so much out to repress them because of notions of female inferiority, as it has always been concerned with sexuality and immorality.  There have been, for example, powerful and independent Saudi women in the past, as well as today, which could not occur in a society completely dominant over women.  It appears more that Islamic restrictions on how women may act were largely designed out of mistrust for male intentions, as well as admitting to a vulnerability of women.

This can be seen historically in dress, societal access, and legal rights.   It is conjectured that the dress requirements for most of the country predate Islam, in fact, even as they remain in force today.  Saudi women are essentially not permitted to expose their bodies or faces; the hijab covers the face, and the abaya is the cloak completely concealing the body.   Then, the history of where a women may go is reflected in modern customs.  Separate entrances are used for men and women in most public arenas, and segregation of the sexes is either mandated or strongly encouraged in schools, parks, businesses, and other social and professional venues.

Also, the ancient traditions regarding personal independence have remained much the same. Although some freedoms have been permitted to women, the prevalent culture remains highly restricted, legally and socially.  A girl must completely submit to the authority of her father; if there is no father, other male relations have this power. The paternal control is relinquished only when a girl marries, and is then basically transferred to the husband (Bowen, 2008,  p. 11).  In this area as in others, the history of how the Saudi woman may live is evident in how she lives today.

Modern Changes

It was inevitable that increased globalization would introduce Saudis to previously unknown cultures.  This goes back to World War II, from which the chief consequence was an influence in permitting Saudi women to seek education.  To some extent, this has been encouraged by the society itself; it is not opposed to educated females, but the process may only occur under the sanctions of Sharia. Saudi women today are pursuing education in a way unthinkable not many years ago, and this would indicate a more liberal outlook in regard to gender.  In 2000, women made up fifty-eight percent of the Saudi student body in higher education.  Female students, however, can only take instruction  from male teachers through closed-circuit video (Engineer, 2004,  p. 209).  Moreover, the women themselves are not typically determined to seek education to attain actual independence, which would contradict the beliefs by which they were raised. Even today, many young Saudi women strongly adhere to the Sharia principles held by their families, and do not pursue education if marriage presents itself.  Being a dutiful wife and mother remains the primary goal, despite Western influences and access to global viewpoints (Long, 2005,  p. 42).

The Gulf War of 1990 broke through several cultural barriers. On one level, and for the first time, many Westerners were made aware of how repressive Saudi society was for women. On another, there was an internationally-based sense that the Western military forces in the region, which consisted of female officers and soldiers, would have a powerful influence on how women were treated in Saudi Arabia (Voll, 1994,  p. 298).  This has not largely been the case. Old Islamic traditions still held a tight grip, as they do today: “Women who drove cars when out of the country were not permitted to take the wheel in Saudi Arabia” (Stearns, 2006,  p. 157). In segregation practices, dress, education, and individual liberties, Saudi women remain remarkably where they have been for thousands of years.

Conclusion

It is difficult for a Western, or even merely a non-Islamic mind, to comprehend how deeply imbedded Islam is within the culture of Saudi Arabia. It is the foundation for life as it is lived there today as it has been since the region first established its identity.  That women appear to be denied basic rights is an understandable response, but it is an inappropriate one because it emanates from an alien culture. The facts are evident that, to a large extent, Saudi women are complicit in the treatment they receive, for it reflects the belief system they embrace as strongly as do the men. Moreover, as noted, it seems to be a culture built upon a determined adherence to a kind of morality, rather than an innate conviction in the woman as an inferior being, and this further weakens any Western culture’s right to judge. Today, Saudi women enjoy a few liberties their ancestors did not. The greater reality, however, is that Saudi Arabian women are willing participants in their Islamic culture, no matter that it is seen as gender bias by other societies.

References

Bowen, W. H.  (2008.)  The History of Saudi Arabia. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press.

Engineer, A. A.  (2004.)  The Rights of Women in Islam. New Delhi, India: Sterling Publishers Private, Ltd.

Long, D. E.  (2005.)  Cultures and Customs of Saudi Arabia.  Westport, CT: Greenwood Press.

Stearns, P.  N.  (2006.)  Gender in World History. New York, NY: Taylor & Francis Publishing.

Voll, J. O. (1994.)  Islam, Continuity, and Change in the Modern World. Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press.