With Saudi women representing only four percent of the labor force, the Kingdom is the world’s first in dependency. There are 569 dependents per 100 workers compared to the world average of 207 dependents per 100 workers.
Although women’s rights are derived from the Qur’an in Islamic societies, the interpretation of these rights and their applications vary among different Muslim communities, often leading to some controversy. Adhering to the importance of family and promoting harmony, the Qur’an (Sura 4, verse 34) says: “Men shall take care of women with the bounties which God has bestowed more abundantly on the former (men), than the latter (women) and with what they spend out of their possessions.”
Unfortunately, some took the view that this verse prevents women from entering the labor market, without addressing the whole context of the Qur’an in mind. Upon such interpretation, one will conclude that it is an obligation for a male to be financially responsible for the female. However, in accordance with the following (Sura 2, verse 233) “And the mothers may nurse their children for two whole years, if they wish to complete the period of nursing, and it is incumbent upon him who has begotten the child to provide in a fair manner for their sustenance and clothing,” one can find that the responsibility of males to financially care for women applies to a specific situation.
Furthermore, the conservative view of a gender-based division of labor, which entitles the male to be the provider and the women to lead a private life and be only the source of love and care, is not consistent with this following verse: “Men shall have a benefit from what they earn, and women shall have the benefit from what they earn (Sura 4, verse 32). Obviously, this verse addresses men and women in equal terms, emphasizing the roles of both in the economic growth of a society. The Qur’an does not strictly delineate the roles of men and women to the extent of proposing only a single possibility for each gender. Though there is no division of labor in the Qur’an, in today’s Saudi Arabia, as men’s horizons and occupational choices widen, women’s opportunities remain comparatively very narrow but changing and may change faster.
What has prevented women from moving into different occupations in the new Saudi economy is not Islam, but the culture that was influenced by the conservative interpretations of Islam.
Geographically, 80 percent of Saudi Arabia is made of desert and its environment harsh. Historically, this has confirmed the importance of males as hard workers and limited the duties of females to raising children and taking care of their male relatives. With varying degrees across the different types of socioeconomic subcultures, mainly prior to the discovery of oil, Saudi women have assumed partial roles in the agricultural, pearl and fishing and even in pastoral economies, in addition to their household tasks.
Arising from these types of socio-economic patterns, was the oil wealth, and particularly in the period of mid-70’s to early 90’s, as economic conditions and level of wages and salaries were high enough to make it possible for many families to rely on one source of income, mainly men. As economic realities are changing with women gaining higher level of education, I do not think my country needs only men to serve it, but women should take part in supporting their families and contributing to the development of the Saudi economy. Many Saudi women are realizing this new reality, largely serving as teachers, physicians, and nurses.
In the second half of the twentieth century, a new horizon opened up for women, thanks to the wisdom and bravery of King Faisal, as women were allowed to go to schools in the ’60s for the first time in the Kingdom. Consistent with the social tradition of being married at young age, continued pregnancy deprived women from continuing their education. An increasing number of Saudi women, currently estimated at around 374,000, are assuming motherhood while pursuing careers.
Three decades ago, most teachers in girls’ schools were non-Saudi coming from neighboring countries like Egypt, Palestine, Jordan and Syria. This is in sharp contrast with today’s situation where majority of teachers are Saudi women. Currently, more Saudi women are increasingly majoring in medicine, nursing, and business. In fact, there are some who are currently working in different government and private hospitals.
Only 20 percent of physicians in the Kingdom are Saudi; this presents a greater opportunity for women of my country to specialize in medical profession. Economic growth requires the full participation of labor force. Total exclusion of women from the job market means not utilizing half the energy that leads to economic growth.
Economic realities are yet to take their own path in Saudi Arabia. Changing lifestyle and rising modes of expenditures such as private education, health, telecommunications, and entertainment, among other things, are making it impossible to support a family on one source of income.
As more women have access to education, even in remote settlements, illiteracy is rapidly declining. While the number of literate males is outnumbering females, the gap is narrowing. Up to high schools, the males and females are approaching equal numbers, resembling a characteristic of a developed country. However, women face the problem of difference in content as well as in quality of education. From the earliest years in schools, girls tend to be directed toward subjects that are of more use in the kitchen and home than to the outside world.
Culturally, they are encouraged to study dressmaking, literature and domestic sciences, while boys are motivated to study engineering, physics and mathematics. Because of traditional social roles, Saudi women’s right to education is limited to certain majors such as education, health, business, computer science, literature, and Islamic studies. They are not admitted in many majors such as law, aviation, security, journalism and the engineering sector whether petroleum, mining, civil, architectural, electricity, or mechanical.
However, lately, two private female colleges were opened with new majors such as information system, interior design, and special education. It is also important to note that women’s right to education is dependent on her guardian who can prevent her from pursuing. Saudi businesswomen have gone a long way. Just two decades ago, there was no such thing as businesswomen existing in Saudi Arabia. They are currently facing a host of regulatory rigidities. They maybe allowed into the chambers of commerce and industry. Women find it more convenient to work through a male guardian to act as their power of attorney to process official documentation.
Over 22,000 commercial licenses have been issued to women, many of whom run their own women-only beauty shops, and furniture and fashion businesses. Women are beginning to realize the importance of investment, nearly 20 percent of mutual funds are owned by women, while it is believed about SR15 billion of women’s wealth are not invested; it is still kept in current accounts. Adapting to the new roles for women can be daunting, but institutions are showing more willingness to change their approach.
Realizing that the strict traditional roles are no longer compatible with the extension of modern life, some easing of regulations on women’s participation in the economic life is gradually taking place. This is led by the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) in proceeding to build up female investment centers and guiding businesswomen for investment opportunities in the Kingdom, followed by chambers of commerce in organizing female training courses for different job skills required by the private sector. Although it is a difficult path, I believe we are on the way to reforming many women’s issues. This obviously requires a new understanding and a lesser restrictive interpretation of Islam. Clearly, it is time to change and to adapt to new roles as the new relationship of modern time necessitates. I believe women who work hard and continue to bring change can make a difference but up to a limit, as they are controlled by the social system around them, and would not get out from the restrictions of social roles unless society and institutions start to change these roles.
While Saudi women’s participation in the government accounts for nearly 14 percent of the total Saudi and non-Saudi work force in this sector, their share in the private sector remains very limited at around 0.5 percent. They represent 18 percent of the Saudi labor force in government and 2.6 percent in the private sector. Due to limited opportunities in the different private sector economic activities, Saudi women are mainly employed in medicine and social services. However, in the government sector most women are employed in the education sector with a smaller percentage in the health sector.
Recognizing the importance of women’s employment in solving the Saudization and unemployment problems, authorities are currently widening the opportunities for women in other sectors like post, telecommunication and telegraph, and encouraging the private sector of increasing women’s employment, without implicating her Saudi Islamic identity. In private business, the banking sector has been taking the lead in hiring women, not only in female branches but also in senior positions in headquarters. It is important to note that of those females employed in the private sector, 40 percent of them are carrying college degrees followed by 14 percent with high school degree.
To conclude, I must say that women’s empowerment must be addressed in the context of new economic policy. Women’s work is not meant to be just for leisure, it is meant to contribute to the development of their own country. This explains the gap between the expectations of Saudi women and what has been achieved; yet women to some extent, I believe, bear some responsibility. But at any rate, the major reason for the gap is obvious; women’s work has not yet been taken very seriously, family-wise or even culture-wise. If it was really important policy-wise, women’s input in the decision making process should have been solicited, especially on issues related to relationship between their education, work, marriage and family.
This points out to the lack of understanding among policy makers to the need to incorporate a gender perspective into economic policy. As a consequence of the gross under-representation of women in decision making bodies in all areas, female participation in the public sector remains limited, contributing to even less opportunities for women in the private sector. It is now for women to push for further transformation. They should aim to generate discussions and research on the role of women in economic development, thereby institutionalize their role with a mandate to integrate them in the development of their country.
Finally, I believe Saudi women are committed, loyal, energetic, vigorous, enthusiastic and reliable (CLEVER)
My message to the new Saudi female generation is: Work hard for changing your role. You should make things happen, and not wait for them to happen. You are there to stay.
(These are excerpts from a lecture given to the Italian Arab Women’s Association in Rome by Dr. Nahed Taher, a senior economist at the National Commercial Bank)
Arab News Features 17 November 2002
