Friendship in Saudi Arabian Culture
Friendships in Saudi Arabia are held in high regard. They typically keep many of the same friendships for lifetimes and will always be willing to accept new people into their circle of friends.
Male - Male Friendship
According to the Hofstede’s cultural dimensions, Saudi Arabian culture is a more masculine culture. This was confirmed in email and online communication conferencing that was done with a Saudi student at Effat University in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Razan Al Mas was very clear that it is a male dominated culture in Saudi Arabia. A typical Male-Male friendship was the accepted norm. She discussed that just like American males, Saudi males tend to bond and establish their friendship over more male dominated actives, such as driving cars, playing sports, video games, and traveling. Typically a group of male friends are extremely close to one another and have usually grown up together. When they are around each other they will display their more machismo characteristics, sometimes as a form of competition within the group.
Razan said that men are more likely to be able to travel out of the country and will be able to connect easier with individuals wanting to befriend them from a different culture. Though a very common problem for those that travel outside of Saudi Arabia is that they are not able to be open minded and accepting of different cultures or ideologies. This problem affects some men, but not all. As the younger generation are becoming more interconnected and have more access to information, they are slowly becoming more open minded.
Female - Female
Interestingly enough, Female-Female relationships are quite comparable to Female-Female friendships in the United States. Razan, who has spent some time living in the United States, commented on how surprisingly similar women are in the United States and in Saudi Arabia. It is very common to see large groups of girls, especially teenagers, in public. They will hold hands and treat each other with respect. It is very unusual to see them verbally fighting in public. It is apparently very common to go to a party just for women in Saudi Arabia over at a friend’s house (Razan Al Mas, Skype confrence, December 2, 2012).
When it comes to maintaining and gaining friends, women tend to be better at it than men. Especially those with other women abroad. Razan also pointed out that Saudi women are more open minded than men. They are able to accept the difference in new cultures and adapt to them so that they are able to gain friendships.
Female - Male
Razan was quick to point out that it is not as typical for females and males to be good friends in Saudi Arabia. It is possible for them to connect with each other and spend time with each other every now and then, but it is not common at all. It is quite common for Saudi women to not meet there husbands until the day they become engaged to marry. Razan confirmed this and also stated that dating is not very common among women (Razan Al Mas, Skype conference, November 29, 2012).
In the business environment though things are different. Due to the westernization of business, women are given equal roles. It is perfectly normal to talk and be around females in the work place. When it comes to intercultural friendships, women are once again better at being able to maintain a friendship with a male.
Child Relationships
Children are a special case. Razan pointed out that they will typically not have gender preferences when it comes to friendship. Though the parents on the other hand still will try to influence them and force them into friend groups of the same gender (Razan Al Mas, Skype conference, December 2, 2012).
Male - Male Friendship
According to the Hofstede’s cultural dimensions, Saudi Arabian culture is a more masculine culture. This was confirmed in email and online communication conferencing that was done with a Saudi student at Effat University in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Razan Al Mas was very clear that it is a male dominated culture in Saudi Arabia. A typical Male-Male friendship was the accepted norm. She discussed that just like American males, Saudi males tend to bond and establish their friendship over more male dominated actives, such as driving cars, playing sports, video games, and traveling. Typically a group of male friends are extremely close to one another and have usually grown up together. When they are around each other they will display their more machismo characteristics, sometimes as a form of competition within the group.
Razan said that men are more likely to be able to travel out of the country and will be able to connect easier with individuals wanting to befriend them from a different culture. Though a very common problem for those that travel outside of Saudi Arabia is that they are not able to be open minded and accepting of different cultures or ideologies. This problem affects some men, but not all. As the younger generation are becoming more interconnected and have more access to information, they are slowly becoming more open minded.
Female - Female
Interestingly enough, Female-Female relationships are quite comparable to Female-Female friendships in the United States. Razan, who has spent some time living in the United States, commented on how surprisingly similar women are in the United States and in Saudi Arabia. It is very common to see large groups of girls, especially teenagers, in public. They will hold hands and treat each other with respect. It is very unusual to see them verbally fighting in public. It is apparently very common to go to a party just for women in Saudi Arabia over at a friend’s house (Razan Al Mas, Skype confrence, December 2, 2012).
When it comes to maintaining and gaining friends, women tend to be better at it than men. Especially those with other women abroad. Razan also pointed out that Saudi women are more open minded than men. They are able to accept the difference in new cultures and adapt to them so that they are able to gain friendships.
Female - Male
Razan was quick to point out that it is not as typical for females and males to be good friends in Saudi Arabia. It is possible for them to connect with each other and spend time with each other every now and then, but it is not common at all. It is quite common for Saudi women to not meet there husbands until the day they become engaged to marry. Razan confirmed this and also stated that dating is not very common among women (Razan Al Mas, Skype conference, November 29, 2012).
In the business environment though things are different. Due to the westernization of business, women are given equal roles. It is perfectly normal to talk and be around females in the work place. When it comes to intercultural friendships, women are once again better at being able to maintain a friendship with a male.
Child Relationships
Children are a special case. Razan pointed out that they will typically not have gender preferences when it comes to friendship. Though the parents on the other hand still will try to influence them and force them into friend groups of the same gender (Razan Al Mas, Skype conference, December 2, 2012).