The Challenge of the New Feminist Generation in Saudi Arabia

Ibrahim Shalabi

doi:10.7176/jlll/74-02

Abstract

Several researchers in the past studied the challenges and opportunities feminism can bring forward by making this topic the centre of attention and verbalizing more about it. The religion of Islam has not in any way regarded women to be superior than men but feminism does not demand or talk about superiority. It is based on asking for equal rights that women deserve in terms of education, employment, socialism, decision making, driving, wearing clothes, putting on make-up, achieving higher posts in life and such. Qualitative research method is used in this study which includes the collection of data from secondary sources. The inductive approach is used which includes studies and some observations made in the past years. The results of this study indicate that the new feminist generation in Saudi Arabia is more focused and dedicated in breaking the glass ceilings from their lives and demanding those ethical opportunities that can help females become what they wanted to be and earn a source of livelihood enough to support their own independent lives. Women who are stronger and capable do not need the assistance of a man that only comes in their life to impose restrictions after marriage and stops them from earning finances or reaching optimum heights. Islam is a beautiful religion which states to treat women with respect and dignity, not to cut their wings and make them kill their dreams in the name of religion, which does not support cruelty in any way on the part of females. Keywords : Feminism, Females, Islam, Socialism, Qualitative. DOI: 10.7176/JLLL/74-02 Publication date: December 31 st 2020

Highlights

The word feminism has several meanings attached to its core
Twenty-five years women residing in Saudi Arabia would not have imagined that they could become radio announcers, school directors and journalists because it is known that the economy does not allow women to pursue careers in these fields as it may jeopardize the Islamic Sharia on their part
The new feminist generation has to unite for the purpose of convincing their elders to allow both sexes to mix socially before marriage as females believe that arranged marriages can be held but it is necessary to let them talk with their future spouse before anything gets fixed so that they can know if they will develop an understanding with the person or he is not what they want as a husband (GB, 2000)

Summary

Introduction

The word feminism has several meanings attached to its core. It cannot be stated in a single definition as people have different opinions regarding its subject matter (Harding, 1986). Every individual is born with a different thinking pattern from the other because of the fact that the person views certain circumstances in such a manner which no one has paid attention to, before. This phenomenon considers those thinkers who generate innovative ideas as someone who is able to change the ongoing dynamics. Several people have brought forward their efforts in shaping the mindsets of the general public by becoming philosophers, theorists, motivational speakers and orators These people are responsible for transforming the thinking criteria of the population and making them perceive that women are to be kept at homes to do the household chores, feed the children and look after their families. This living pattern was adopted and followed for decades, women were supposed to attend to all the work imposed on them by their husbands who went out to find employment whereas the females were not allowed to leave the house unless it was an emergency (Sanday, 1981)

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