The idea of wearing an abaya for ten days was intimidating. Saudi Arabia is known for its intensely hot weather, making the idea of an abaya all day everyday seem a bit warm. I was also a little bit concerned about the way I would be perceived as a clearly foreign woman in the Kingdom. Despite my concerns I was excited to be visiting KSA, and learning about the country from an inside perspective.

During my visit I found that the rules in Saudi have loosened up considerably over the last few years, and that many of these changes have been beneficial for women in particular. Abaya restrictions have relaxed, women have been granted the right to drive, and just a few weeks prior to my visit the laws surrounding guardianship were changed, meaning that women no longer needed a male guardian to do things like get a passport and travel. These changes have given women more opportunities for freedom and independence, and have made Saudi Arabia more accessible for foreigners to visit. Despite having done research prior to visiting, I found that there were things that surprised me. For example, I expected that I would be wearing an abaya for the entirety of the visit, but what I didn’t expect was that there are as many different viewpoints on abayas as there are types of abayas themselves. Additionally, there are many different styles and ways to wear the abaya, which allow women to express themselves through their clothing choices, even when wearing the abaya is not a choice.

These changes have made it easier for women to contribute to the workforce. With their new found freedoms women are now able to move into positions in both the public and private sectors. Dr. Khlood AlDukhail believes that the financial sector is a good place for women to work, both within the private and public sectors, and that the financial sector has been gender equal for a long time. Currently there is a quota within the public sector that requires a certain number of women to be hired, but Dr. Hoda Al-Hailessi, a leader in women’s studies in the Kingdom, believes that eventually women will be hired because they are the most qualified applicant and not because they fill a quota.

In addition to jobs in finance, positions for women are opening up in other areas. Dr. Al-Hailessi told us about a female graduating class of cyber security experts who all found positions and are successfully contributing to their field. There is also a movement to bring women into police forces, and in 2018 there was a brief period of time during which women could apply for administrative military positions (there are not however women in combatant roles, yet).

Although progress is being made in women’s rights in Saudi Arabia there are still challenges that need to be overcome in order to reach full equality. Some of these challenges are traditional customs, society and, in some cases, the women themselves. Gender segregation contributes to the inequality by normalizing the idea that men and women are incapable of working together. Another way that gender segregation contributes to inequality is through the inequality, or in some cases complete lack of facilities themselves. Women’s gyms are not widely available, and are not as well equipped as men’s gyms; weights that are considered too heavy for women to lift are entirely removed from the facility, depriving women of the option to physically challenge themselves.

My time spent in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was incredible, abaya and all. It was so enlightening to meet Saudi women, to talk with them and hear their thoughts on women’s rights in the country, their thoughts on the Vision 2030 plan, and how the two go together. I’m sure that with time Saudi will overcome the challenges present, and I look forward to watching where women in the Kingdom take their futures.

*************************************

I am a student at the University of Utah, pursuing a double major in Middle East Studies and International Studies, with a minor in Political Science. I enjoy traveling and meeting new people, particularly in the Middle East, which is why I wanted to come visit Saudi Arabia.