WORLD

One of the most powerful monarchs in the world, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, has died. On the subject of women’s rights, some world leaders are remembering him as a cautious reformer, while others are not so sympathetic.

Use our resources to understand part of King Abdullah’s legacy.

Discussion Ideas

• Read through our media spotlight on King Abdullah’s tentative steps to expand women’s rights in Saudi Arabia. What modest reforms did the late monarch enact?
  • He encouraged women to join the work force, and today more than 18% of women have jobs outside their homes.
  • He opened a university to both men and women.
  • He appointed a woman to the Council of Ministers, the elite group that advised the king.
  • He made provisions that may allow women to participate in the next Saudi elections, to be held this year.
  • Under his reign, Saudi Arabia also worked to increase awareness about domestic violence. Read more about Saudi Arabia’s campaign against domestic violence here.

• Christine Lagarde, the powerful managing director of the International Monetary Fund, says that King Abdullah was a “discreet” advocate for women. This position as been vigorously opposed by many writers. Why?
  • Saudi women still have very, very, very restricted rights. The Global Gender Gap Report ranks Saudi Arabia 127 out of 136 countries surveyed for women’s rights and representation.
    • At the bottom? Uzbekistan and Zimbabwe.
    • At the top? Iceland, Finland, Norway, and Sweden. (Way to go, Scandinavian women.)
    • Read “Eleven Things Women in Saudi Arabia Can’t Do.”
  • Saudi women are still not allowed to vote, although that may change with this year’s local elections.
  • A strict interpretation of hijab, an Islamic concept of modesty, is legally enforced. Read more about hijab here.
  • Saudi women usually must have permission from a male guardian to travel, marry or divorce, attend school, have a bank account, or have non-emergency surgery.
    • The guardians of women who leave Saudi Arabia are alerted to their movement via text.
  • Women are not allowed to drive. In the words of Guardian columnist Anne Perkins, “Women can now work almost anywhere they want, although their husband brother or father will have to drive them there.”
  • Most social facilities (such as restaurants), all schools, and many professional offices remain segregated by gender.
  • Women working outside the home are usually only allowed to work in jobs where they only interact with other women.
  • Despite recent gains, Saudi women have one of the lowest representations in any country’s workforce. Here is a great map plotting that statistic.

• Some of the most vocal opponents of expanding women’s legal, economic, and social rights in Saudi Arabia are women. Why do you think some women oppose rights such working in an integrated office or being able to drive?