More Saudi Arabian men than woman support equality of the sexes
The vast majority of young people in Saudi Arabia say more needs to be done to improve women’s rights and men are most in favour of the reforms.
The Arab Youth Survey shows 92 per cent of men in Saudi Arabia support the expansion of women’s rights, compared with 88 per cent of women.
Only 3 per cent of young Saudi men disagree, compared with 6 per cent of Saudi women.
Young people across the kingdom are less strongly in favour of giving women the right to drive, with 82 per cent of women and 81 per cent of men surveyed backing the landmark change in legislation.
But 19 per cent of Saudi men and 17 per cent of Saudi women oppose the change.
Sunil John, chief executive of Asda’a Burson-Marsteller, authors of the study, said it was evidence of enduring conservatism among the young.
“It clearly shows that there is a conservative section in Saudi society, which is well known,” Mr John said.
But he said that the survey showed great support for change across the Middle East, with the Levant region most strongly in favour at 89 per cent, followed closely by the GCC at 88 per cent, and North Africa at 86 per cent.
Deena Al Faris, vice president of Al Faris Group of Industries, one of three women who plan to drive from the Eastern Region to Jeddah when the change comes into effect, said Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s strong support has helped some to see it from a different perspective.
“Because the leader is with us, they [reform opponents] don’t have a chance to say no,” said Mrs Al Faris, who is also vice president of the Businesswomen Council in the Eastern Region.
Tala Al Jabri, a Saudi MBA student at Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, said: “For me, male opposition is higher than what I would have expected.
“But part of it is, especially when you think about youth and the dynamics in Saudi Arabia, there’s not a whole lot of interaction between men and women.
“Of course this is changing. However, what that leads to is a lack of awareness among men of women’s issues. I think that might help to explain why almost 20 per cent of men opposed it.”
Both women agree there are significant challenges to face.
One of the biggest is guardianship, said Ms Al Jabri, who was chosen to speak in New York during Prince Mohammed’s visit in March about why it is necessary to economically empower Saudi women.
Ms Al Jabri, who is studying for a master’s degree in public policy at Harvard University, said she could not leave the country without her father’s approval.
“Now I can open a bank account on my own but it was the case in the past where I needed my father’s approval or if I was looking for a job and I wanted to accept an offer to work, I needed my father’s authorisation,” she said.
“The guardianship issue is number one.”
Ninety-two per cent of men in Saudi Arabia support the expansion of women’s rights, compared with 88 per cent of women