My Research Process Narrative
I did not realize how much I take for granted as a citizen and as a young woman in America until I dove into my research project. I chose to explore how the recent lift of the driving ban on women in Saudi Arabia has had a further impact on eliminating other restrictions enforced on women. This topic interested me before I even knew about the research paper. I remember getting the news notification on my iPhone back in July when the driving ban was officially repealed. I have to admit I did not know that women in Saudi Arabia couldn't even drive, so when I saw the news story I was beyond shocked to discover that such a basic right I take for granted has just now been given to women for the first time in a country's history. My reaction to this news back then is what lead me to choose this topic as my research focus. As a young woman I also have a passion for women's rights and equality. I want to do my part in shaping the world around me as a fair and just place that I and other women can live in without being oppressed by others.
I began my research around the idea that the lifting of the driving ban has to be a big step for the Saudi society which must mean that more restrictions on women could be lifted as a result of this new law. I hoped to fined more rights and liberties granted to women in Saudi Arabia after the repealing of the driving ban, and that I did. After discovering many new rights granted to women I came to the conclusion that the lifting of the driving ban can be considered the pioneer act towards more and more women's rights in Saudi Arabia. From my conclusion, I furthered the impact of newly granted rights for women and how they effect gender roles in Saudi Arabian society.
While researching I ran into many ups and downs. I found it difficult to pin point exact relationships between different liberties granted to women, and how those liberties circled back to connect to the lift of the driving ban. Although this was difficult, I didn't trash my idea that the lifting of the driving ban was a pioneer force. I instead found the relationship by connecting any similarities I could find, while also categorizing my information into either a restriction that has been lifted and restrictions that need to be lifted. By doing this I kept my information organized and could clearly develop a connection to how my information has either the same effect as the lifting of the driving ban or has the potential to.
My topic is an ongoing issue in Saudi Arabia. Crown Prince Muhammed Bin Salman continues to modernize Saudi Arabia by incorporating women into society and the workforce by repealing many long standing restrictions placed on them. The modernization of Saudi Arabia mainly means straying away from tradition (usually based off religion) and moving towards a more progressive society. Saudi Arabia not only wants to include women in the workforce but they need to, due to the continuous decline in the oil industry. The country is preparing for when oil is no longer a major industry in the country which will happen in the near future.