The People of Saudi Arabia
Public/Social Life
Life in Saudi Arabia has many differences to the United States. Saudi society is very traditional. The government and individuals in Saudi Arabia are influenced by many strict religious beliefs, regulations, and traditions. The influence of tradition can be seen in public spaces throughout the Kingdom. Within public spaces individuals of opposite genders are not allowed to associate with each other unless they are with family or the individual of the opposite sex is a relative. According to an answer posted to Quora.com by Ashwath Ramesh, a former resident of Saudi Arabia, he states "There is a religious police team called Mutawwa'een or Committee for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice that actively discourages any form of mixed gender activities in public." Most people in Saudi Arabia are nice and respectful to others including foreigners. One will find little crime and vandalism due to the strict punishments that are enforced. In an article posted to Internations website, a major difference in Saudi Arabia to other countries is that there is little to no public performances due rules and bans on certain types of entertainment. However, an annonomus Saudi woman posted to the website Quora saying "Restaurants, malls, beaches, organised events, comedy shows, and that’s about it regarding public entertainment. However, in your own home or a suitable place you could do BBQ’s, pool parties, birthday parties, just parties, etc. And that’s the entertainment in Saudi." Due to the influence of religion all commercial places close during the five prayer times during the day (Ramesh). During the months of Ramadan it is seen as disrespectful for individuals to eat or drink in public (Ramesh). Saudi Arabia prohibits the use of alcohol, drugs, and does not support the LGBT community, if caught practicing any of these one will face severe punishment (Ramesh).
Life for Women
In Saudi Arabian culture women have very little rights. Women are restricted under what are known as Guardianship Laws. According to an article posted to the BBC, the guardianship laws state that women cannot; obtain a passport, travel outside the country, get married or divorced, have their own bank account, hold a job, and even undergo certain medical procedures without the approval or permission of a male figure in their life. On top of the Guardianship Laws there are many other rules that prohibit women from basic activities. As of until recently women were unable to drive, attend sporting events, and go to the movies. All women in Saudi Arabia are required to wear a black dress that completely covers their body called an abaya (Ramesh). Women are not prevent ed from obtaining an education resulting in over half of university student bodies being women (Quora). The many restrictions placed on women has lead to a rapid increase in feminism in the country.
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In the last couple of years Saudi has been swept by a wave of feminists. Feminism is rising so fast and so strong, our problems are being recognised more than ever."
--Anonymous Saudi Woman
Saudi Arabia is full of beautiful architecture both historical and modern. Mada'in is a collection of tombs sculpted into the sandstone rocks in the desert (The Application of Advanced Imaging Technology to Saudi Arabian Rock Art). Saudi Arabia is home to the worlds fourth largest desert that spans 900,000 square miles ("Great Mosque of Mecca"). Many sacred structures can be found in Saudi Arabia most famous being the Masjid-Al-Haram located in Mecca, Saudi Arabia (the miracle of islam). The Haram is a sacred place to the Islamic religion and is the final destination for the Hajj pilgrimage ("Masjid-Al-Haram"). More current architects like Sami Angawi. "Angawi's architectural designs assert the importance of his Hijazi heritage with the common cultural heritage shared by both western and Islamic societies; believing that a “clash of civilizations” need not lead to misunderstanding, but rather friendship, trust and peace" (Wikipedia "Sam Angawi" ).
Problems
Religious Freedom |
Oil Industry |
Women's Rights |
In Saudi Arabia the practice of any other religion beside "the state-sanctioned interpretation of Islam (Wahhabism)" is banned. One will face serious punishment if they fail to comply with this law. The strict enforcement of religious practice is holding Saudi society back from becoming a more progressive place that is no longer centered around religious traditions (Center for Democracy and Human Rights in Saudi Arabia).
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Saudi Arabia is one of the major oil producers in the world. The United States is one of the major importers of Saudi Arabian oil, so there is constant demand for oil all over the world, especially in America. Because there is such a world wide reliance on oil when one distributer is not producing others must make up. Such situation has recently occurred and left Saudi Arabia in a bind. Major oil producing countries such as Iran, Libya, and Venezuela fell short in producing oil causing big importers like the US to demand more from Saudi Arabia. To meet demands Saudi Arabia increased their extraction in one year to an equivalent of three years and now they have a surplus they are struggling to sell, leaving them with less profits in the countries biggest industry ("Saudi Arabia Faces Problems Selling Extra Oil After Deal With US - Reports").
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A blog written by the organization, Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain, best represent how women's rights are viewed in Saudi Arabia when they stated, “Women’s rights in Saudi Arabia is mainly centered around what they cannot do.” Women are held under strict Guardianship Laws and sexist inferiority to men. The unequal treatment of Women in Saudi Arabia has only raved to hurt their economy and society forcing a change to occur. Although some improvements have been made, women still face a long fight to gain total equality.
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Works Cited
Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain. "The Fight for Women's Rights in Saudi Arabia Must Go On." Americans for Democracy and Human
Rights in Bahrain, 5 July 2018, www.adhrb.org/2018/07/the-fight-for-womens-rights-in-saudi-arabia-must-go-on/. Accessed 6 November 2018.
Center for Democracy and Human Rights in Saudi Arabia. "Issues." Center for Democracy and Human Rights in Saudi Arabia,
www.cdhr.info/index.php?
InterNations . "Living in Saudi Arabia." InterNations, InterNations, www.internations.org/saudi-arabia-expats/guide/living-in-saudi-arabia-15364. Accessed 31
December 2018.
"Masjid-Al-Haram." The Miracles of Islam, themiraclesofislam.com/masjid-al-haram/. Accessed 1 January 2019.
Quora. Quora, 29 Sept. 2018, www.quora.com/What-is-it-like-to-live-in-Saudi-Arabia. Accessed 31 December 2018.
Ramesh, Ashwath. Quora. Quora, 1 May 2015, www.quora.com/What-is-it-like-to-live-in-Saudi-Arabia. Accessed 31 December 2018.
"Saudi Arabia: Why weren't women allowed to drive?" BBC, 13 Jan. 2018, www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/41412980. Accessed 3 December 2018.
"Saudi Arabia Faces Problems Selling Extra Oil After Deal With US - Reports." Sputnik News, Sputnik News, 21 July 2018,
sputniknews.com/middleeast/201807221066586936-saudis-oil-problems/.
The Application of Advanced Imaging Technology to Saudi Arabian Rock Art. "Mada'in Saleh." Arabian Rock Art Heritage, saudi-
archaeology.com/sites/madain-saleh/. Accessed 31 December 2019.
Wikipedia . "Great Mosque of Mecca." Wikipedia, 31 Dec. 2018, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Mosque_of_Mecca. Accessed 31` December 2018.
Wikipedia. "Sam Angawi." Wikipedia, 17 Dec. 2018, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sami_Angawi#cite_note-2. Accessed 1 January 2019.
Rights in Bahrain, 5 July 2018, www.adhrb.org/2018/07/the-fight-for-womens-rights-in-saudi-arabia-must-go-on/. Accessed 6 November 2018.
Center for Democracy and Human Rights in Saudi Arabia. "Issues." Center for Democracy and Human Rights in Saudi Arabia,
www.cdhr.info/index.php?
InterNations . "Living in Saudi Arabia." InterNations, InterNations, www.internations.org/saudi-arabia-expats/guide/living-in-saudi-arabia-15364. Accessed 31
December 2018.
"Masjid-Al-Haram." The Miracles of Islam, themiraclesofislam.com/masjid-al-haram/. Accessed 1 January 2019.
Quora. Quora, 29 Sept. 2018, www.quora.com/What-is-it-like-to-live-in-Saudi-Arabia. Accessed 31 December 2018.
Ramesh, Ashwath. Quora. Quora, 1 May 2015, www.quora.com/What-is-it-like-to-live-in-Saudi-Arabia. Accessed 31 December 2018.
"Saudi Arabia: Why weren't women allowed to drive?" BBC, 13 Jan. 2018, www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/41412980. Accessed 3 December 2018.
"Saudi Arabia Faces Problems Selling Extra Oil After Deal With US - Reports." Sputnik News, Sputnik News, 21 July 2018,
sputniknews.com/middleeast/201807221066586936-saudis-oil-problems/.
The Application of Advanced Imaging Technology to Saudi Arabian Rock Art. "Mada'in Saleh." Arabian Rock Art Heritage, saudi-
archaeology.com/sites/madain-saleh/. Accessed 31 December 2019.
Wikipedia . "Great Mosque of Mecca." Wikipedia, 31 Dec. 2018, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Mosque_of_Mecca. Accessed 31` December 2018.
Wikipedia. "Sam Angawi." Wikipedia, 17 Dec. 2018, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sami_Angawi#cite_note-2. Accessed 1 January 2019.