JEDDAH, 2 December 2003 — More and more job opportunities are becoming available to Saudi women — provided they are willing to take them and society allows them to do so. With the right training and working environment, sales is an area that increasing numbers of women are entering.
Asia Al-Qahtani has been working for four years as a saleswoman in Tima, selling abayas. “I have a high school diploma and didn’t want to go to college. I’m happy with my job,” she told Arab News.
Amal Hasan has a diploma in computer software programs and works at the women’s branch of Autoram Computer Stores. “Most of our software programs are educational, so many women come in with their children. Some of the women don’t know how to use a computer so we train them,” she said.
Recently, Fitaihi Jewelry Stores opened its first store in Jeddah for women only. The store was set up with the support of the National Project for Training and Employment in Makkah Region through the Women’s Consultative Board. Located on Tahlia Street, the store currently employs 45 women, 30 of them as jewelry saleswomen and the others as administrators.
“The women went through an eight-month training period, focusing mostly on work ethics,” said Ahmad Hasan Fitaihi, the owner and manager.
Another area attracting women, especially those without a college degree, is security guards. “This work opportunity has been available for women in banks for a while now but a little over a year ago, we began employing female security guards in shopping malls and we get many applicants,” said Omar Abdul Latif, manager of the Safety and Security Institute. “In some situations, a woman is better able to work as a security guard than a man,” he said.
Unfortunately, not all women’s jobs have been enthusiastically welcomed. In Riyadh, for example, a few months ago a businesswoman opened a cafe for women only. It was staffed and managed by Saudi women and received some media attention. The response from society was negative; there were objections to the idea of Saudi women working as waitresses. Both the owner and her employees were criticized and eventually she closed the cafe.
One of the main obstacles to women’s employment is social restrictions and perceptions. Clearly, however, with increasing economic pressures and lack of adequate job opportunities, more women are choosing to work instead of staying at home.
“Women have proven themselves in every field they have entered and we have to look carefully at the matter of women’s employment,” said Dr. Mahmoud Khan, a human resources consultant. He estimates that 54 percent of women are unemployed. “From my experience, out of 100 women looking for work, 85 percent are really keen on working. Out of 100 men looking for work, many are doing so only because they are men and have graduated. They are often not eager to work so if they get a job offer with a lower salary than their expectations, they don’t take it. A woman offered a job with a salary below her expectations will usually take it,” he said.
