Breaking Tradition: Women of Saudi Arabia

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Breaking Tradition: Women of Saudi Arabia

Traditions have been passed down for generations, hardly ever changing. If changed, it doesn't effect the purpose of the tradition, but more of how the tradition is carried out. Such as if you celebrated Easter over at grandma's house but she passed away, you might celebrate it at another family member's house. Saudi Arabia is notorious for having one of the most influential traditions that affects all members of their society. Based on a strict interpretation of Islam known as Wahhabism, women are expected to stay at home tending to the house while men work to support the family. Wahhabism places restrictions on women making them dependent of their male relative. The sexes are strictly segregated in order to prevent unmarried, unrelated men and women from mingling (Sullivan 1). This tradition has been the law of the land in Saudi Arabia for centuries. Despite small reforms, this tradition is strictly enforced throughout the land. While this tradition has been an influential part of Saudi Arabian society, a time for change has come. A rising generation of Saudi women are fighting back against their extremely conservative religious society. Women are protesting and creating social media pages and blogs in order to draw attention to this ongoing issue. The government has drawn attention to these issues presented and has already started making reforms to give women equal rights. While some unequal rights stay the same, the upcoming generations of Saudi women and the ongoing support from their local government has caused tradition to change.

In Saudi Arabia, women are required to wear a black cloak which conceals their entire body as well as a head covering. The only part that is visible on ...

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....” Los Angeles Times [Los Angeles, CA] 27 Oct. 2013: A.4. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 24 Apr. 2014.

Harding, Luke. “Text Alerts Tell Saudi Men if Women Leave the Country.” Guardian [London, England] 24 Nov. 2012: 41. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 24 Apr. 2014.

Hubbard, Ben. “Women Taking on Jobs and Testing a Saudi Taboo.” International New York Times [Paris, France] 4 Dec. 2013: 8. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 23 May 2014.

McManus, Doyle. “Change in the Kingdom.” Los Angeles Times [Los Angeles, CA] 25 Dec. 2011: 32. SIRS Interactive Citizenship. Web. 28 May 2014.

Sandels, Alexandra. “Signaling Their Anger.” Los Angeles Times [Los Angeles, CA] 18 June 2011: 1. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 28 May 2014.

Sullivan, Kevin. “Saudi Women, Educated but Jobless.” Washington Post [Washington, DC] 13 Nov. 2012: 1. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 28 May 2014.

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