Here, the role of women in Islam is described on the basis of 3 phenomena and then described and explained in more detail by editing the novel "Girls of Riyadh".
Saudi Arabia is known as a country full of wealth with many famous tourist attractions, such as the Burj Khalifa, where guest workers can find work and where the kingdom through its rulers leaves a highly regarded presentative impression. But the image of the oppressed woman who strives for equality and who longs for justice for women can also be recognized. Saudi Arabia
is a country where the value of women and their equal rights is still far underdeveloped. But this image may change.
Table of Contents
1. "I'm going to buy my dream car, a convertible Mustang, and it's going to be black and yellow!"- Sahar Nassif
2. The status of women in Islam
2.1 Religious status
2.2 Traditional status
2.3 Social status
3. Rajaa Alsanea- “Girls of Riyadh”
3.1 Content summary
3.2 Characterisation
3.2.1 “Why do I need a man to shield and protect me?” - Gamrah al-Qusmanji
3.2.2 “You think with your head and not your heart, remember?” – Sadeem Al-Horaimli
3.2.3 “Our problem here is that we let men be bigger deals than they really are.” - Mashael Al-Abdulrahman
3.2.4 “Hey, I´m Lamees! The one and only.” - Lamees Jeddawi
3.3 The role of women in the Saudi-Arabian society in comparison to Girls of Riyadh
4. Possibilities for changing the image of Muslim women in Saudi Arabia in the next years
Objectives & Research Focus
This work examines the social, traditional, and religious status of women in Saudi Arabia, specifically analyzing how these conflicting factors shape female identity and opportunities. Using Rajaa Alsanea’s novel "Girls of Riyadh" as a case study, the research aims to understand the gap between Islamic doctrine and societal practice, exploring the possibilities for achieving greater gender equality in the kingdom.
- The divergence between the religious status of women in Islam and their traditional societal treatment.
- The impact of the "Ideal Muslim Woman" archetype on female autonomy and social freedom.
- A detailed character analysis of women in "Girls of Riyadh" as a reflection of Saudi social struggles.
- The influence of media and Western discourse on the global perception of Muslim women.
- Strategies for future societal enlightenment and legislative change in Saudi Arabia.
Excerpt from the Book
“Why do I need a man to shield and protect me?” - Gamrah al-Qusmanji
Gamrah is the girl who stands between traditions and the desire of free choices. The novel begins with her wedding to Rashid Al-Tanbal, the man she only saw once before her wedding, as her traditionally-minded family, who comes from Qasim, the ultra-conservative city of Saudi Arabia, wanted it that way. After their marriage she is accompanying her husband to Chicago in America, because he studies for a PhD there. In America, she feels intimidated by the western behaviours and customs and left alone because her husband spends most of his time in the university. The relationship between her and Rashid is very distant and cold, though “Gamrah had dreamed of much more; of caresses and love and tenderness and emotion like the feelings that stirred her heart when she read romance novels or watched romantic movies. And now here she was, facing a husband who clearly felt no attraction towards her […]”.
While her husband is attending university, she discovers his long affair with a Japanese woman named Kari, who he still is in a relationship with. She finds out that he only married Gamrah to please his parents, because they wanted him to marry a woman that knows his culture and language instead of a Japanese woman. This also explains his peculiar behaviour towards her and why he did not sleep with her in their wedding night. At first she decides to meet with his affair, but Kari tells Rashid about his wife's behaviour. After this action, Rashid divorces Gamrah, although she is pregnant from him. Now that she has the status of a single mother, her freedoms are even more limited. Her mother does not let her out alone and tries everything to prevent the divorce but in vain.
Summary of Chapters
1. "I'm going to buy my dream car, a convertible Mustang, and it's going to be black and yellow!"- Sahar Nassif: This chapter introduces the changing legal landscape in Saudi Arabia regarding women's rights to drive and discusses the societal resistance to these reforms.
2. The status of women in Islam: This section explores the distinction between the religious rights granted to women in the Quran and the restrictive traditional practices imposed by society.
3. Rajaa Alsanea- “Girls of Riyadh”: This chapter analyzes the novel as a narrative of four women navigating life in Riyadh, highlighting their personal conflicts and societal pressures.
4. Possibilities for changing the image of Muslim women in Saudi Arabia in the next years: The final chapter proposes necessary socio-political changes and an enlightenment of society to align actual rights with religious equality.
Keywords
Saudi Arabia, Islam, Women's Rights, Gender Equality, Girls of Riyadh, Tradition, Social Status, Religious Status, Feminism, Autonomy, Education, Identity, Media Influence, Middle East, Modernization.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this academic paper?
The paper explores the current status of women in Saudi Arabia, specifically focusing on the tension between their religious rights in Islam and the societal restrictions placed upon them by traditional customs.
Which specific themes are addressed?
Central themes include the influence of the "Ideal Muslim Woman" archetype, the impact of education on female independence, the role of media in shaping negative perceptions, and the struggle for autonomy within conservative family structures.
What is the main research objective?
The primary goal is to analyze how Saudi Arabian women negotiate their identities within a restrictive system and to identify paths toward achieving lasting gender equality.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The paper utilizes a socio-critical and literary analysis approach, drawing upon religious texts, media studies, and a detailed examination of Rajaa Alsanea's novel "Girls of Riyadh".
What does the main body cover?
It covers the religious and traditional status of women, a comprehensive analysis of the characters in the novel "Girls of Riyadh", and a concluding discussion on future possibilities for societal change in Saudi Arabia.
Which keywords define this work?
Key terms include Saudi Arabia, gender equality, women's rights, Islam, tradition, social status, and cultural identity.
How does the novel "Girls of Riyadh" illustrate the author's arguments?
The novel provides concrete examples of how traditional societal expectations—such as arranged marriages and limited social contact—clash with the individual desires and modern perspectives of young, educated Saudi women.
What role does the character Gamrah play in the narrative?
Gamrah serves as a representation of a woman caught between extreme traditionalism and the realization that she can lead a life of independence, effectively transitioning from an inexperienced bride to a self-sufficient mother.
Why is the concept of the "Ideal Muslim Woman" considered problematic?
It is viewed as a social construct rather than a religious requirement; it restricts women to the domestic sphere and uses tradition as an excuse to deny them fundamental rights like education and free movement.
What does the author propose for the future?
The author argues that legal reforms, such as the right to drive, are only the first step. True equality requires an enlightenment process that addresses the social mentality, differentiates between tradition and religion, and promotes female education.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Anonym (Autor:in), 2018, The role of women in Islam, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/539070
