The Women of Saudi Arabia: Barred from Voting and the Workforce
              (by Kaley Kennedy)

In recent years, despite its atrocious record concerning women’s rights and human rights in general, Saudi Arabia has been able to induce a sharp increase in the amount of women graduating from university. Women, in fact, now account for more than half of all university graduates. Logically, one would assume that such an increase would result in a similar increase in women’s rights in other sectors of the society. Sadly, this has not been the case in Saudi Arabia, largely due to strict segregation legislation and the country’s rigid traditions. Accordingly, women continue to be denied their most basic rights and continue to see little improvement in their standing in society.

Though there are many rights being denied to women in Saudi women, perhaps the most fundamental is the right to work. While the availability of education steadily increases for women, the amount of women in the workforce remains perpetually low. Often times, extreme laws that affirm that women and men are not to work in the same environment are cited for the lack of female employees. Other times, in an attempt to hide their discrimination, employers cite policies or traditions that act as barriers to the hiring of women.

The above practices are viewed as socially acceptable and are even evident within the Saudi Government. Despite instructions last year to begin hiring women, which came from the leader of Saudi Arabia, Prince Abdullah, progress has been incredibly slow. Only the Foreign Ministry has complied, while many others continue to resist.

Without being able to acquire an independent income, women remain at a status below men. They are required to be financially dependent upon their fathers, husbands, brothers, and others for even the most basic necessities. Without financial autonomy, women have no chance of achieving other rights within the region. Essentially, without being given the opportunity to work, equality is an impossibility for women.

While women continue to be excluded from the workforce, they have also been excluded from new rights being given to male Saudi citizens. February saw the first elections held in the country in more than forty years; however, women were excluded from voting, let alone running as candidates. Before the announcement was made that women would be unable to vote, Nadia Bakurji, a Saudi woman, was planning on running. In return, she received personal threats from those attempting to deter her from contending. She, like many other Saudi women, had been falsely led to believe that she would be allowed to vote come election time.

Why, then, were these women denied their right? Saudi politicians have once again alleged that the voting stations were incapable of facilitating the isolation of women. These politicians have, however, claimed that should these elections be considered successful, women will be able to vote in the next elections in four years. Unfortunately, it can be forecasted that in those four years, more impediments may arise to prevent women from their natural right to vote. It is unknown as to whether women will also be given the right to run as candidates in any future elections.

While the refutation of women’s rights is horrendous, what is conceivably worse is that many Saudis in positions of power continue to deny any wrongdoing on their part. Many have excused these injustices as products of inexperience. That is to say, it is acceptable that women were excluded from the election because this is the first election Saudi Arabia has held in more than forty years. These same powerful men are also sure to guarantee the media and their citizens that as more elections are held, women will be included. Sadly, this is very unlikely. The history of Saudi Arabia provides rather grim examples of the exclusion of women. For example, even though cars have been available in Saudi Arabia for decades, women still do not have the right to drive. The global community should not hold its breath waiting for the Saudi politicians to come through on their guarantees.

Although the situation in Saudi Arabia is grim, there is still hope for Saudi women. One of the election’s candidates asserted that his wife and sister were important parts of his campaign and that he affirmed that women are able to best recognize the needs of other women best. He chose to withhold his name for fear of his safety, emphasizing the disdain seen for women in the region.

With any luck, the present situation in Saudi Arabia is one that will be ameliorated in the near future. In essence, this situation has also shown the global community that elections are not synonymous with democracy; they are not simply a miracle drug for troubled societies. Yet there have definitely been some improvements in the region, and though it is clear that these are not fully adequate, hope is evident and equality in Saudi Arabia is not a completely futile dream.

Sources

Al-Manie, Haya. "Elections." Arab News. 6 Feb. 2005. 26 Feb. 2005 <http://arabnews.com/?page=13§ion=0&article=58593&d=12&m=2&y=2005>.

Lederer, Edith M. "Saudi diplomat sees vote by women." The Washington Times. 2 Feb. 2005. 26 Feb. 2005 <http://washingtontimes.com/world/20050201-105354-6565r.htm>.

MacVicar, Sheila. "No Women Allowed in Saudi Vote." CBS News. 4 Feb. 2005. 26 Feb. 2005 <http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/02/04/eveningnews/main671873.shtml>.

"Saudi Election." International Herald Tribune. 18 Feb. 2005. 26 Feb. 2005 <http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/02/17/opinion/edsaudi.html>.

"Saudis go to polls but women still excluded." The Independent. 10 Feb. 2005. 26 Feb 2005 <http://www.theinsider.org/mailing/article.asp?id=903>.

"Saudi Ministry to Employ Women." BBC News. 25 Feb. 2005. 26 Feb. 2005 <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4297451.stm>.

"Saudis vote in historic election." CNN. 10 Feb. 2005. 26 Feb. 2005 <http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/02/10/saudi.vote.ap/>.

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