Gender Identity
by: Rebecca Weygandt
An Introduction to Gender Identity: Starting off Relatively
When speaking of gender roles, people tend to become protective of their own traditions and views. I urge you to allow for cultural relativism to be present in your thoughts as you read this chapter. Open your mind to new ways of living that may be vastly different, or strangely similar to your own. First, let us define gender so that as you read we may have a common understanding of terms. Gender is a spectrum of masculinity to femininity that is defined by culture. Therefore, we will be looking at different cultural aspects and how it defines gender.
Whose Lens?
To begin, most Westerners have a large problem with the gender segregation that is sanctioned by the government. As Westerners, our first reaction may be shock at such controlling laws pertaining to half of the nation's population. We think of women in Saudi Arabia as repressed and degraded. This is looking at the world through a Western lens. However, Saudi women generally view themselves as protected and honored. When studying gender identity in Saudi Arabia it is important that we view the Saudi culture through a Saudi lens. Women in America struggle with these traditional stereotypes, while women in Saudi Arabia embrace their cultural roles.
Western view of Saudi Women (picture below):
Saudi view of Saudi Women (slideshow below):
Gender Identity in the Home and in Marriage
The formation of gender identity starts in the home; Saudi Arabia is no different in this aspect. Home life is so influential to a person’s growth as a starting point for cultural understanding, there is no way we can not address this topic. Home is generally seen as the women’s work place. This is why you will see mostly male shop keepers as you walk the streets of Saudi Arabia. As I talked with a friend in Saudi Arabia, Reem, we discussed the differences in our homes. I told her about how I live in an apartment away from my parents; Reem said that she will remain in her parents home until she marries, then will move into her husband’s home. Marriage, in Saudi Arabia, is considered a necessary part of life. This is similar to the pressure young adults in the West feel. Ever hear the phrase, “Ring by Spring?” Well, it’s kind of like that! A father is in charge of his daughter’s marriage, pairing her with a man he sees worthy; the marriage contract is between the husband and the bride’s father. The father can also choose the age at which his daughter marries; one stipulation is that she waits until reaching puberty to have sexual intercourse. It is no longer completely up to the father to choose what age his daughter is married at, he now must adhere to the Marriage Officials who have set a minimum age for marriage at 17 for females and 18 for males. Women may marry non-Muslim men, but this takes official permission. Polygamy, men with multiple wives, is legal in Saudi Arabia; men may take up to four wives. However, Polyandry, women having multiple husbands, is prohibited. As for separation, men can fairly easily divorce their wives, but wives have a hard time divorcing their husbands. Marriage, in this case, seems to benefit men because they have flexibility in their marriages. Marriage benefits women because it provides security, protection and an able guardian for necessary things such as work and education, which we will cover later in this chapter.
Gender Identity within Cultural Norms
Clothing:
Imagine you are nearing the end of your flight to Saudi Arabia, you become anxious in your seat and already begin to notice some different cultural norms. First, an announcement is made over the intercom for all the women to put on their abayas and hijabs if they have not done so already. An abaya is a long black garment that women wear to cover their body from the neck down, and a hijab is a head covering. You may also see women wearing a niqab, this is the term for a face veil. Women are required by law to wear these at all times in public areas where men, other than close relatives, are present. Men, however, are not required by law to be in certain attire. Men most often wear what is called a thobe; this is an ankle length garment.
Non-Verbal Communication:
It is not only the clothing that you will find different, but also the non-verbal communication between men and women. If a man and woman, not related, look each other in the eye it is considered flirtatious. A woman may hug other women, and a man may shake hands with other men, but they may not do these things with non-relatives of the opposite sex. In the business setting it is even inappropriate for a man to shake hands with a woman unless it is in the setting of a Western context.
Religious Tradition:
Cultural norms are also very pertinent in religious traditions. Saudi Arabia identifies with the Islamic religion. When attending a mosque, men and women are segregated upon entering the building; men and women enter the mosque in two separate doors. There are cleansing rituals people must follow before entering the worship hall. When in the worship hall, the women are generally asked to occupy the rows behind the men. Now, it is common to find some sort of barrier between the men and women worshipping. Women, for biological reasons, have more restrictions in religion than do men. When a woman is on her menstrual cycle, she is not allowed to touch her Quran because she is considered unclean. Similarly, if a woman has painted nails and goes to the bathroom, she must remove her nail polish in order to fully cleanse her self before worshipping.
Check out this news article, Muslim Women Debate Gender Segregation in Mosques, to hear more on the debate of gender segregation in Mosques.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124623737
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124623737
Driving:
One of the biggest quarrels Westerners have with women's rights in Saudi Arabia is that women are not allowed to drive; this is one of the few countries in the world with this law. Instead of having a driver’s license, women use their family chauffeur(s). According to my Saudi friend, Reem, families usually have one to two drivers. If a women needs to go somewhere and both of the family drivers are gone, one of her close male relatives must drive her. I have found five main reasons that justify having no female drivers.
1) You must reveal your face in order to see while driving, and women are not allowed to do this according to the restrictions on clothing.
2) Women may feel the need to leave the house more often if they are able to drive. This is an issue because women are not supposed to leave their house or neighborhood without permission from a close male relative, also known as a mahram.
3) Driving a car may lead to women having unnecessary interactions with males outside of their family relatives; for example, in the situation of a car accident or flat tire.
4) If women drive cars, the streets may become overcrowded, which deprives young men the privilege of driving.
5) To have women drive would be the first step in altering traditional values.
2) Women may feel the need to leave the house more often if they are able to drive. This is an issue because women are not supposed to leave their house or neighborhood without permission from a close male relative, also known as a mahram.
3) Driving a car may lead to women having unnecessary interactions with males outside of their family relatives; for example, in the situation of a car accident or flat tire.
4) If women drive cars, the streets may become overcrowded, which deprives young men the privilege of driving.
5) To have women drive would be the first step in altering traditional values.
Gender Identity in Education
The education system in Saudi Arabia is becoming more open to women. Despite all female schools and universities, thirty percent of Saudi women are illiterate. My Saudi friend, Reem, says that she really enjoys school and is blessed to be receiving a higher education. There are, however, not many outside programs for females to participate in. For example, there is no sports education in female schools because it is not culturally acceptable for females to practice physical activities in public. Women go to school in order to receive a higher education in hopes of getting a job.
Gender Identity in Work and Business
After receiving a higher education, women generally go into the work force of either teaching or medicine. However, mixed-gender workplaces continue to become more common. Similar to the American work force, women holding the same jobs as men are not paid as much or have as many benefits as their male colleagues. My Saudi friend, Reem, says that this makes working difficult; as a woman, you cannot be alone in the shop or with a male other than a close relative. Women are able to own their own business and property, and invest their own money. Despite the freedom to own a business, a mahram, close male relative, must be present at all times; this includes when signing legal documents, making business decisions, opening and closing the shop, etc. Owning a business as a female can be challenging due to these restrictions, and even simpler things such as having a ride to work, as discussed earlier under the cultural norms of driving. These challenges only support the overt message that the work place is a man’s place in Saudi society.
Empowered Saudi woman receives an award for sharing her story:
Homosexuality in Saudi Arabia
Homosexuality in Saudi Arabia is not something we would usually think to talk about when traveling. However, this is an important aspect of understanding gender identity in Saudi Arabia. One difference from American views is that Saudi’s don’t necessarily associate “gay acts”, such as a man having sexual intercourse with another man, with being gay; this act may be fulfilling a desire or emotion and does not take away from their masculinity. For some, this behavior is simply an act and not an orientation. The difference between an act and an identity is the roles between male positioning- top and bottom. This is the difference between “taking pleasure” and “submitting” to another person of the same sex. The submission of the person in the bottom position is considered a disgrace because it is viewed as the woman’s role. The person in the top position, however, is not considered any less of a man; they are not labeled as gay, but maintain their masculinity by being on top. These homosexual acts can be considered a phase in life that boys will one day grow out of. One thing to be aware of while traveling in Saudi Arabia are the areas called “cruising” zones. These are areas that are known for being gay-friendly. Cruising is the term for “gay-courting”. Homosexuals also usually follow a “don’t ask, don’t tell policy” because, “the closet is not a choice; it is a rule of survival.”
Homosexual acts in Saudi Arabia are illegal and punishable by execution. Many of the articles I have read about homosexuality in Saudi Arabia point to the victim having been raped, rather than admitting to the perpetrators homosexuality. Other countries with similar policies are Mauritania, Sudan and Yemen. Unfortunately, Saudi Arabia does not have any laws preventing such acts against homosexuals. People are free to discriminate on the basis on sexual orientation and gender identity. There is one underground group that advocates for LGBT rights called the Green Party of Saudi Arabia; they advocate for homosexual rights on the basis of human rights.
On the other end of the spectrum, opposite of the Green Party of Saudi Arabia, is the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice. This is a law enforcement agency that has orders to enforce law against homosexuality; they are, for good reason, highly feared. The Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice is most commonly recognized for upholding and enforcing the Sharia Law. One man who feared the organization, for example, was the first secretary of the Saudi consulate in Los Angeles, California. He applied for asylum in America because he is gay and was concerned he would be killed after losing his job.
Fear is a powerful emotion. The Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice has attempted to instill this in the youth by creating punishment within school systems. Gays may be harassed upon entering their school if their outward appearance reflects their sexual orientation. Some youth have been banned from school for being homosexual; they will be allowed back in school only when they stop acting on their sexual orientation. Some people think that homosexuality may be perpetuated due to same sex schools. One student reported to a news article that there was “no shame” in having a same sex boyfriend at his private school. This student, however, did not associate with the label 'gay'. During your travels, a term that would be helpful for you to know is ‘al walid hagi’, this means ‘the boy who belongs to me’. Young Saudi’s use this term to describe their same sex ‘special’ friends.
It is not only homosexual Saudi’s who are discriminated against, but also homosexual foreigners. There was an instance in the 1990’s when gay foreigners were traveling in Saudi Arabia and were deported; the reasoning for their deportation is unclear, but many believe their sexual orientation is no coincidence. The issue of homosexuality in Saudi Arabia has received international recognition because of their treatment towards the gay community. There have been reports of hangings and beheadings for homosexuality and the molestation of same sex children.
Homosexual acts in Saudi Arabia are illegal and punishable by execution. Many of the articles I have read about homosexuality in Saudi Arabia point to the victim having been raped, rather than admitting to the perpetrators homosexuality. Other countries with similar policies are Mauritania, Sudan and Yemen. Unfortunately, Saudi Arabia does not have any laws preventing such acts against homosexuals. People are free to discriminate on the basis on sexual orientation and gender identity. There is one underground group that advocates for LGBT rights called the Green Party of Saudi Arabia; they advocate for homosexual rights on the basis of human rights.
On the other end of the spectrum, opposite of the Green Party of Saudi Arabia, is the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice. This is a law enforcement agency that has orders to enforce law against homosexuality; they are, for good reason, highly feared. The Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice is most commonly recognized for upholding and enforcing the Sharia Law. One man who feared the organization, for example, was the first secretary of the Saudi consulate in Los Angeles, California. He applied for asylum in America because he is gay and was concerned he would be killed after losing his job.
Fear is a powerful emotion. The Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice has attempted to instill this in the youth by creating punishment within school systems. Gays may be harassed upon entering their school if their outward appearance reflects their sexual orientation. Some youth have been banned from school for being homosexual; they will be allowed back in school only when they stop acting on their sexual orientation. Some people think that homosexuality may be perpetuated due to same sex schools. One student reported to a news article that there was “no shame” in having a same sex boyfriend at his private school. This student, however, did not associate with the label 'gay'. During your travels, a term that would be helpful for you to know is ‘al walid hagi’, this means ‘the boy who belongs to me’. Young Saudi’s use this term to describe their same sex ‘special’ friends.
It is not only homosexual Saudi’s who are discriminated against, but also homosexual foreigners. There was an instance in the 1990’s when gay foreigners were traveling in Saudi Arabia and were deported; the reasoning for their deportation is unclear, but many believe their sexual orientation is no coincidence. The issue of homosexuality in Saudi Arabia has received international recognition because of their treatment towards the gay community. There have been reports of hangings and beheadings for homosexuality and the molestation of same sex children.
Please keep in mind that these beliefs reflect the country as a whole and not necessarily individual beliefs.
To view more articles from Saudi Arabia and the Middle East on homosexuality, visit gaymiddleeast.com.
To view more articles from Saudi Arabia and the Middle East on homosexuality, visit gaymiddleeast.com.
Religious leader presenting Islamic views on homosexuality:
Dr Bilal Philips speaking on Love and Homosexuality from an Islamic point of view:
Dr Bilal Philips expanding on his lecture (the previous video) on Homosexuality from an Islamic point of view:
Concluding Thoughts on Gender Identity
To conclude, let us review some of the main points from this chapter on Gender Identity. When discussing gender in Saudi Arabia we must allow for cultural relativism. Fathers choose a husband for their daughter, passing on their role as guardian. Women wear what is called a hijab, abaya, and niqab. Men wear a thobe. Men have higher flexibility when interacting nonverbally in society. Women and men have different traditions when entering and participating in worship at a mosque. Though many Westerners believe women should be allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia, Saudi women see this as a "weight off their shoulders" because driving can be dangerous (in addition to 5 other reasons listed above). Segregation of gender is present in education because men and women go into different fields of work. In business, women have many rights and are now allowed to have the same jobs as men. However, like Western societies, women still do not have equal pay of privileges in the work place. Homosexuality is a hot topic in Saudi Arabia, just like Western countries. There are many opposing views, but the dominant view is that homosexuality is a sin; this stems from the religious practices of Islam.
As you travel to Saudi Arabia, continue to seek and learn gender identity in the context of Saudi Arabia through a Middle Eastern lens so that you may be respectful of the culture that you are entering.
References
Bradley, J. R. (2004, February 20). Homosexuality in Saudi Arabia. Understanding Islam Community. Retrieved December 5, 2012, from http://forums.understanding-islam.com/showthread.php?2220-Homosexuality-in-Saudi-Arabia
Cole, D. P. (n.d.). Culture of Saudi Arabia - history, people, clothing, traditions, women, beliefs, food, customs, family. Countries and Their Cultures. Retrieved December 5, 2012, from http://www.everyculture.com/Sa-Th/Saudi-Arabia.html#b
Dawson, M. (n.d.). Saudi Arabia-Reflections on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality by Michael Dawson « Georgetown Journal of International Affairs. Georgetown Journal of International Affairs. Retrieved December 5, 2012, from http://journal.georgetown.edu/2012/03/14/spring-break-saudi-arabia-reflections-on-womens-rights-and-gender-equalitya-by-michael-dawson/
Labi, N. (n.d.). Homosexuality In Saudi Arabia - Nairaland / General - Nairaland. Nairaland Forum. Retrieved December 5, 2012, from http://www.nairaland.com/411814/homosexuality-saudi-arabia
No gays allowed: Saudi Arabia bans homosexuals from schools. (2012, April 17). RT; Question More.. Retrieved December 5, 2012, from rt.com/news/saudi-arabia-gays-ban-213/
Saudi Arabian Gender Roles in the workplace - International Business - a Wikia wiki. (n.d.). International Business Wiki. Retrieved December 5, 2012, from http://internationalbusiness.wikia.com/wiki/Saudi_Arabian_Gender_Roles_in_the_workplace
Whitaker, B. (2010, September 13). Saudi Arabia's juggling act on homosexuality | Brian Whitaker | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk . Latest US news, world news, sport and comment from the Guardian | guardiannews.com | The Guardian . Retrieved December 5, 2012, from http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/sep/13/saudi-arabia-homosexuality-juggling-act
Personal Interview
Al-Otaibi, Reem M. Interview by Rebecca Weygandt and Nikki Kamp. Personal Skype interview. 2 Dec. 2012.