CHANGES FOR WOMEN IN SAUDI ARABIA: Reform and Repression

  

“We are looking for energetic female coffee maker for our coffee shop (Riyadh),” says an ad running in an employment website in the capital city of Saudi Arabia. While today a job recruitment with a gender preference is generally viewed as discrimination, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, it has emerged out of the reform taking place in the country. The reform had opened the workforce to more women as well as given women the freedom that was previously unforeseen. Ironically, while the changes began to take place a few a years ago, Saudi women who were fleeing the country and the imprisonment of Saudi women activists made headlines around the world.

 

“I took everything I need [in] one small bag, nothing important, just my life and my freedom.”

 

Self-testimonies of Saudi women who fled to seek freedom have raised international criticism of the monarchy. One anonymous woman said in her story, “I took everything I need [in] one small bag, nothing important, just my life and my freedom.”

Because leaving the country is a matter of life and death, these women had to seriously plan their escape several years before hand. Some had sought for asylum in First World countries, such as Rahaf Mohammed—who, in 2019, after barricading herself in a hotel room in Bangkok and tweeting about her situation—was granted asylum by the Canadian government. Like other Saudi women, she claimed that she will face confinement and corporal punishment, and even death, if she was taken back home.

Those who failed to escape were taken back to the Kingdom by force—some literally kicking and screaming—as witnesses confirmed. This was what Dina Ali Lasloom suffered in her attempt to escape to Australia. In 2017, Dina was taken back by force by her uncles in Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Manila during transit. 

 

“If my family come, they will kill me. If I go back to Saudi, I will be dead” 

 

Before her uncles found her, in the airport Dina befriended a woman who helped her record a video. “If my family come, they will kill me. If I go back to Saudi, I will be dead,” were some of the last words ever heard again from Dina by the public, recorded in the video. Dina, like other Saudi women who failed to escape, were then never seen again in public. Human rights organizations stated that they have lost track of her.

The reasons expressed by Saudi women for fleeing their country include the oppression caused by the male guardianship system, domestic violence, and government repression of atheism and sexual orientation. However, the reform has allowed some significant changes, including relaxing male guardianship.

 

Last known photo of Dina (Wikipedia)

 

After a successful online campaign by Saudi women activists against the male guardianship system, in 2017 Saudi women at 21 can hold a passport and open a bank account without the permission of a male family member. Barriers to women’s access to credit and other financial services were also being lifted. In 2018 women were finally allowed to drive.

After the lift of the ban for women to drive, sex segregation in public places was removed. Coffee shops were one of the first de-segregated social spaces following the reform, allowing for women to sit in one table with men who are not their mahram, and women have since been working with male coworkers in coffee shops.

 

Women's right to drive activist, Loujain al-Hathloul (DW.com)

 

Since the reform, the share of Saudi women in the labor market expanded by 64 percent between 2018 and 2020. The percentage of Saudi women in the workforce had rose from 20 per cent in late 2018 to 33 percent by the end of 2020 (Brookings, 2021).

To pave the way for women’s entry into the workforce, legal reform was put in place. Whether truly implemented or not, there is legal protection against sexual harassment in the workplace and the dismissal of pregnant women (Alkhowaiter, 2021).

Not only have the economic and legal reform brought many women into the workforce, it also has allowed women to be employed in jobs where in many cultures in the world are stereotyped as men’s work. Not only can Saudi women drive but they can also train to work in car garages (Jakarta Post, 2022). However, Saudi’s gender pay gap in 2021 was high at 49% because women were in low-paying jobs (Jalabi, 2021).

Perhaps the trade-off with the gender pay gap is the personal reward women feel. For Saudi women, working and learning new skills have boosted their self-esteem and allowed them to set work achievements and live like responsible adults who contribute to the family’s economy (Al-Kinani 2022; Jalabi 2021). This means the reform has created a new purpose as well as new values for women. 

 

`

Women’s political participation has not rose alongside labor participation (CNN)

In line with the freedom Saudi women continue to obtain, today, wearing the hijab in the Kingdom is a choice. This is one of the most controversial changes but celebrated by many. The media around the world reported on how some Saudi women have welcomed this new policy by cutting their hair short in affirmation of their independence.

The de facto young crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, has been praised for being the driving force behind the whole reform. But of course, this seemly genuine interest to give women equality is triggered by economic motive.

As a country that relies heavily on the export of oil and dependent on import, Saudi is in a dire need to build its domestic economy, especially after oil prices fell during the pandemic. To move from an oil-based economy, a strong domestic workforce is needed, hence the reform encourages women to work and allows for women’s mobility because it serves the interest of the economy. 

Saudi's Vision 2030 embarks on expanding the private sector of the economy and privatizing elements that had until now been public-sector enterprises (Feierstein, 2018). To achieve this, gender barriers must be eliminated, which means allowing more women to work. Women's employment did rise in the private sector in 2019, with 40 percent growth in accommodation and food industries, 14 percent in the manufacturing sector, and 9 percent in construction (The National, 2022).

 

The reform encourages women to work and allows for women’s mobility because it serves the interest of the economy.

 

However, the increase of women in the workforce may have emerged due to Saudi women replacing foreign labor following the introduction of the tax on foreign labor in 2017 (Alkhowaiter, 2021). Also note that the government was not hiring more Saudi women, in fact, the employment of Saudi women in the public sector during 2019–2020 increased by only 5 percent (Tamayo, Koetti, and Rivera, 2021).

Not surprisingly, under Saudi’s autocratic regime, women’s political participation has not rose alongside labor participation. According to the World Bank, in 2021, women in Saudi's national parliaments held 19.87 % of seats (Trading Economics, 2022). In 2021, only 30 women sit in the Shura Council out of 150 members, while no women are in the King’s cabinet or in any senior advisory role (Jalabi, 2021).

This reform, which encompasses economic, legal, and social changes, is actually two sides of the sword. Although it is phasing out old traditions, political repression is even stronger. While women were granted some freedom, at the same time, in 2018, the Salman regime operated a crackdown of women activists and through the criminal court, they were charged broadly with destabilizing the Kingdom. 

 

Campaign to free Loujain (Twitter)

 

Saudi activist Manal Al-Sharif (now living in Australia) said that these women activists were then jailed, sexually harassed, and tortured, while having no contact with family members and lawyers. This is indeed what happened to Loujain al-Hathloul, an advocate for women’s right to drive who was arrested and imprisoned for 1001 days (GHRTV, 2021). Ironically, today, Saudi women are driving trains.

While orchestrating economic reform and cultural shifts, the Salman regime continue to repress political freedom and suppress human rights. This is reflected by the imprisonment of activists, and of course, by the alleged murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

During the same time, the pictures of Saudi princesses appearing in the media create the image of the independent Saudi women and represent the changes prescribed by the regime, such as women’s right to drive. The message is clear: that the Salman regime is the sole agent of change. Any changes will be dictated by the regime as it rearranges structure and reinvents tradition to preserve its power. 

 

Saudi Princess on Vogue Arabia (CNN)

 

Saudi Arabia’s absolute monarchy has well maintained its resilience amid modern democracy. This is achieved not only through cultural legitimacy and power over state institutions, but most of all, through cross cutting coalitions with regional business elites and the religious establishment as well as patronage with other countries, such as the US (Yom and Gause III, 2012).

The strategies above have made it possible for the regime to execute reform and maintain stability, whilst ensuring that the young generation, especially the women, will be kept at bay with the new opportunities open to them. As one woman had said about her new “boy” short hair made possible by the new policies (NDTV.com, 2022), "We want to say that we exist, and our role in society does not differ much from that of men." 

 

Check out my other blog: LizaHadiz

Sources

Articles and papers

Alkhowaiter, Meshal (2021) ‘Exploring the Rising Workforce Participation among Saudi Women.’ Middle East Institute. https://www.mei.edu/publications/exploring-rising-workforce-participation-among-saudi-women [19 July 2022].

Al-Kinani, Mohammed (2022) ‘Saudi Female Baristas Break Taboos and Gain Respect.’ Arab News. https://www.arabnews.com/node/2041311/saudi-arabia [5 August 2022].

Tamayo, Sofia Gomez, Johannes Koettl, and Nayib Rivera (2021) ‘The Spectacular Surge of the Saudi Female Labor Force.’ Brookings. https://www.brookings.edu/blog/future-development/2021/04/21/the-spectacular-surge-of-the-saudi-female-labor-force/ [19 July 2022].

CNN (2018) Vogue Arabia Cover Featuring Saudi Princess Sparks Backlash. https://edition.cnn.com/style/article/vogue-arabia-cover-intl/index.html [2 August 2022].

Feierstein, Jerry (2018) ‘Saudi Arabia: Liberalization, Not Democratization.’ The Foreign Service Journal. https://afsa.org/saudi-arabia-liberalization-not-democratization [2 August 2022].

Jalabi, Raya (2021) ‘Saudi Women Barrel into Workforce in Changing Kingdom.’ US News & World Report. https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2021-11-04/saudi-women-barrel-into-workforce-in-changing-kingdom [31 July 2022].

Knipp, Kersten (2022) ‘Saudi Arabia: Many Activists Remain in Jail.’ Deutsche Welle. https://www.dw.com/en/saudi-arabia-many-activists-remain-in-jail/a-60902374 [19 July 2022].

NDTV.com (2022) A New "Boy Cut" Trend for Saudi Working Women and What It Means https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/a-new-boy-cut-trend-for-saudi-working-women-and-what-it-means-3092586 [4 August 2022].

The Jakarta Post (2022) Saudi Women Move from Behind the Wheel to Under the Hood. https://www.thejakartapost.com/culture/2022/06/03/saudi-women-move-from-behind-the-wheel-to-under-the-hood.html [6 June 2022].

The National (2022) Thousands of Women Apply to Become Train Drivers in Saudi Arabia. https://www.thenationalnews.com/gulf-news/saudi-arabia/2022/02/17/thousands-of-women-apply-to-become-train-drivers-in-saudi-arabia/ [23 July 2022].

The National (2022) Saudi Arabia: Women in Work Has ‘Doubled’ to Over 35% of Labour Force. https://www.thenationalnews.com/gulf-news/saudi-arabia/2022/05/18/saudi-arabia-women-in-work-has-doubled-to-over-35-of-labour-force/ [19 July 2022].

The New York Times (2020) Saudi Society is Changing. Just Take a Look at These Coffeehouses. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/15/world/middleeast/saudi-women-coffee-shops.html [22 May 2022].

Tradingeconomics (2022) Saudi Arabia - Proportion of Seats Held by Women in National Parliaments. https://tradingeconomics.com/saudi-arabia/proportion-of-seats-held-by-women-in-national-parliaments-percent-wb-data.html [19 July 2022].

Yom, Sean L. and F. Gregory Gause III (2012) ‘Resilient Royals: How Arab Monarchies Hang On.’  Journal of Democracy. October 2012, Volume 23, Number 4. https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/15-arab-monarchies-gause-yom.pdf [3 August 2022].

Videos

Manal Al-Sharif’s statement:

GHRTV (2021) Saudi Arabia Documentary. https://youtu.be/angZJEre2D0.

Quotes from anonymous woman and Dina:

Four Corners (2019) Women Are Trying to Escape Saudi Arabia, But Not All of Them Make It. ABC News In-Depth. https://youtu.be/4_NppxAt_cY.

Other

Quote from job ad, accessed 29 May 2020:

Coffee Maker (Barista) Female Only in Saudi Arabia. www.careerjet.com.sa.

Top picture: Twitter