Saudi women in Eastern Province are putting to rest stereotypes and myths about them, and raising the bar as they set standards for themselves. They are encouraged by the vision of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah that women should now play a positive role in the development of the Kingdom. Saudi Arabia has allocated 35-40 percent of the annual budget to educating and training young Saudis, including women who are now showing their expertise in fields as diverse as business, beauty industry, engineering and medicine. Saudi women have long considered education the best avenue for improving their status and being part of social change. Contrary to the Western notion that women in Saudi Arabia are trapped indoors, they are now moving ahead in jobs and careers despite many hurdles. Mona Al-Otaibi, director of Prince Mohammed Program for Youth Development, (PMPYD), said education in the Kingdom does little to prepare Saudi women for the workplace.. “We have a lopsided educational system which doesn't really provide the skills needed by women in taking up jobs.” To remedy this, PMPTD has instituted a six-month job-training program for those who seek employment, she said. “The center is a beehive of activity. About 30 -35 women visit us every day seeking guidance and help in landing jobs,” Al-Otaibi said. “We have had 39,953 women visitors in 2007. We helped place 5,059 out of the 12,000 who were seeking jobs.” The center connects employers with potential employees, scouring the resumes of those seeking jobs for companies wanting specific skills, education and experience. It also provides training to those willing to work as volunteers, like Fatima Al-Munhim who is volunteering in the Department of Social and Cultural Activities for secretarial work. A graduate from the Arts and Sciences College in Dammam, Fatima had, on completing her degree, applied to many companies but with no luck. “There is a lot of competition because there are so many women looking for jobs and so few jobs out there. Hopefully as new companies open their doors to women, the process of finding a job will not be that tough. Of course my experience at PMPYD will be helpful, “said Al-Munhim. Mona Al-Ansari, PR manger at PMPYD said that the center is focused on providing all the help and guidance they can to women like Fatima. Al-Ansari said she hopes that more private companies will open their doors to women. “Many companies feel they are not ready for women in the work place. That mindset, however, is changing: but slowly.” Al-Otaibi said that there are educated women who are ready to enter the workforce; however, they lack the opportunity to use their education. “Education of women is not a new phenomenon in Saudi Arabia. There were schools for women including the Dar-Al-Haram opened by Queen Effat in 1955 even before the Ministry of Education was established, according to Princess Loula, the late Queen's daughter,” she said. King Saud University opened its doors to women as early as 1961-1962 when women were allowed to enroll as external students. The Colleges of Arts and Administrative Sciences later accepted women as full time students in 1975-1976. Enrollment in the primary grades all over the kingdom quadrupled between 1965 and 1975. As educational opportunities increase for women with the opening of more universities in the Kingdom, so do their chances for integration in the labor force and moving up the employment ladder. “There has been change by leaps and bounds in the area of women employment in these 25- 30 years,” said Shideh Rashidi, former head of Department of English at a Saudi school and is now running a business of her own. Afnan, an interior design student at the Prince Mohammed University, in Dammam, is positive about starting a business of her own. “I will undergo training (at) an established interior design house and Insha'Allah start my own business.” The Economist, for its part, argues that while other factors have certainly played a role, the rise of “businesswomen” is also a noteworthy force for change. Businesswomen are often from privileged backgrounds and are powerful. Their involvement in the area of offering employment reflects a broader trend of growing participation by women in the formal economy over the past 15 years. Acclaimed fashion designer Fawzia Al-Nafea is one such example, who for the past 28 years has established herself as a staple in the fashion industry. With clientele such as members of the royal families of the Arab world and employing over 150 artisans, she is a testament to what can be accomplished through determination and drive. “Women here, like any place need take up the challenge. All doors are not closed, you will find one that is open for you and you just have to keep looking,” she said. Rashidi said finding a job in the current job market is a challenge for women because they must not only break myths but also make the most of their educational system. “There is so much more to employment among women than just finding a job. The education system, the economic growth of the country, the institution of the family is (linked) to the aspect of employment,” Rashidi said. __
