I arrived at Dulles International Airport in Washington, D. C. for my 13-hour flight to Saudi Arabia, and I was immediately greeted with the diversity amongst Saudi women. Some of the women who would be on my flight were wearing burkas, whereas others were wearing jeans and a t-shirt. There was already incredible diversity amongst Saudis due to its history, but with increasing modernization and changes in the country, diversity in the Kingdom is increasing.

What are the laws that increased women’s rights in the Kingdom?

The Saudi Vision 2030 plan spearheads this modernization, starting with the language of the plan. The plan commits to “providing opportunities for all” through various means and “unlocking the talent, potential, and dedication of our young men and women”. This ideological wording paved the path towards more progressive laws for Saudi women. As of 2017, laws were passed in Saudi Arabia that granted women equal treatment in the workplace, allowed them to obtain family documents from the government, and allowed them to obtain a passport and travel without permission from a wali, or male guardian.[1] In addition, women can get a driver’s license, spectate sports, and no longer have to wear an abaya so long as they dress modestly.[2] Although these freedoms are put into law, do they actually reach the lives of Saudi women? This question, among many others, was what I aimed to answer on my trip to the Kingdom.

What is the social perception of these changes in women’s rights?

The reality is that there are mixed feelings within the Kingdom regarding the progression of women’s rights. Many Saudi women have taken these opportunities to wear brighter, open abayas and not cover their hair, whereas others still wear burkas. The ability to choose what they want to wear is a big step for Saudi Arabia; however, according to an anonymous source, sometimes it is up to the woman and sometimes it is up to the family. In addition, regional differences impact opinions of these changes. The west of Saudi Arabia tends to lean towards a more progressive perspective, where as much of the south and east of the Kingdom, especially in the rural areas, still practices the more traditional cultural and social norms. This means that although women can choose how they dress or whether or not to interact with men, they may be looked down on or disapproved of. However, Dr. Turki Alawad emphasizes that you have to separate the opinions and practices of the people from the government and the laws. He states that it is “more than just the image, the women and people [in Saudi Arabia] believe in this”.

What is the perspective of the Saudi government?

Prince Turki bin Faisal noted that “women are taking over, and that is good”. In addition, he hopes to see women granted more rights and opportunities in the future. Saudi women are like an untapped resource that, if nurtured, could greatly improve the Kingdom’s economy. Dr. Turki Alawad explained that since Saudi women have been included more in education and the workforce, they have contributed new perspectives, greater creativity, and more engagement. This bodes well for women’s rights in Saudi Arabia if the Saudi government continues to increase opportunities and freedoms for its women.

What changes would Saudi women like to see in the future?

The future of Saudi women’s rights seems to show increased freedoms; however, Hanan Al-Ahmadi explains that “a transformation is indeed under way, ‘but we need to be able to create this change gradually and maintain our identity”. Dr. Turki Alawad explains that “it’s not perfect, but it is gradually going there”. There are other factors to consider when contemplating the future of women in Saudi Arabia, and it is vital to remove all Western bias during this contemplation. Not all Saudi women would want all restrictions lifted; maintaining the Saudi identity, which includes cultural norms and religious beliefs, remains a strong aspect of how Saudi women identify themselves and maintain certain standards, such as privacy, order, and respect. Modernization and progression bring new complications and factors into the mix regarding social order and norms, and they would require further discussion and policies to combat the consequences of such changes. However, following social changes and progression in other parts of the world, people, over time, will want more involvement in decision-making and democratic processes in politics.

In Conclusion

The Saudi Vision 2030 plan and social changes in Saudi Arabia have greatly impacted the lives of Saudi women, and it seems as though there will be further changes in the future. With every step the Kingdom takes to progress, there will need to be measures to prevent negative consequences. In order to maintain the Saudi identity and ensure a smooth transition throughout the Kingdom, it is vital that this process unfolds at its own pace.

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Kathryn Frizzell studies Political Science, Psychology, and Spanish at Converse College in Spartanburg, South Carolina. She became interested in the region through the National Arab Council’s Model Arab League.

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