Obstacles of Empowering Women's Political Rights in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

This study aimed to demonstrate the concept of the political empowerment of Saudi women, and the importance of this empowerment for Saudi society. It also outlined obstacles to women's participation in political development. Moreover, as women face obstacles to their participation in leadership positions as well as their contribution to decision-making, this study made proposals to overcome these obstacles. Consequently, the researcher has adopted the analytical descriptive approach. Actually, the researcher concluded a set of findings, notably the fact that Islam allowed women to the guardian's allegiance and the right of the shura, and made them a right of political rights guaranteed to them in the participation of men in the industry of the present and future of the nation. Women's political empowerment is intended to achieve themselves and their presence in political participation. Woman can be an active component of the decision-making process so that women have their contributions and imprints to the process of progress and development of States and countries. The monarchy allows all members of society the right to participate in the State's general political decision-making. Obstacles to women's political empowerment are subjective, social and cultural as society viewed her inferiority by restricting her work to the home and by considerably monitoring her actions. This reinforced her sense of inferiority and dependence, inability to lead. Therefore, the awareness of Saudi society is currently the cornerstone of Saudi women's right role in effective political participation. Finally, the researcher recommended that society should be educated on women's rights so that the prevailing notion of masculinity of society would end, and women would play their leading and leading roles in the Kingdom.