Suffering in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia suffers from gender segregation.
When women in Saudi Arabia are competing - in sports - with women from other countries, they are put at a disadvantage; in the photo, to the left, a woman is depicted trying to run in a full body covering versus running in an aerodynamic uniform, like the rest of the women. This image of Sarah Attar, taken at the 2014 London olympics, shows the second woman to ever represent Saudi Arabia in the olympic games.
Women are constantly looked at differently for having to wear the abaya. No matter what they are doing, the must be wearing a full body covering; this is a cultural, but governmental law.
Americans advocate the right to freedom, but in other societies, one specific religion not only impacts the culture, but the whole country. In Saudi Arabia, the government and community revolve around the Islamic religion.
According to King Abdullah, “As to women, the Islamic faith has given women rights that are equal to or more than the rights given them in the Old Testament and the Bible”(King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia). The justification of the unequal treatment of women remains common for the Saudi Arabians, who simultaneously defend both their religion and their government.
Gender discrimination in Saudi Arabia causes Saudi women, the society, the economy, and politics to suffer; although there are some groups attempting to assist these women, a problem still exists that must be adressed.
Saudi Arabia:
Saudi Arabia is considered the birthplace of Islam. It is located in Middle Eastern Asia and is mostly desert country, but this photo shows Saudi Arabia's capital: Riyadh. The oddly shaped building in the center of the image is the Kingdom Centre and the top is a sky bridge that connects the two towers. The Kingdom Centre is a home for resdents and for commercial offices.
Men suffer from gender discrimination as well, because the Saudi men will never learn how to communicate with women in any aspect of life. Especially in business scenarios because when Saudi men must travel to other countries for business or talk on the phone with a woman for any business related conference, they will not be able to succesfully interact with those women working in the same business. These men are socially handicapped because they struggle with any interaction with half of the world's population.
Mobaraki, A., & Söderfeldt, B. suggest that ““Inequality” and “inequity” are different concepts; the former applies to any variation, while the latter applies to both avoidable and unjust causes.”( Mobaraki, A., & Söderfeldt, B. 113) Gender inequity remains common in all countries; although, in Saudi Arabia, the public accepts this discrimination and upholds governmental and religious laws to obtain it. Most women cannot get jobs, are not permitted to drive, may not travel without permission, and cannot even be around or associate with men in public; Saudi Arabia’s religion - Islam - supposedly dictates this cultural norm for women.
Not only does gender discrimination - in Saudi Arabian government - hurt Saudi Arabia’s women, politics, economics, and society, but it also hurts Saudi Arabian men.
Last Edited: November 30, 2015
Published: November 30, 2015
Author:
Lauren Shiflet