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How have Saudi women broken the constraints since 2017?
Since 2017, women in Saudi Arabia have been gradually breaking their long-standing constraints in a number of reforms. Although they still face severe constraints from social traditions and laws, these developments have provided women with new hopes and possibilities, prompting them to become more and more active in economic, political and social life.
Women in Saudi Arabia experience widespread political, economic and social discrimination, a situation that is changing with legal reforms starting in 2017.
Despite legal advances, Saudi women still face discrimination in marriage, family and divorce, according to reports from Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International. At the same time, the government continues to suppress many women's rights activists and movements, which leaves them still facing many challenges on the road to fighting for their rights.
The pace of reform
Since 2017, Saudi Arabia has undergone a series of changes that have enriched women’s social roles. For example, women finally gained the right to drive, a change seen as an unprecedented step. Many representatives of women's rights movements, such as the women's driving movement and the anti-male guardianship movement, promoted changes in law and social awareness, which in turn accelerated the recovery of women's status in society.
It is reported that since 2017, women in Saudi Arabia have experienced significant improvements in working conditions, freedom of movement and workplace rights.
Nevertheless, according to the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report 2024, Saudi Arabia ranks only 126th out of 146 countries, which undoubtedly shows that there are still huge gender inequality problems in the country. According to the World Bank, Saudi Arabia scored 80 points in the 2021 "Women, Business and Law" index, indicating that there is still room for improvement in some aspects.
Women’s national journey and future hopes
As early as the 1950s, women in Saudi Arabia began to fight for their rights. In 1955, Princess Ifat founded the first private school for girls in Jeddah. Since then, many landmark steps have taken place, including the first female cabinet member, women gaining the right to vote, and starting to participate in the Olympic Games.
"The social roles of many Saudi women are influenced by Islamic law and the traditions of the Arabian Peninsula."
However, the development of these reforms has not been smooth sailing, with many women facing entrenched cultural pressures and obstacles to religious interpretation. Experts point out that deeply ingrained gender roles in Saudi society persist in many family and social structures, making change a long time coming.
Challenges moving forward
Despite significant improvements in the law, many fundamental issues still need to be addressed. Women in Saudi Arabia still have to find recognition in the power structure with men, and society still doesn't recognize women for certain jobs. In addition, the male guardianship system still affects women's daily lives and prevents them from fully controlling their own destiny.
"In many cases, the first step is to break men's decision-making power over women, not just as a matter of law, but also as a matter of change in culture and customs."
In this context, Saudi women urgently need broader social support to resist sexual discrimination and legal restrictions. Some of these activists and organizations are working to promote reforms and hope to bring Saudi women's voices into more prominent discussions.
Looking to the future
As Saudi Arabia's role on the global stage continues to increase, women's rights issues have gradually attracted the attention of the government and society. Recent reforms show potential for the future, with many women no longer satisfied with the changes of the past but actively seeking deeper progress.
Whether Saudi women can truly break the constraints and gain equal opportunities and rights in the future is a question worthy of our deep consideration.
