Advancement and subordination of women academics in Saudi Arabia’s higher education

ABSTRACT

This article explores the experience of women academics in Saudi Arabia’s higher education. Based on narrative inquiry and underpinned by Bourdieu’s work, I trace the influence of SA’s educational policy and the broader impact of patriarchal norms on the experience of 10 women academics. The article argues that gendered expectations mean that leadership roles within Higher Education (HE) are predominantly held by men, and women are prevented from fully participating in research, decision-making processes and other Higher Education activities beyond teaching and administration. The narratives presented in this article illustrate that HE in Saudi Arabia remains dominated by traditional patriarchal consciousness. The article concludes that to bring about change, women’s sections in Saudi universities need financial, administrative and academic independence.

KEYWORDS:

• Saudi women academics
• higher education
• patriarchy
• gender
• empowerment

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University (PNU) is a public women’s university located in Riyadh. It is the largest women’s university in the world.

2 The Saudi government has been attempting a policy of ‘Saudisation’ to encourage Saudi women to work as teachers in the schools instead of teachers from other Arab-speaking countries, e.g. Egypt and Syria.

3 Shura Council: The Consultative Assembly of Saudi Arabia (مجلس الشورى السعودي), is the formal advisory body of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and consists of a Speaker and 150 members chosen by the King from amongst scholars, those of knowledge, expertise and specialists, in 2013 provides that women representation shall not be less than (20%) of members' numbers. The rights of all members, duties and affairs shall be determined by a Royal Order (Shura Council law, 1992, March 1).

Additional information

Funding

The author extends their appreciation to the Deanship of Scientific Research at King Saud University for funding this work through the Research project No [R6-17-03-75].