Saudi Arabia is widely known to have some of the most limited women’s rights in the

world. On top of this fact, women have had little progression towards better rights. For
example, in 2013 women had not yet been granted the right to drive; forced to rely
on male relatives for transportation, or paid drivers. This was very restrictive for women
and denied them independence. Though this was the law, a mother drove to pick up her
son because she could not rely on her male relatives to be on time. She was evidently
pulled over by the police, and they demanded her son sign a document promising his
mother would never drive again. After holding them for a long chunk of time, the police
eventually let them go after the son signed the contract. (1) Women’s rights in Saudi Arabia
are some of the harshest in the world. With neighboring countries that have obtained
gender equality, for what reasons are women’s rights in Saudi Arabia much stricter than
the rest of the world?
After the divide of the Arabian Peninsula, Saudi Arabia has had a slower progression of
women’s rights than the other neighboring regions. The main reason behind this is the
Islamic religion and the principles and teachings of the Koran contains. Mecca, the center
of the Islamic religion, is located in Saudi Arabia causing law and tradition to be the most
important aspect
of life, resulting in it being stronger and more enforced. Because of this, the progression of
women’s rights has gone almost no where since the creation of the country in the early
1930s. (2) However, in the last five years, women have passed two important landmarks for
eventually gaining gender equality.
In 1914, the Arabian Peninsula made their official entry into World War 1. This event
sparked initial controversy that lead into greater problems in the future. When the Arabian
Peninsula became involved in the war, it caused argument between its citizens. During the
war when Mecca was seized, some of the citizens wanted to gather and fight to win it back,
while others were afraid of defeat and wanted to do nothing. This issue almost evolved into
a civil war, but the region decided to keep peace by dividing. Because of these differing
opinions, many believed that instead of being one whole state the Arabians would be more
powerful divided into separate states. So that is what they did. The Arabian Peninsula
ended up dividing into seven whole countries including; Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Qatar,
Kuwait, Oman, and the United Arab Nations. Additionally, parts of Iraq and Jordan were
included in the divide. (3) When this divide
happened many of the countries gained immediate progression for women’s rights, in
some cases even gender equality. However, Saudi Arabia did not obtain this luxury. Women
continue to face high amounts of discrimination as well as extremely limited rights.
After the divide of the Arabian Peninsula, women’s rights in Saudi Arabia remained strict,
while neighboring countries obtained immediate progression. Kuwait, a country which lies
on the border of Saudi Arabia and Iraq, is one of the countries that gained instant
progression for women after the divide. An article from the New York Times follows the
lives of two wealthy women; one from Kuwait and one from Saudi Arabia. Described as
“loose women”, the women from Kuwait explains the meaning behind the derogatory
phrase. “We too obey the laws of the Koran. My husband, for instance, is a very religious
man. He prays five times a day, but he still lets me wear a swimsuit on the Riviera. And now
I am learning to fly a plane.” She explains how in Kuwait they still hold importance to the
principles of the Koran, but they do not take every teaching literally such as the Saudis do.
(4) Mecca, the center-point for Islamic law, is located in Saudi Arabia meaning the tradition
and principles of the religion continue to be enforced after the divide. Because of this,
religion is the most important aspect of Saudi Arabia, and for this reason the laws of the
government and the principles of the Islamic religion are intertwined.
In Saudi Arabia, women are treated like they are minors. They have very little ability to
make their own decisions, in fact, they are unable to do something as ordinary as purchase
a car on their own. Additionally, men have complete control over almost every decision
they make. A woman is under the surveillance of a man her entire life, whether that be her
father, husband, or son. (5) This control from male over female has everything to do with
the honor of men, and the Islamic religion. One of the main points the Koran teaches is
that women are inferior to men, and is followed very literally. For example, Saudi women
are not allowed to marry non-Saudi men and it is absolutely not allowed to marry a non-
Muslim. On the flipside, Saudi men can marry whomever they choose whether that be a
non-Saudi or a non-Muslim woman. Also, if a woman desires to divorce her husband she is
required to go through a long legal process with rare success, and in the unlikely case she
does win, it is understood they will not obtain child custody no matter the circumstance.
On the contrary, if men simply say “I divorce you” to a woman three times, then they are
officially divorced. No legal process is needed for a man to divorce a woman. (6) (7) These
are clear examples of how the Koran is a dominating reason for gender inequality in Saudi
Arabia, and unless the government leaders change their views on the principles of the
Koran, it will be difficult for women to obtain full rights.
Though the rights of women in Saudi Arabia are drastically different than those in the U.S.,
they have been progressing more quickly just in the last ten years. In 2015, women were
finally granted the right
to vote. It was reported that around 130,000 women registered to vote. This number is
much shorter than the 1.35 million male voters, but is still progression. A woman named
Salma al-Rashed was counted as the first to register. She explained to BBC in an interview,
“I felt really good. Change is a big word but the election is the way to make sure we are
really represented.” Alongside many like her, Salma believes that baby steps are important
and that equality is sure to happen in the future. Another woman who voted happily
reported to BBC her emotions, “It feels great. This is a huge historical moment. I thank God
I am living it. I am not really worried about the number, or to have any women winning, the
fact that we have gone through this exercise is what really matters.” This landmark is so
important to Saudi women because elections in Saudi Arabia are a rarity. The recent
election was only the third they have had, and in the 40 years between 1965 and 2005
there was no election. Women suddenly obtained the right to vote because King Abdullah
believed it was a necessary step he had to take before his death, believing that women had
opinions that were correct and potentially beneficial. (8)
As well as the right to vote, women in Saudi Arabia have recently gained the right to drive.
In fact, this law passed just in the last year. In September of 2017 the Saudi Arabian
government announced their allowance of women to drive. Though this right has already
been announced, it will not take effect until June 2018. Women not having the ability to
drive has severely hurt Saudi Arabia’s international relations, and with this change they are
hoping to better the view point other countries have of their government. In fact, the U.S.
has already been outspoken about their praise for Saudi Arabia passing this new law.
Heather Nauert, who is the State Department’s spokeswoman in Washington D.C professed,
“It is a great step in the right direction for that country”. Another benefit that will come
from this new policy is an increased economy. When women can drive they have the ability
to transport themselves to work, instead of paying a driver or waiting for a male relative.
This will most likely lead to an increase of shifts taken, and no money spent on drivers.
Women having this great increase of money into their homes means a larger amount will
be spent on shopping, food, etc. All of these factors will contribute to an increasing
economy. (9)
As well as all of those benefits, women throughout Saudi Arabia have expressed their
gratitude towards this new policy and the change it will bring in their lives. Sahar Nassif, a
campaigner in Saudi Arabia shared her thoughts with BBC, “I was very, very excited,
jumping up and down and laughing. I’m going to buy my dream car, a convertible
mustang, and it’s going to be black and yellow!”. (10) In the past five years, women in
Saudi Arabia have passed two important landmarks for gender equality, and it is only a
 matter of time before they reach it. In fact, progressive women are already working towards
allowing women to be their own guardians.
Middle eastern women have had very limited rights since the creation of the Islamic
religion. In the early 1930’s when the Arabian Peninsula divided into many separate
countries, Saudi women were the only ones who did not receive any progression of rights.
This was due to a number of reasons including the location of Mecca, and Islamic
principles combining with government law. Women are viewed as incapable to make their
own decisions, and are forced to have a male guardian at all points in their life. The only
jobs they are able to have are teaching positions. Anything that relates to retail, serving,
merchandising, etc. is not allowed. Though their progression of rights has lead almost no
where since the country was born, recently in the last ten years they have passed two
substantial landmarks for equality. These landmarks are the right to vote and the right to
drive. The right to vote is very important because of the few number of elections Saudi
Arabia holds; they have only had three since the country’s birth. Allowing women to have a
voice in the election process is a major step in their empowerment. Additionally, in this
year women have obtained the right to drive. Allowing women to transport themselves will
in turn boost the economy and foreign relations. The progression of women’s rights has
been slow since the divide of the Arabian Peninsula, but in the last five years has been
quickening. Women throughout Saudi Arabia are fighting towards this movement, and
based on the recent progress gender equality is inevitable.

Endnotes
1. Aya Batrawy, “Young Or Old, Saudi Women Live Under Male Relatives’ Control,” Philedelphia
Tribune (Philedelphia, 2017). https://searchit.libraries.wsu.edu/primo-
explore/fulldisplay?docid=TN_proquest1908298489&context=PC&vid=WSU&search_scope=WSU_everythi
ng&tab=default_tab&lang=en_US
2. Ameen Rihani, “Moslem Women Are Advancing at Different Paces,” New York Times (New York,
1930). https://searchit.libraries.wsu.edu/primo-
explore/fulldisplay?docid=TN_proquest98706719&context=PC&vid=WSU&search_scope=WSU_everything
&tab=default_tab&lang=en_US
3. Wayne B Bowen, The History of Saudi Arabia (London: Greenwood Press, 2008), 88-89.
4. Audrey Topping, “For women in 2 Arab Nations Road to Equality is Different,” New York Times(New York,
1975). https://searchit.libraries.wsu.edu/primo-
explore/fulldisplay?docid=TN_proquest120708248&context=PC&vid=WSU&search_scope=WSU_everythin
g&tab=default_tab&lang=en_US
5. Adila Abusharaf, “Women in Islamic Communities: The Quest for Gender Justice Research,” Human Rights
Quarterly 28, no. 3 (2006). https://searchit.libraries.wsu.edu/primo-
explore/fulldisplay?docid=TN_museS1085794X06307141&context=PC&vid=WSU&search_scope=WSU_ev
erything&tab=default_tab&lang=en_US
6. Peter W Wilson and Douglas F Graham, Saudi Arabia The Coming Storm (New York: M.E. Sharpe Inc.,
1994).
7. Eleanor A Doumato, “Gender, Monarchy, and National Identity in Saudi Arabia,” British Journal of Middle
Eastern Studies 19, no. 1 (1992). https://searchit.libraries.wsu.edu/primo-
 explore/fulldisplay?docid=TN_museS1085794X06307141&context=PC&vid=WSU&search_scope=WSU_ev
erything&tab=default_tab&lang=en_US
8. “Saudi Arabia’s women vote in election for first time.” BBC News. December 12, 2015. Accessed December
07, 2017. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-35075702.
9. Hubbard, Ben. “Saudi Arabia Agrees to Let Women Drive.” The New York Times. September 26, 2017.
Accessed December 07, 2017. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/26/world/middleeast/saudi-arabia-women-
drive.html
10. “Saudi Arabia driving ban on women to be lifted.” BBC News. September 27, 2017. Accessed December 07,
2017. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-41408195.