> 2. Identify which category of Literary Devices of 8 words you find in the text, such as the the use of rhetorical devices of metaphor, or other rhetorical devices as you can find in the text.

Women Rights in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Obstacles and Solutions

Zidan

American University of Sharjah

Women Rights in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Obstacles and Solutions

Brief Background

The role of women in Saudi Arabia has been under intense scrutiny over the suppression of their rights by the Islamic law (Hamdan, 2005, Welsh et al., 2014). Accordingly, Saudi Arabia has come under criticism from foreign countries over its lackluster involvement in strengthening the role of women in the society (Zamberi, 2011; Qureshi, 2014). Over the years, women have been marginalized and mistreated by their male counterparts in the country (Almansour & Kempner, 2016; Al-Ahmadi, 2011). This suppression has led to low numbers of women taking part in economic development programs as well as working in public domains (Zamberi, 2011). However, recent legal reforms have revolutionized the role of women in the society (Afifi et al., 2011). The country has strengthened the rights of women, which has contributed to both social and economic reshuffling in Saudi Arabia (Afifi et al., 2011). As a result, legal and social reforms in the country have provided solutions to the previous suppression of women’s rights in the country (Al-Ahmadi, 2011).

Annotated Bibliography

Almansour, S., & Kempner, K. (2016). The role of Arab women faculty in the public sphere. Studies in Higher Education, 41(5), 874-886.

This article underscores the role of Arab women in the public sphere. The authors highlight some of the cultural and religious issues that hinder women in Saudi Arabia from undertaking public jobs. Moreover, the authors contend that women have been marginalized by religious and cultural inclinations to society. Thus, women are barred from acquiring the level of experience and knowledge that can enhance their duties in the public sphere. The article further examines some of the solutions towards the dwindled number of women taking public roles in the Saudi Arabian society. Therefore, the article would be vital for the development of the research, as it would provide important information about the role of women in public sphere in Saudi Arabia.

Alshaghdali, N., Greener, S., & Loveless, A. (2014, October). Quality of Women's Learning Experiences in the Digital age in Higher Education in Saudi Arabia. In European Conference on e-Learning (p. 607). Academic Conferences International Limited.

In the digital age, it is important to acknowledge all the positive changes towards education that technology has brought. Nevertheless, the article posits that the quality of women’s learning experience in the digital age in Saudi Arabia is behind the world levels. This is basically contributed by the suppression of women’s rights in the country. Besides, the authors imply that the digital age has not been well developed in Saudi Arabia; thus, limiting women’s exposure to technological learning. Furthermore, the authors argue that allowing women to gain more education by abolishing some religious marginalization of females can enhance the quality of digital education in the country.

Butler, T. T. (2015). The Times: Are They a-Changin’? Saudi Law Finally Addresses Domestic Violence with Its Regulation on Protection from Abuse.Iowa Law Review, 100(3).

Butler highlights some of the social issues that affect women rights in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Accordingly, he underscores domestic and gendered violence as one of the main reasons that contribute towards suppression of women’s rights. Male have a right to discipline and punish their wives without legal or religious question in the country. Hence, the author argues that this is an obstacle to realization of human rights among women in Saudi Arabia. Nevertheless, Butler posits that with the changing times, the country has addressed domestic violence by enacting stringent laws against abuse of women. This solution to the long-standing domestic violence actions that degraded the position of women in the society can enforce the women’s rights in Saudi Arabia.

Le Renard, A. (2014). A society of young women: opportunities of place, power, and reform in Saudi Arabia. Stanford University Press.

The author identifies the Saudi Arabian society and the opportunities in the country. The book discusses the current state of young women in Saudi Arabia and the imminent reforms that enhance the plight of female gender in the country. The recent changes in Saudi law as well as other social reforms have underscored the regenerated position of women in the country. As a result, the author provides ideas on how young women can benefit from the legal reforms in order to seize opportunities and power in the nation. As a result, the author addresses some of the previous hindrances to women rights while comparing them to recent opportunities presented to them by the law.

Qureshi, R. (2014). Human resources development and the status of women labor force in Saudi Arabia: a critical analysis. International Journal of Current Research and Academic Review, 2(4), 144-155.

Qureshi prepares a critical analysis of the HR development plans in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia while addressing the status of women labor force in the country. As a result, the article critically reviews the recent proceedings in the country while highlighting the rate of female employment in recent years. Accordingly, the author provides an analysis of previous records and literature regarding female rights and employment patters in Saudi Arabia. Ultimately, this article is an example of job and education reforms that strengthens the role of women in the society. Thus, the article would be critical in the research process because it offers a wide analysis of the solutions to the obstacles of women rights in Saudi Arabia.

Saleh, R. H. (2014). The Supporting Role of Online Social Networks for Divorced Saudi Women (Doctoral dissertation, Université d'Ottawa/University of Ottawa).

The family has evolved over time in Saudi Arabia, as the article analyzes the role of support groups for divorced Saudi women. Through the country’s legal reforms, women have a right to seek divorce whenever they feel that their marriages are unstable. The social media support groups have been fundamental in the country, as women can discuss freely some of the issues that affect them after divorce. Previously, such concepts were punishable by the Islamic law, which promptly suppressed any decision-making rights women had. Therefore, this article provides some of the immediate impacts of the digital age in strengthening the women’s rights in Saudi Arabia. Hence, the article is imperative in analyzing the solutions to suppression of women’s rights in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Saqib, N., Aggarwal, P., & Rashid, M. (2016). Women Empowerment and Economic Growth: Empirical Evidence from Saudi Arabia. Advances in Management and Applied Economics, 6(5).

The article analyzes the concepts of empowering women for economic growth in Saudi Arabia. The authors empirically study the trends in the country in order to identify key elements of economic growth among women in the nation. Consequently, the article discusses strengthening of women’s social position as the key concept that allows them to become involved in economic activities. The authors argue that previously, women were perceived as minors to men, which resulted in forced marriages and mistreatment. However, women in Saudi Arabia have developed their social positions by taking part in self-development through economic activities and empowerment programs.

Welsh, D. H., Memili, E., Kaciak, E., & Al Sadoon, A. (2014). Saudi women entrepreneurs: a growing economic segment. Journal of Business Research,67(5), 758-762.

The authors identify the growing trends of women entrepreneurs in Saudi Arabia. The article contend that hindrances to women empowerment and entrepreneurship activities were caused by suppression of their rights by men. As a result, regaining women’s rights in the country has led to an increase in the number of women taking part in entrepreneurship activities in Saudi Arabia. Besides, the authors posit that the growing trends are associated with escalating calls for humanitarian action from foreign countries who have forced the country to abolish its barbaric perceptions towards women. Therefore, this article would aid in developing the research because it implies the roles of international relations in the evolving Saudi Arabia community.

Definition of Key terms

Legal Reforms:- The various changes a government does to the constitution to enhance the livelihood of the country’s citizens.

Women’s Rights:- They are the basic human rights that enhance women’s freedom in the society without facing hindrances from other societal forces.

International Relations:- The relationship a country has with foreign governments and investors.

Economy Empowerment:- The act of enhancing the role of social members in developing the country’s economy.

Outline: Women Rights in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Obstacles and Solutions

Thesis Statement: Legal and social reforms in the country have provided solutions to the previous suppression of women’s rights in the country.

I. Introduction

Saudi Arabia has come under criticism from foreign countries over its lackluster involvement in strengthening the role of women in the society. Over the years, women have been marginalized and mistreated by their male counterparts in the country. This suppression has led to low numbers of women taking part in economic development programs as well as working in public domains. However, recent legal reforms have revolutionized the role of women in the society. The country has strengthened the rights of women, which has contributed to both social and economic reshuffling in Saudi Arabia.

II. Body

A. Legal reforms provide a solution to suppression of women rights

i. The country has enforced new legal policies that led to abolishment of former suppressive laws towards women. Hence, women can access more privileges through the reformed legal structure (Qureshi, 2014).

ii. Foreign nations have imposed pressure on Saudi Arabia to abolish its suppressive laws and give women more rights in the society.

iii. The country’s social setting has changed due to the legal reforms instituted by the government.

a. Today, women take part in economic development programs (Saqib, Aggarwal, & Rashid, 2016).

b. Divorced women can form social networking groups and discuss personal development plans (Saleh, 2014).

B. Women’s rights have led to reshuffled Saudi Arabian community

i. Women have the right to take part in other roles rather than depending on men for daily bread.

ii. Women are now involved in public sphere jobs, which opposed the previous state in the society (Almansour & Kempner, 2016).

C. Women’s rights still face more conservative challenges

i. Some men are not ready to allow women to have more privileges.

ii. Women are still fearful of their husbands, which makes them suffer in silence due to lack of experience and education that can enhance personal growth strategies (Almansour & Kempner, 2016).

iii. The Saudi Arabian Islamic law still forbids divorce; hence, women undergoing the process are referred as outcasts.

III. Conclusion

Despite the efforts to enhance women’s rights in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the country still fails to recognize advanced roles women take in the society. The society needs more enlightening in order to adopt the legal reforms in the country. However, women are now involved in more national matters, as most young girls have access to education. Divorced women can shake off the ‘outcasts’ tag by forming support groups that encourage independent economic growth.

References

Afifi, E. M., Al-Muhaideb, N. S., Hadish, N. F., Ismail, F. I., & Al-Qeamy, F. M. (2011). Domestic violence and its impact on married women's health in Eastern Saudi Arabia. Saudi medical journal, 32(6), 612-620.

Al-Ahmadi, H. (2011). Challenges facing women leaders in Saudi Arabia.Human Resource Development International, 14(2), 149-166.

Almansour, S., & Kempner, K. (2016). The role of Arab women faculty in the public sphere. Studies in Higher Education, 41(5), 874-886.

Alshaghdali, N., Greener, S., & Loveless, A. (2014, October). Quality of Women's Learning Experiences in the Digital age in Higher Education in Saudi Arabia. In European Conference on e-Learning (p. 607). Academic Conferences International Limited.

Butler, T. T. (2015). The Times: Are They a-Changin’? Saudi Law Finally Addresses Domestic Violence with Its Regulation on Protection from Abuse.Iowa Law Review, 100(3).

Hamdan, A. (2005). Women and Education in Saudi Arabia: Challenges and Achievements. International Education Journal, 6(1), 42-64.

Le Renard, A. (2014). A society of young women: opportunities of place, power, and reform in Saudi Arabia. Stanford University Press.

Qureshi, R. (2014). Human resources development and the status of women labor force in Saudi Arabia: a critical analysis. International Journal of Current Research and Academic Review, 2(4), 144-155.

Saleh, R. H. (2014). The Supporting Role of Online Social Networks for Divorced Saudi Women (Doctoral dissertation, Université d'Ottawa/University of Ottawa).

Saqib, N., Aggarwal, P., & Rashid, M. (2016). Women Empowerment and Economic Growth: Empirical Evidence from Saudi Arabia. Advances in Management and Applied Economics, 6(5).

Welsh, D. H., Memili, E., Kaciak, E., & Al Sadoon, A. (2014). Saudi women entrepreneurs: a growing economic segment. Journal of Business Research,67(5), 758-762.

Zamberi Ahmad, S. (2011). Evidence of the characteristics of women entrepreneurs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: An empirical investigation.International Journal of Gender and Entrepreneurship, 3(2), 123-143.