The role of higher education in social change in Saudi Arabia in terms of the role of family and the role of women

Abstract

Since 2017, Saudi Arabia has undergone dramatic changes in economic, political and social aspects, in particular related to families and women. Higher education also has seen significant developments, driven by trends associated with increasing globalisation. These trends have been embraced and promoted by government across all state sectors, including higher education. The adoption of these new trends and reforms raises a question about their role in social change. This thesis explores the role of higher education in social change in terms of the role family and women in Saudi society, using globalisation and Islamic feminist frameworks. The thesis addresses a gap in previous research since it investigates social issues in Saudi Arabia with the inclusion of women's voices, in particular at this critical juncture in time when women are playing new social roles. Semi structured interviews with 30 participants—academics (female and male), and postgraduate students in two Saudi universities—and multiple-level document analysis were employed to answer the research questions. Globalisation and Islamic feminist frameworks were used to guide this analysis to better understand how higher education contributes to social change in aspects relating to the family and women in Saudi Arabia, and in the context of global social and economic change. Islamic feminism provides a localised and contextualised lens to examine family and women's role, which contributes also to a deeper understanding of Islamic feminism that has been lacking in previous Saudi women's studies. The study’s findings reveal that higher education has made significant contributions in some aspects, for example in meeting market needs, in particular with increasing numbers of women in employment sectors, and introducing new programs and new fields of studies for females, which were previously closed to them from the very beginning of women's education in the country. The higher education sector has also historically supported family-related issues, and is a main partner (represented in King Saud University) in the Family Affairs Council. However, women continue to be underrepresented in senior positions, and hierarchical gender segregation remains. Although societal traditions still dominate Saudi family structures and roles, recent powerful national strategies could contribute to a reduction in family authority, which would be beneficial for women. The participants’ responses affirm that recent policies are genuine moves for transformation, and will ultimately empower women to play different roles in the family and as they move through higher education into employment.