JEDDAH: Saudi women may be achieving success in various fields and are becoming leaders and decision makers in the country, but many women point to continuous obstacles and limited powers, particularly their ability to take on roles in public relations and media departments as “spokeswomen,” a position reserved exclusively for men.

Director General of the Department of Public Relations and Information at the Ministry of Health Essam Zainulabedeen Tawfeeq believes women at the Ministry of Health have reached leadership positions and have contributed for years to planning, development and decision making in the ministry, and thus there is no reason to prevent any woman from becoming the official media spokesperson at directorates in regions and provinces.

For her part, Susan Al-Qurashi, associate professor of organizational behavior at King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah, says women have not been allocated the spokeswoman's role in different sectors due to “caution,” as women in nature are cautions and articulate in their actions and language. “In my view, this is the main reason, but I expect women in the near future will take on official spokeswomen roles in various sectors, and at conferences and activities, such as speakers participating in economic and trade forums.”

According to Hana Al-Zuhair, deputy secretary-general for the Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Development Fund for Women and secretary-general of the Princess Jawaher bint Naif Center for Women’s Research and Development, the spokesperson representing a government department or quasi-government agency should comply with specific requirements, and appointment to this position should not be based on partiality or courtesy, irrespective of the candidate being a man or woman. This position requires a strong presence, a strong personality, dexterity in handling the media, and other high skills.

The legal adviser and secretary-general of the National Society for Human Rights Association, Khalid Al-Fakhri, attributes the absence of women from this role at ministries and other government agencies not to discrimination, but rather to the requirement that this individual should hold a media degree, and should have practical experience to take on the position.

Makkia Majrashi, public relations and media director at Heraa General Hospital in Makkah, says the absence of women in spokesperson roles creates an absence of an important view that represents the family unit and the community as a whole, not necessarily only women. She said women in public relations face a number of challenges, including lack of participation in activities and conferences that warrant women’s attendance, as well as lack of participation in the decision-making process to a great extent.

Some women argue that women are trustworthy and qualified, and thus capable of taking on the responsibility, while others see more chances for women’s participation in the field of media, which previously was not possible due to social constraints.

Alaa Arif, public relations director of the Takamol Project for Support and Rehabilitation of Productive Families in Makkah, said that a number of private agencies have appointed women as spokespersons, unlike public agencies which limit their role to public relations. She attributed this to the latter’s trust in the capabilities of women to portray an idea or view accurately, as well as women’s limited experience in this field.

Many are also of the view that women have proven their skills and capabilities in various sectors such as education, management, entrepreneurship, and even in the Shoura Council, and thus can positively contribute to this field. The main hindrance, many see, is lack of trust in women’s ability to face the public and the media, as well as limited understanding of media affairs required for such a position.

However, many notable female media figures disagree, arguing that women are just as capable and active in the media and, hopefully, can prove their capabilities as a liaison between the media, the agency, and the public.