Women’s Rights in Saudi Arabia There is an extreme male dominance over the women of Saudi Arabia. The men control the women in government, in education, in society, and even in their own homes. A vast majority of women fight for their rights to break free. The Saudi Arabian women’s restrictions need to be changed before the men overpower the women, which can wistfully turn to domestic abuse or even the women become rebellious and break traditions set out for them. Saudi Arabian women face countless restrictions against them. Some of the restrictions against the Saudi Arabia women are they are not allowed to drive and have their male guardian drive them, the women cannot be in public without wearing an abaya (cloak) or head covering. …show more content…
Men are allowed to have four wives at a time as long as they can treat them equally, but polygamy is uncommon in most of the population. Marriage is considered a necessary part of life, and almost all adults marry. Marriage is usually a costly affair. Divorce is relatively easy for men and difficult for women. Divorce rates are high, and remarriage is common, especially for men. Domestic abuse is another big deal for Saudi Arabia women. Not saying all Saudi Arabian women are abused but according to the Riyadh-based National Family Safety Program it was reported: “One in every six women is abused verbally, physically, or emotionally every day in Saudi Arabia and 90 percent of the abusers are usually husbands or fathers” (Salama 3). Until last year there was no legislation to legally help female victims of domestic violence. Then the kingdom passed a law which states that physical or sexual violence is punishable with a minimum jail sentence of one month and a maximum of one year, and fines of up to $13,300. Yet there is another obstacle in the way, the guardianship law. The abused women can not run away from the abusers, most likely their guardian. “Until [the guardianship rule] goes, all the changes are just a show for outside,” says Aziza Yousef, a professor at Riyadh’s King Saud University. (Yousef qtd. in The Economist). With the guardianship rule still present, it causes most of the problems that women and men together in Saudi Arabia have to
Westerners often hear of how oppressed women are in Saudi Arabia. As a result, one might expect these women to be vocal about their challenges living in such a country. However, contrary to the assumption that they are unhappy, they are quick to defend their country, saying that their often overbearing abayas are parts of their tradition. These women say that they still enjoy freedoms and that “[i]t is Western women… who have been manipulated into becoming the toys of men” (Kristof 272). Even so, they still receive unequal treatment from men. Saudi women journalists must stay in their own rooms when they work while men do not. Because of these types of segregated and deleterious practices, Nicholas Kristof argues in his essay “Saudis in Bikinis” that the West is not being paternalistic in trying to advocate for women’s rights in Saudi Arabia; they are trying to free women who have never tasted true liberty. It is
In the article “the Saudi women” women are fighting for the right to drive. In some Arab countries, women are not allowed to drive without their husband in the car and can be punished with jail time and in some very restricted countries even death. Women have been trying to free themselves from men's rule for far too many years but have failed to do so as they need men to take care of them. Ever since the change of roles in the 21 first century women have been taking over what was once a dominated men’s society and have changed the rules for their equality and have even gone as far as speaking from their
Developing countries are faced with many different difficulties when trying to become self-sustainable. One factor that can push success in your favor is have a supply of natural, obtainable resources. Countries with larger amounts of natural resources are more successful economically and face fewer difficulties when developing than those who are not.
Saudi Arabian women have numerous restrictions that must be followed. For example, driving is believed to jeopardize social principles. Saudi Arabia’s conservative religious establishment are opposed to allowing women the right to drive, arguing that it would undermine social values ("Saudi Arabia: End Driving Ban for Women." Human Rights Watch. 24 Oct. 2013. Web. 30 Aug. 2015)”. In addition, some Saudi women must dress with modesty,
Saudi Arabia’s women’s rights injustices violate a variety of the articles of the Universe Declaration of Human Rights, proving their abuses to be clear human rights issues. Article 3 of the UDHR clearly states that “Everyone has the right to life, liberty, and security of person” (“The Universal”). Unfortunately, there is a system at work that takes away the liberty of the women of Saudi Arabia. Journalist Katherine Zoepf has described the guardianship system as a system which “requires an adult woman to get permission from her guardian before traveling overseas or seeking medical care”(“Sisters in”). Not only that, but she also adds that “the male relative with responsibility over a Saudi woman may be her own adolescent son” (“Sisters in”).
Women should have the same rights as men. Women are capable and self-sufficient. In Saudi Arabia, women are being oppressed in every aspect of their lives. They lack educational equality, fair laws, the rights of their personal lives, and equality in the workforce. They deserve the same freedoms and the right to pursue happiness just as much as men.
"Those who are free cannot fathom the value of small victories for those who live on a tether" (Sasson 116). In contrast to the rights provided to the people of the United States of America, women in Saudi Arabia have little to no freedoms and are treated as property. Saudi women are just as entitled to basic human rights as other men and women around the world, which leads to the question of what restrictions are placed upon them, and how these affect their lives. The second class status of women in Saudi Arabia has a significant negative impact on their lives and results in the desperate actions they take. The second class status of women in Saudi Arabia has a significant negative impact on their lives and results in their desperate actions.
No area of Saudi society has been liable to a larger number of debates than the women and their role in the advancement process. Besides, women ' rights and obligations issues have been similarly controversial among both conservatives and progressives in Saudi society. Before tackling women ' education movement in Saudi Arabia, it is important to go over some of the social and political incidents that have shaped Saudi women ' position. In the previous 50 years the Middle East has faced some real difficulties that have influenced all Middle Eastern countries and especially the Golf countries. Saudi Arabia, as other Gulf countries has encountered some real social changes. Most importantly, the discovery of oil in 1930s was a noteworthy event in the nation. The oil-created income in the mid 1970s presented substantial scale changes, including the opening of many schools to both young men and women. The financial change emerging from the huge income from oil offered ascend to a trend towards education abroad, and an adjustment in way of life, and these two changes influenced the entire structure of society (Yamani, 1996). Oil and its subsequent wealth unimaginably affected Saudi Arabia in a short period of time.
In Saudi Arabia women have very little control over their own lives and they do not know any differently. A women’s life is controlled by a man from there day of birth until the end of their life ("Boxed In"). In Saudi Arabia they have the guardianship system. This means that every women has to have a man in charge of them their whole life. This usually consist of a father or husband but can also be a brother or son. As long as they are related to you they can be your guardian. This is the case regardless of your economic or social class. In some cases, men abuse the power the male guardianship system gives them ("Boxed in").
The Women of the Middle East have played substantial roles for their corresponding countries since the advent of colonialism in the region. Middle Eastern women have worked in all types of fields including medicine, education, agriculture, government, private sector, and even defense. They have kept roofs over their family’s heads while their husbands were away in wars, or even in foreign countries to work in jobs that they could not find in their own countries. The roles of women in the countries of Yemen and Oman are no exception, but while they still find ways to contribute to their country, they care constantly stereotyped, discriminated, and ridiculed by men who are known and unknown to them. This paper will discuss the individual
The Arab-speaking world spans across the continent of Africa, and relies heavily on not only the Arabic language, but cultural and religious practices as well. However, with the adoption of Arabian cultures comes the ever-present issue of women’s equality in relation to such beliefs. The gender inequalities in the Arab-speaking world spans from the denial of basic freedoms of women to the sexual terrorism and even femicide because of the heavily emphasized dehumanization of women in such countries. Whether brought about by sociopolitical or religious means, women are viewed to be the lesser of
Every country has their own culture because of national differences and history. Culture can be defined as the values, beliefs and perceptions of a group of people. History, tradition and religion are the main influences on culture. This essay will analyze some of the main aspects of the political systems, economic systems and systems of stratification and inequality in Saudi Arabia and UAE. As a woman living in one county could be totally different than living in another one. Women 's status could be challenging in some countries and could be easy in another. Women 's status in each society and culture differs in different ways around the world. In some societies, women 's status improved progressively, while in other, it dropped or remained unimproved.
As the researcher mentioned above some of Saudi Arabian citizens still look down upon women and they still believe that home is the best place for women. On the contrary, Saudi government seeks the change and has taken many steps forward. One of the most important changes that influenced Saudi women in the previous decade has been the empowerment of women to participate in political process.
Inequality between men and women has been an issue that is present in every aspect of some cultures that aren’t always necessarily the United States. Some women in Yemen, for example, have been oppressed by being greatly controlled by the word of a man for major decisions and even the slightest little things. Men in the Islamic viewpoint are superior to women, which is why they have very few rights. The Islamic religion is one of the most practiced religions in Yemen which makes society have such traditional beliefs that consist of so-called “masculine” and “feminine” roles (“How Does Gender Inequality in Yemen Affect Wellbeing”). These roles define men as the money provider of a family and women as a housekeeper (“How Does Gender Inequality in Yemen Affect Wellbeing”). Women are not allowed to provide anything with their money to their families— that is only a man’s job. Women are also dependent on a man to decide whether or not they can travel outside of the nation or just simply leave the house.
Economic statistical indicators convey the fact Saudi Arabia is a developed nation. However, close analysis of political and social statistical indicators would suggest that their standard of living and individual freedoms are severely suppressed. This 'developed' nation has abnormalities in its statistical indicators which are similar to those that characterises third world nations.