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Women in Saudi Arabia Today
Restricting the freedom of women is against the human rights. Saudi culture did not
allow freedom to women in the past; they were restricted in their social lives. Saudi women were
not allowed to drive; they did not have the right to vote, they were not seen in politics and faced
several social restrictions. But many positive decisions have made to improve the current
situation of Saudi women, for example Saudi government is thinking to lift the ban on driving of
Saudi woman, for the first time in history they can do jobs in offices and they have right to get
higher education.
One of the major effect in the lives of Saudi women occurred when the government
announced to consider the driving issue of Saudi woman, Saudi Arab is the only country in the
world which prohibits women from driving. It doesnt matter whether they are lawyers or
bankers they are not allowed to drive home after office hours, many Saudi women keep private
drivers. Women are not even allowed to protest, if they try to do protest they are charged with
criminal activities. Many Saudi scholars consider driving forbidden for women because woman
needs to uncover her face during driving the car, they think if Saudi woman drive the car she will
go outside her home more often, one more reason is that driving car may involve the interaction
with males. On this issue King Abdullah said I believe strongly in the rights of women. My
mother is a woman. My sister is a woman. My daughter is a woman. My wife is a woman. I
believe the day will come when women will drive. In fact if you look at the areas of Saudi

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Arabia, the desert, and in the rural areas, you will find that women do drive. The issue will
require patience. In time I believe that it will be possible. I believe that patience is a virtue
(The Changing Face of Saudi Women). Now Saudi government is heading towards
modernization reforms, driving issue of Saudi woman is also a point of these reforms. It is
strongly believed by local community and organizations that Saudi women will be soon allowed
to drive, there was a time when no one was agree to think or talk on this issue, but now the
government is taking this issue seriously which s very positive for Saudi woman.
Another good thing is the change in the job culture, in the past Saudi women were not
allowed to do jobs. In 1990 they had job participation of 15.3% in the Saudi workforce which
now has increased to 18.6% in 2011 (The Changing Face of Saudi Women). Compared with
other countries like USA, this is an extremely low percentage yet. Although the contribution of
Saudi women in employment is lower, there is an improvement compared to the past. Now Saudi
women work in banks, hospitals, courts and hotels, Saudi Arabia is trying to follow the role
model of UAE. The Saudi government will soon achieve its goals due to the continuous efforts
of its government.
One more major step toward the freedom of Saudi woman is done by providing them the
right of higher education. In the past the situation was not good, only 2% women were educated,
now the women literacy rate has increased to 81% (Saudi Women's Small Steps on Path to
Progress). Women in Saudi Arabia are more educated than man these days, 60% of university
graduates are female in Saudi Arabia. As compared to the western countries the percentage of
educated females is more than males in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi religion is Islam which is the
greatest preacher of higher education in the world, It lays stress on educating women and believe

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in equality. Saudi women are skilful and talented, they have given freedom of employment and
they are using it well. They are the future leaders of Saudi Arabia.
Finally, Saudi government has taken some necessary steps for the welfare and equality of
Saudi woman, now Saudi government is thinking to allow them to drive, they are not only
allowed to do the jobs but encouraged, Saudi woman is allowed to get higher education. Not only
these steps are taken, there are many more things which Saudi government is thinking for women
empowerment and soon Saudi Arab will achieve its destination of modernization.

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Works Cited
"Saudi Women's Small Steps on Path to Progress" BBC News. Web. 12 Apr. 2016.
"The Changing Face of Saudi Women." National Geographic. Web. 12 Apr. 2016.