The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a Middle East power, occupying the majority of the Arabian Peninsula. The country is not demographically diverse as almost all of around thirty million of its citizens are Arabs. The economy of Saudi Arabia is primarily driven by its substantial oil and natural gas reserves. Besides making the kingdom one of the richest states on the planet, a large proportion of petroleum in Saudi revenues makes it dependent on the depletion of natural resources.
Politically, Saudi Arabia constitutes an absolute monarchy with a state religion of Islam. A ruler’s authority is not restricted by any political parties or elections, but a king must adhere to the Sharia. The lack of civil liberties and widespread discrimination of minorities has led to Saudi Arabia receiving the “not free” label (Freedom House). Strict religious principles and traditions make the social makeup of the country one-dimensional. Ever-present Muslim male dominance predetermines gender segregation and the exclusion of women and other minorities from political participation.
Problematic Issues
Saudi women are the most affected population by gender norms. As Islamic laws apply to all female citizens, almost half of the population is disenfranchised. Discrepancies in the freedom of actions start at the age of seven (Faulkner-Jones, 2016). Women are not allowed to attend places with men freely. All their movements are supervised and permitted either by husbands or male relatives. Driver licenses are issued exclusively to male citizens because otherwise, it would create the possibility of unveiling a woman’s face. Educational institutions also do not mix sexes, resulting in female students receiving a more deficient education compared to the male ones.
Hijab is often seen as the symbol of women’s oppression, yet it is a religious requirement which many women choose to follow. Each Islamic country differs in each interpretation of how much of the female body should be covered, with Saudi Arabia pursuing the rule of minimal exposure. Islam’s distinctive feature is the indisputability of its holy text Quran. Subsequently, all attempts at doubting the rightfulness of Allah’s words are blasphemous. As a result, the rigidity of cultural traditions complicates changing women’s conditions.
Policy
Oppression of women violates international human rights policies because equality lies at the foundation of modern law. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights calls for indiscriminate respect of rights regardless of sex (United Nations). All individuals are entitled to a fulfilling education and adequate job opportunities. Saudi Arabia is a member state of the UN, thus, it has agreed to comply with the international principles of organizing citizens’ lives.
However, Saudi Arabia implements a gender segregation policy, especially in terms of education. A clear distinction is made between male and female roles, with women being limited to domestic tasks (Alsuwaida, 2016). Universities favor men in providing the academic background and teaching to the detriment of women. Overall, the resulting forced restriction of Saudi women’s access to education is a violation of international human rights.
Critique and Social Work intervention
The maltreatment of women in Saudi Arabia is the consequence of the dominance of religion, which slowly adapts to the changing world. To achieve qualitative changes, social work is necessary on macro and mezzo levels. The micro-level would not prove useful as Saudi women are deeply immersed in the system of gender rules. Instead, core shifts should be undertaken to alleviate their oppression.
Efforts at the mezzo level are already in place by Saudi female activists. Faulkner-Jones (2016) argues that a straight abolition of hijabs and religious restrictions would not help women. Religion is a sacred part of their life, therefore, all changes ought to be seen as righteous from the perspective of the Quran. Iranian women who experience a similar pressure found a way to reinterpret the holy text in their favor. Social workers can encourage Saudi activists to adopt a similar approach, which would not violate the Islamic dogmas and help women solidify their position.
Social work on the macro level can be done via the Internet and open-access information. At this point, it is evident that Saudi women enjoy more freedom and opportunities than their predecessors did several decades ago. The reason for such shifts in conditions lies in the exposure to different lifestyles existing in the world. The more people see other possibilities, the more they are willing to try them. Social workers can use social networks to raise awareness of different cultures, norms, and women’s positions there.
Altogether, Saudis are a closed society with a strong religious influence. Islam is the foundation of their culture, and undermining it would only worsen the lives of Saudi women. Nevertheless, changes are possible and feminist activists should be encouraged to push for a more self-sufficient image of an Islamic woman, incorporating the Iranian experience. It is not a direct help to the challenged individuals, but rather a subtle and consistent exposure of Saudi society to more liberating norms which will resolve the issue of oppression of women.
References
Alsuwaida, N. (2016). Women’s Education in Saudi Arabia. Journal of International Education Research, 12(4), 111-118. Web.
Faulkner-Jones, J. (2016). Letting go of the veil: Sites for Islamic feminist intervention in Saudi Arabia. IU South Bend Undergraduate Research Journal, 16, 168-173.
Freedom House. (n.d.). Saudi Arabia. Web.
United Nations (n.d.) Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Web.