A Saudi Woman In A Hijab
The topic of women in Saudi Arabia is complex and controversial. Arabs live under the system of Shari'a (Islamic) Law, which is critiqued by the West as being repressive of women's rights. Many men as well as women in Saudi Arabia insist, however, that Saudi women are content with the laws with which they live.
The Rights of Saudi Women
Saudi women are segregated from men in most aspects of life. They may not vote, have surgery, travel abroad, run a business from their home, choose a mate, or work without the permission or accompaniment of a mahram, a male family member.
Saudi King Abdullah has tried to make gains for women over the last five years; among other things, he has established a mixed-gender university specializing in science and technology. This move saw protests by Islamist fundamentalists.
In 2009, Saudi Arabia agreed on a U.N. proposal to end men's guardianship of women. In 2010, it was announced that Saudi women would soon be allowed to fight family-related cases in court, such as divorce and custody cases.
Saudi Women And Education
Saudi girls and women have been allowed to enroll in schools since the 1960s, though schools are segregated. As of 2005, they are 70 percent of the higher education students, with 10 private colleges and 27 vocational schools.
Saudi Women In The Workforce
Saudi women may be educated, but because of Shari'a Law, they make up only five percent of the workforce. One religious affairs official summed up the country's outlook: "Allowing men and women to work together sows the seeds of destruction in any society."
Despite this, the last years have seen gains for women in the workforce. One woman was recently nominated to the Saudi ministry, another won a national medal for her contributions to cancer research, while others have gained top managerial posts in industry.
Shari'a Law allows for women's earnings to be kept for themselves; it is said that $11 billion has been saved by Saudi women in their bank accounts through earnings and inheritance.
Saudi Women's Dress
Saudi women wear the hijab head and body covering, or the niqab, full-facial covering. Though many in the West suggest that Saudi women are forced to wear these, it is not the law that they do so. The last few years have ushered in the trend of women wearing colorful headscarves, rather than black.
Saudi Women and Driving
One controversial touchstone for Saudi women has been regarding the issue of driving: Saudi women are not allowed to drive. In 1990, the government rebuffed such reforms, but by 2008, the King was considering approval of this right.
One year later, however, this reform was still not passed, despite the fact that petitions had been signed to this effect, and Saudi feminists had taken to the wheel of their cars as a form of protest.
Of note is the claim by some Saudi scholars who say that Shari'a Law does not actually ban women from driving.
