Saudi women week

Brackets @2010 All Rights Reserved

[UNDERSTANDING SAUDI WOMEN]

[RESEARCH METHODOLOGY & REGIONAL SAMPLE
BREAKDOWN]
Research Methodology Regional Breakdown of Sample (%)
 Quantitative, Using CATI* method with
questionnaire not exceeding 20 minutes.

 401 Saudi women interviewed according to
the specified criteria.

Aged 18-45
Living in Jeddah, Riyadh & Eastern

Province

*Computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) is a telephone surveying technique in which the interviewer follows a script provided by a software
application.

[FAMILY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC COMPOSITION]

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0
Single Married Married with 18-24 yrs 25-30 yrs 31-35 yrs 36-40 yrs 41-45 yrs Upto 2 3-4 Children 5-6 Children More than 6 Upto 3 4-6 persons 7-10 More than
without Children Children children persons 10
children

Marital Status % Age % No of Children Per Family % Family Size %

[Q: WHICH OF THESE PRODUCTS WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE ASSOCIATED
MOST?]

Saudi women prefer to be associated more with “personal care” category than any other category.

%

Perfumes 22% Cell Phones 9% Toothpaste 17% Shampoo 8% Juices 2%

Cosmetics 15% Gold/ Jewelry 6% Mouth Wash 1% Hair Cream .5% Chocolates 2%

Facial Cream 7% watches 4% Mouth Freshener 0% Milk 1%

Deodorants 6% Ice Cream 0%

Conformists Religionist Mainstreamers Mavericks

31% 16% 44% 9%
of Saudi Women of Saudi Women of Saudi Women of Saudi Women


21
Using the Internet

32
Reading newspapers

Reading magazines 64 65
63
68

Watching television
88 90

Media Consumption [%]
Participating in sports
24 24

Entertaining friends at home
7982

43

Going to parties
55

• Below average media consumption especially internet.

• Conformists are more into cooking food, weight conscious.
60

Going shopping as enjoyable activity
68

Spending quiet time at home
77 79
Conformists

• Also, less involved in international travel, listening to music and socializing.
100

Spending time with family
99

Lifestyles & Leisure Activities [%]
20

Listening to music
39
33

Traveling internationally for pleasure
44
Average

92

Taking interest in current affairs
94

47

Tracking fashions and trends
59
69

Gather beauty tips
74
67

Studying for self improvement
Interests [%]
69
93

Cooking food
83
76

Consuming light or low fat
68

2009©Brackets All Rights Reserved


49
Using the Internet

32
55
Reading newspapers

Reading magazines 62 65
68
85

Watching television

90

•They go for international trips.
18

24
77

82

•Less concerned about their weight & beauty
Going to parties
52 55
55

68

77 79

•They use internet more but less into electronic and print media.
Conservatives

Spend time with family
97 99


Listening to music
40 39
53

44
Average

91 94

55

59
64

Gather beauty tips
74
74

Interests [%]
69
70

Cooking food
83

49

68



Using the Internet

32 32
72
Reading newspapers

65
73

Reading magazines
68

96

Watching television
90


•They are heavy media consumers.
25 24
86

82

64

Going to parties
55

•They listen to music, go for parties and love to shop
77

68

•They track new fashions and trends and also gather beauty tips.
80 79
Mainstreamers


99 99

47

Listening to music
39
48

44
Average

97 94

69

59
81

Gather beauty tips
74

Interests [%]

67 69

Cooking food
86 83

71 68



40
Using the Internet

32
51
Reading newspapers

65
77
Reading magazines 68
77

Watching television

90

34

24

80 82

63

Going to parties
55

• Below average media consumption especially internet.
74

• Conformists are more into cooking food, weight conscious.
68

77 79
Mavericks

94

• Also, less involved in international travel, listening to music and socializing.
99

54

Listening to music
39
49

Average

44
89

94

63

59

Gather beauty tips
71 74
83

Interests [%]
69

54

Cooking food
83

69 68



[IN THE NEWS]

Saudi businesswomen education

www.afp.com Agence France-Presse - Since 1835

•Women make up 58% of •Due to open in 2010, the •It will have a • kindergarten and theme
Saudi Arabia’s student Princess Noura bint library, conference parks.
population but only 16% of Abdulrahman University, on centers, 15 academic Assaf described the project
the workforce, according to the outskirts of Riyadh, will faculties, laboratories and a as a "milestone" in the
Unesco. Photograph: offer courses in subjects that 700-bed hospital. There will kingdom's history. The
Hassan Ammar/AFP Saudi women find difficult to be facilities for research into higher education
study at universities where nanotechnology, bio- minister, Khaled al-
•The world's largest women-
gender segregation is sciences and information Anqari, added: "The king's
only university is being built
enforced. technology. presence shows his
in Saudi Arabia; with a
At the foundation-laying generous support for
campus that will cover 8m •This year Human Rights
ceremony last week, which women's empowerment and

square meters and Watch accused the Saudi
was attended by King his keen desire to promote
accommodate 40,000 government of stopping
Abdullah, the finance higher education."
students. women from enjoying their
minister, Ibrahim Al-
basic rights because they
Assaf, told reporters the site
must often obtain permission
would include housing for
from a guardian - a
university staff, mosques, a
father, husband or son - to
school, a
work, travel, study, marry or
even access healthcare.


www.guardian.co.uk The Guardian - Since 1821

•In a 50-page •One researcher, Farida •"In terms of female •The country still has the
report, Perpetual Minors: Deif, told the Guardian the education, the Saudi lowest female employment
Human Rights Abuses university would provide government has made great level in the world. Unesco
Stemming from Male better education and progress. Every statistic figures show that women
Guardianship and Sex employment opportunities. we've seen shows more make up 58% of the total
Segregation in Saudi enrolment in secondary and Saudi student
•"This university could be a
Arabia, researchers drew on university education.‖ population, but only 16% of
very good thing if it had
more than 100 interviews the workforce.
colleges offering instruction
with Saudi women to Segregation and the state
in engineering, media or law.
document the effects of policy of male guardianship
discriminatory policies. The •There are already colleges mean women can only work

findings showed that the with nursing and teaching in all-female
need fort women-only disciplines. These areas are environments, normally
spaces was a disincentive to saturated and perpetuate schools and hospitals.
hiring female employees and specific gender roles. Women can lose their jobs if
that female students were a male guardian informs the
often relegated to unequal employer he wishes her to
facilities. leave.


www.guardian.co.uk The Guardian - Since 1821

•It is unclear whether the •In the course of her Government officials
university will have halls of research, Deif spoke to stressed the university's
residence. Women do not medical students in green credentials. Around
normally leave home before Dammam, where they 40,000 square meters of
marriage and would not stayed in dormitories. "They solar paneling will provide
usually be permitted to move were severely restricted in 16% of the campus's heating
away in order to study. terms of mobility and activity. and 18% of the power
Those women who do live They didn't have the power required for air-conditioning
on campus encounter to leave the dormitory. It was
difficulties and constraints. a very closed environment.―

•No information is available
on how students will travel to
the university. Women are
barred from driving and
public transport is not an
option because of
segregation. Women rely on
a male guardian or privately
hired driver.

Saudi businesswomen ownership

www.latimes.com Los Angeles Times - Since 1881

•Saudi Arabia this month •A "separation wall" will In restaurants, for The female owner and
marked the opening of its isolate the food pickup area instance, only men and manager of the new
first restaurant entirely from the kitchen to prevent women related by blood or Nourriyat Center for Cooking
owned and managed by contact between men and marriage are allowed to sit was hailed by the local press
women, local media the 10 or so women cooking at the same table. As in for "bravely" announcing her
reported. in the kitchen. much of the Middle real name to the public.
East, eateries and cafes
•But the establishment of •Saudi Arabia embraces one
usually have two separate
this start-up business in the of the strictest
sections: one for families
kingdom's Eastern Province interpretations of Sunni
and the other for single men.
did not come without Islam. Separation between

complications. The men and women in many
designers of the project had public spaces is strictly
to make sure that there enforced.
would be no contact
whatsoever between the
female staff working in the
kitchen and the male
customers who visit.

Saudi businesswomen ownership

www.alyaum.com Alyaum Newspaper

•According to the Saudi daily •oura Moukaytib, owner of •Delivery of the orders will According to local
Al Yaum, it is the first time the restaurant, told the be conducted through a figures, women in Saudia
that a business appears newspaper that she wanted window specially designed Arabia make up 70% of
under the real name of its to challenge "those with to prevent men and women students enrolled in
female owner. The obstinate minds" who look from "revealing themselves universities but just 5% of
newspaper said that women down on active women. to one another.― the kingdom's workforce.
traditionally used fake
•In its first phase, the new
names when they opened •Saudi Arabia has been
restaurant will offer only
businesses in the kingdom widely criticized for failing to
"Eastern and Western"
to avoid social provide women with
takeaway fast food delivered
stigmatization. employment opportunities.

to customers through a
Some human rights
cashier.
organizations and activists
qualify the discrimination
against women in the
country as "gender
apartheid."

Saudi businesswomen to 20
•As a human resources accounting, and
•We are also professional, she also management, these women
introduced to Huda mentions that even though are armed with a new set of
Ghoson, Saudi the kingdom is making huge skills to help them through
Aramco’s director of strides in incorporating their endeavors.
Human Resources women in the workplace, it
Policy and Planning •Not only are these women
can do more ... hope the
preserving tradition and
Division. administration is listening to
representing women in a
more women like Huda!
male dominated field, they
•Beyond the list, many other
are doing it with a grace all
professional women in Saudi
women can learn
are getting a helping hand
from. Continue breaking
from government
barriers ladies!
organizations.
•A full list of Arab News top
•Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz 20 Saudi businesswomen
has created a special fund to can be found here. What do

•Humbly claiming that all her success is because of the support women looking to you think of the top 20?
direction from her parents, Huda says, ―My mother was very develop their skills and Were any of your role
influential in my decision to work for Saudi Aramco,‖ she businesses. Through models missing from the
says. ―In fact, I do not think I would have been where I am completion of a technical list?
today if it was not for my mother.‖ workshop showing the
importance of marketing,

Saudi businesswomen
•Saudi Arabian women have •Encouraged by better
traditionally been barred education, a changing
from entering the workplace; economy, and more
only recently have they had opportunity, Saudi women
the opportunity to choose are entering
professions, such as new, unorthodox business
nursing, teaching, and and industrial
medicine. Because Saudi professions, despite
Arabian women historically daunting obstacles
have been much more stemming from the traditions
repressed than women in of Islamic culture.
neighboring Middle Eastern
countries, the rise of
women-owned businesses
and female entrepreneurs--
women currently run about
16,390 businesses--

represents a significant
advancement for Arab
in this mall, located in Riyadh, women are not only the women.
customers, but also the owners, managers, and clerks of all
the stores, setting a precedent for the conservative Islamic
nation.

Saudi businesswomen

•RIYADH, Saudi Arabia In
•Until January, women could
Saudi Arabia's newest
not check into any hotel
hotel, flickering candles in
alone unless accompanied
every corner enhance the
by a male family member or
serenity. And as you walk
they had written permission
down royal-red halls, you'll
from a male "guardian.
notice something else: not a
man in sight. •" Now, the only requirement
is that the hotel register the
•It's women-owned, women- names of female guests with
managed, and women-run – the police .But others say
from our IT engineer to our the new hotel simply
electrical engineer," boasts reinforces gender
Lorraine Coutinho, executive segregation in a nation that
director of the Luthan Hotel still doesn't let women drive.
& Spa. To some, Saudi

Arabia's first women-only
hotel is a sign of progress, a
place where women can
conduct business without
interference in a male-
dominated society.

Fahda bint Saud

•One of the more startling works is "Three
Women" by Fahda Bint Saud (pictured next).

•In it she depicts what appears to be a
reluctance on the part of Saudi women to
recognize the reality of their restricted lives.

•Khreis says it's a piece that might not have
been allowed if it weren't for the fact that
Fahda Bint Saud is in fact a daughter of
Saud bin Abdul Aziz, king of Saudi Arabia
from 1953 to 1964.

Saudi Women Workshop

•While in Saudi it may not •There are other initiatives
•in Saudi Arabia only
about 5% of women seem that the economics to increase the number of
are as important, in fact women in the
work. This includes all
they are for women and workforce, including by
women, those with and
families in any number of Ministerial decree, as with
without higher
situations: where the the one to replace male
education. The reasons
woman has the potential salesclerks, usually
for this low number are
for a satisfying high foreigners on contract and
historical, cultural, soci
etal, and religious, all earning career; where the earning lower wages, with
patriarch is unable to work Saudi women, as
as understood within
temporarily or permanently described in the 2 posts on
the Saudi context
due to illness; where a the lingerie's buying
woman is widowed or boycott, here and here .
divorced and lacks family Some careers are more
support, or the family is open to women than
struggling financially; others, like medicine.

where the number of Some jobs are more open
•However, as the Chinese saying "Women hold up half the children outstrips the to women than others.
sky" captures well, women constitute approximately half the father's earning capacity; While the former tend to be
population and their contribution helps hold up half the where a woman is male-dominated
potential of a country. Countries with low rates of women in "unmarriageable". professions, the latter tend
the workforce tend also to have lower rates of to be female-dominated
achievement, usually economically but also unremunerated work, like
socially, educationally, and in terms of human rights. housework (maid), and

http://www.chezchiara.com/2010/02/saudi-womens-work-domestic-artists-to.html Saudi Women Workshop

•One initiative that has •This is a traditional sphere •One initiative in Saudi
been successful for women's work, even in Arabia, which was
elsewhere, including developed countries where developed to give a skill
Palestine (where it is still mainly women who and employment to deaf
embroidery became part of work the sewing machines women, is the Mansoojat
the intifada), and South in factory settings, or do Foundation
Asia through the Grameen the handcrafted specialty Workshop, teaching and
Bank, to mention but 2, is items. Canada's poorer selling embroidered items
to turn women's domestic Maritime regions based on traditional tribal
arts of developed the highly dress in Saudi Arabia. The
weaving, knitting, sewing, successful boutique quilted following article by
embroidery, quilting, and fashions Suttles and Assia Kashoggi, which I
other textile creations into Seawinds; the First have interspersed with her
remunerated work as Nations Peoples, men and pictures from the
artisans or copy artists. women, have established Mansoojat Foundation
craft cooperatives which Workshop, explains the

preserved their purpose, activities, and
heritage, developed their structure of the workshop.
arts, and was one of the
first steps towards band
economic self-
sufficiency, instead of total
reliance on social
assistance which has had

Saudi Women Attitude

•Flocks of the most stylish •In beauty salons, the fight
•A glance at some
public places in Jeddah and sexiest women sit for beauty seems to be
around the tables smoking fatal. Women there spend
is a delight for the eye
(sheesha) wildly with an at least three hours to get
indeed. At
empty mysterious look in the Nancy Ajram
malls, crowds of
their eyes saying: you can’t hairstyle, the Haifa Wahbi
women hurl and rush
get me, bastard; you just eye make-up, or the Elissa
searching for a find; a
get to see me and that’s lips.
Fendi bag on sale or a
make-up set with an enough for the likes of you!
offer. Not a single woman of •Unluckily, the result is not
those has that content and always as expected. Yet
satisfied smile on her face. the fight continues at the
Why is that? Don’t be very cashier in order not to
pessimistic and realistic allow the salon to take the
and start blaming men for money it deserves. When
that; it’s just that her royal the result of the three-hour

highness, who happens to session is satisfactory
•We are just so pretty and trendy that you can find us any be the daughter of an another type of fight is
time of the week or day at any up-town mall trying to fetch ordinary employee, has not inflamed; it’s show time! In
that small diamond that will make the difference! gotten the expensive fact, the show-off
house she wanted for her starts, and the jealousy
At restaurants and cafes, the picture becomes more birthday. among rivals is heated.
serious, however.

Saudi Women Attitude

•All of them haven’t been us fight our triviality and
•At the end of the
day, the poor properly educated even ignorance. If Saudi women
oppressed Saudi though some of them have don’t start fighting for
university degrees. Their having a personality; for
woman returns home to
lives revolve around gaining the joy of fulfilling a
shout at her kids and
stuff, not principles and goal, they will always be
complain about her
values. Being superficial oppressed and obsessed
husband who doesn’t
and materialistic is our with their things and toys.
really care about her.
―Can you imagine that greatest enemy; our There is nothing Human
greatest oppression. Rights can do for women
idiot! He bought me a
Gucci bag for the who choose to be forever
•When a woman is well- consumers of
second time!‖
educated and is well-aware goods, gifts, and pity.
of her mission in life, no
man, judge, or religious •Yet a question that very
police can humiliate her or few people ask is whether

deprive her of rights. or not this kind of
•Those women are not always rich or married to wealthy oppression is from Islam.
men, yet they share a few alarming features. They are all •It surprises me how some Is Islam for spoiling women
spoiled, irresponsible, and spiritually, emotionally, and Saudi women have taken and making them stuff-
mentally empty. the wrong direction in their centered?
fight for their rights. We
fight our
fathers, brothers, and

Saudi women wealth

www.ft.com - Since 1888

•Female-only banks have •The Time article scatters
existed in Saudi Arabia for some very interesting facts
decades, and Time about women in this part of
describes the women's the world: A 2007 Barclays
branches of the Dubai Wealth survey found that
Islamic Bank as feeling Saudi women are the most
"more like spas than financially savvy in the world
financial institutions. in terms of
investing, retirement, and
•" The staff and clientele at estate planning; The Middle

these branches are all (you East Economic Digest
guessed it) female, and the estimates that Gulf women
case for separation has to control around $246
do with both the wealth held billion, projected to hit $385
by Saudi women and the billion by 2011; Women own
conservative culture. about a third of brokerage
accounts and 40 percent of
family-run firms in Saudi

[SAUDI WOMEN FASHION]

JIDDAH, Saudi Arabia - For years, the only thing sold
openly in Saudi stores selling women's cloaks were of
the all-black, drab covering variety. Now, streaks of
vibrant color, bands of glittering crystal — even sheaths
of sexy leopard skin prints — are showing up on the
racks.

Read more:
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26973542/#ixzz0mfwgUdt5

•A new style or old-fashioned? But like everything else in the
kingdom, the change was subtle
•Things were not always that strict. and incremental. Glitter started
Sarah Kennedy, an American who adorning wrists or was sprinkled on
has lived in Saudi Arabia for almost the edges of the veil that must be
30 years, said that in 1979 when worn on the head. Then color began
she first arrived in the kingdom creeping on the black fabric and the
foreign women were not obliged to loose shapeless cloaks became
wear abayas. But as the kingdom more fitted. The cumbersome
became more conservative in the panels that hooked to the shoulders
1980s, foreign women began to ensure that nothing peeked from
wearing abayas too, but ones that underneath the abaya as a woman
looked like capes and fell just to mid walked slowly disappeared.
thigh. Today, the new abayas are without
the panels and close straight down
•"But then, suddenly ... you couldn't like a long coat.The new styles
find the ones you normally wanted," cropped up first in the more open

said Kennedy. "So you bought them western seaside city of Jiddah and
anyway." in the Eastern Province."We in
No one really knows why or how it Jiddah are fashion conscious," said
became OK to sell the new stylish abaya designer Ghada al-Sairafi. "I
abayas. Major stores in big cities try to come up with a new model
carry them openly and there have every week because of the
not been reports in the local media demand."
of religious police confiscating them. Hanan al-Madani, another Jiddah
designer, said abayas are "no longer

"I feel they attract too much
attention," said al-Jihani as she
watched her daughter try on one
with balloon arms. Despite Jeddah's
relatively liberal atmosphere, many
Saudi women avoid wearing the
Jeddah boasts the most daring
daring abayas in public places such
abayas. In one store, there were
as malls and restaurants.
cloaks with red lace hanging down
Hala Ahmed, a 21-year-old interior
from the black sleeves, some with
"Today, they reflect a woman's taste design student, said she wears the
crystal sprinkled around the collar
and personality," said al- new styles to weddings and to
and waist and a few double-layered
Madani, whose custom-made college, which are segregated.
ones with bold reds, greens and
abayas sell between $402 and "They're more like dresses, so I
yellows underneath a sheer black
$2,145. wear them to places where no men
chiffon top.
will see me in them."
The best-seller among these was
one with a leopard skin pattern
underneath the top cover.
But not everyone in fashionable

Jeddah likes the new abayas.
Tahani al-Jihani, 42, is one.
She bustled into one Jeddah store
to choose abayas for her daughter
and her sister and later announced:
"I don't like the new styles but my
sister and my daughter love them.

Pioneer Saudi Women
Although proud of her the private aviation firm
career, Capt. Hanadi Zakaria owned by billionaire Saudi
al-Hindi said she expects an Prince Alwaleed bin Talal.
angry reaction when she
A statement carried by the
arrives back in Saudi Arabia
Saudi media in
on Saturday. Conservatives
November, Alwaleed said al-
believe women should be
Hindi had been hired by his
confined to home or jobs
firm, the Kingdom Holding
that do not entail mixing with
Co. He described the
men, such as in education
decision as a "historic move
and philanthropy.
for Saudi ladies.―
"I am doing a respectable
job," al-Hindi said. "I know I "The hiring of a female
will be facing many angry Saudi pilot is the first of its
people, but it is my will, and kind," the statement said.
the will of my father, that I "The move transcends the

become a pilot.― traditional role of Saudi
Saudi women cannot drive, but apparently they can fly. women, previously confined
Al-Hindi, 27, graduated last to working in the
A Saudi woman who recently obtained her pilot's license in
week from the Amman- health, education and
Jordan said Thursday she has been hired by a private
based Mideast Aviation philanthropic sectors."
aviation company to fly commercial planes.
Academy and plans to join


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