While many various cultures exist across the entire globe, Islamic cultures
tend to be some of the strictest cultures to the female gender. Saudi Arabia, an Islamic nation, practices a theocratic system of government in which much of its laws revolve around the rules set forth by religious
code. Unfortunately, Sharia law creates an unequal environment for women
in the Middle East, especially in Saudi Arabia. This gender inequality in
Muslim culture not only labels women as subordinates to males, but also undermines their
ability to practice feminism.
tend to be some of the strictest cultures to the female gender. Saudi Arabia, an Islamic nation, practices a theocratic system of government in which much of its laws revolve around the rules set forth by religious
code. Unfortunately, Sharia law creates an unequal environment for women
in the Middle East, especially in Saudi Arabia. This gender inequality in
Muslim culture not only labels women as subordinates to males, but also undermines their
ability to practice feminism.
Dress Code
Women in Saudi Arabia are labeled as an inferior gender in their culture due to strict
regulations in female dress. Under Sharia law, women have very few rights regarding public dress. For instance, all skin, except for the hands and face, must be concealed while in public.
Therefore, women are required to wear long vales or even a black, full body covering known as the chador. This strict regulation severely limits women’s rights in Saudi Arabia and clearly labels the
female gender as a lesser group since males do not experience the same rules. In addition, female
individuality is ultimately destroyed due to the uniformity they must concede
to.
Women in Saudi Arabia are labeled as an inferior gender in their culture due to strict
regulations in female dress. Under Sharia law, women have very few rights regarding public dress. For instance, all skin, except for the hands and face, must be concealed while in public.
Therefore, women are required to wear long vales or even a black, full body covering known as the chador. This strict regulation severely limits women’s rights in Saudi Arabia and clearly labels the
female gender as a lesser group since males do not experience the same rules. In addition, female
individuality is ultimately destroyed due to the uniformity they must concede
to.
Daily Lifestyle
While Saudi Arabian women have very few rights regarding public appearance,
they also are highly discriminated against in the daily life. For example,
women are strictly forbidden from driving, a privilege that everyone should be
able to enjoy. Currently Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world that
bans women from driving. Women must obtain permission from their male guardian in order to do any sort of major task, including marriage, divorce, travel, education, and employment. Women are also heavily discriminated against in the working industry, constituting only 17% of the total workforce in Saudi Arabia.
This is primarily due to the fact that men can control their wives' bodies and
often prohibit them from working outside the home. Even if companies employ women, they traditionally create a 'female only' section. Because men are able to control their wife’s lifestyle, this suggests the normality of female subordination to men in Saudi Arabia.
While Saudi Arabian women have very few rights regarding public appearance,
they also are highly discriminated against in the daily life. For example,
women are strictly forbidden from driving, a privilege that everyone should be
able to enjoy. Currently Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world that
bans women from driving. Women must obtain permission from their male guardian in order to do any sort of major task, including marriage, divorce, travel, education, and employment. Women are also heavily discriminated against in the working industry, constituting only 17% of the total workforce in Saudi Arabia.
This is primarily due to the fact that men can control their wives' bodies and
often prohibit them from working outside the home. Even if companies employ women, they traditionally create a 'female only' section. Because men are able to control their wife’s lifestyle, this suggests the normality of female subordination to men in Saudi Arabia.
Marriage Rights
Women in Saudi Arabia also possess very few rights in the area of marriage, including divorce,
custody, and inheritance. This sometimes includes women being forced into
marriage as young as 9 years of age, taking away women’s freedom to select their own
husband. In the relationship, the female’s freedoms are almost entirely controlled by her husband.
For example, women are not able to obtain passports unless permission is
first granted from the husband. At all times, women must have a male guardian, whether it is a husband or relative such as a brother. If this is not degrading enough toward the female gender, male domestic violence against his wife often goes unpunished. However, severe punishments exist for identical actions committed by females, proving that women in Saudi Arabia serve an unequal role in society. If a woman turns against her husband and commits adultery, stoning to death is not an unlikely punishment to receive.
Saudi Arabian culture as a whole clearly objectifies women, degrading their
lifestyle in order purely to support the perceived dominance of the male
gender. While their rights are
taken away, and identities nearly nonexistent in the public sector by religious
law, males unequally receive little regulation and ultimately control the way
females live. Therefore, women
often play a subordinate role to males in Saudi Arabia. Different cultures emerge across the
entire world, but Saudi Arabia’s strict religious culture is one of the most unique to
women.
Women in Saudi Arabia also possess very few rights in the area of marriage, including divorce,
custody, and inheritance. This sometimes includes women being forced into
marriage as young as 9 years of age, taking away women’s freedom to select their own
husband. In the relationship, the female’s freedoms are almost entirely controlled by her husband.
For example, women are not able to obtain passports unless permission is
first granted from the husband. At all times, women must have a male guardian, whether it is a husband or relative such as a brother. If this is not degrading enough toward the female gender, male domestic violence against his wife often goes unpunished. However, severe punishments exist for identical actions committed by females, proving that women in Saudi Arabia serve an unequal role in society. If a woman turns against her husband and commits adultery, stoning to death is not an unlikely punishment to receive.
Saudi Arabian culture as a whole clearly objectifies women, degrading their
lifestyle in order purely to support the perceived dominance of the male
gender. While their rights are
taken away, and identities nearly nonexistent in the public sector by religious
law, males unequally receive little regulation and ultimately control the way
females live. Therefore, women
often play a subordinate role to males in Saudi Arabia. Different cultures emerge across the
entire world, but Saudi Arabia’s strict religious culture is one of the most unique to
women.