The Emergence Of Women Role In Saudi Arabia

The Emergence Of Women Role In Saudi Arabia

Until recently, the ultra-conservative Saudi Arabia had placed toughest restrictions on women under the male Guardianship Law and others. The law states that women are not allowed to marry, travel abroad, get education or even an employment without the consent of her father, brother or husband and in some cases her uncle [Mahrum]. Until 2015, women were not allowed to cast vote either. Human rights activists were campaigning highly against the guardianship law.

With King Salman in power, he made his son Mohammad Bin Salman a.k.a MBS as the crowned Prince of Saudi Arabia. MBS vowed to introduce changes that could change the entire cultural history of the kingdom. He backed an anti-graft movement against Princes and renowned figures including the famous Prince Waleed Bin Talal, dubbed as Warner Buffet of Saudi Arabia. He held all the renowned personalities in the luxurious Ritz-Carlton hotel in Riyadh and offered plea bargain against their release. As a result, Saudi Arabia received $107 billion in return. Analyst termed it as an attempt by crowned Prince to increase his influence in the country.

Besides, he also introduced several changes allowing women to be freer. In an unprecedented change, women were allowed to drive; KSA was the only country where women were banned from driving. Following the lifting of ban on women driving, human rights activists are now urging Saudi Arabia to scrap male guardianship law. 

In addition to this, women cannot go out without wearing Abaya. Shariah Police is also in place tasked with ensuring the dress code is being observed by women.

But the landmark changes introduced by incumbent Prince Mohammad Bin Salman gave freedom to virtually confinement-like living of women. As a result, women were allowed to watch football match in stadium and were also allowed to take Customer Services Representatives jobs. In a bid to further diffuse the image of KSA being an ultra-conservative country, first ever cinema in the history of KSA was inaugurated and a musical concert was also organized. First time ever, Arab Fashion Week was also held in Saudi Arabia.

The percentage of women in KSA is around 43 percent. Empowering them and creating conducive environment for Saudi women will definitely help the kingdom to have more skilled labors and a consolidated economy. We can take into account the example of businesswomen Mother of the Faithful Hazrat Khadjia (R.A), thus, women have all the Islamic or Shariah permission to indulge themselves in business activities and be more productive.