“I LIVE MY DAYS!” ANALYSIS OF AN EMPIRICAL RESEARCH ON THE FEMALES’ SYMBIOSIS IN THE SAUDI SOCIETY

Abstract

This article forms a part of a longitudinal research that deals with the Saudi females’ changing social roles during the latest transition period. In recent years, Saudi Arabia has undergone numerous sociocultural changes in an effort, to fulfil its Vision 2030. There was always an underground lifestyle element to the younger generation, even though older generations of Saudis were not open to change at first. Changing happened with gender social roles in private life as people always found a way to mingle. Seeing the immediate acceptance of the recent changes from the younger generations is not surprising, especially having had an up and close preview to those changes. The research aimed to provide an etic cultural perspective with the focus on the altering social roles of the Saudi females in the society. Therefore, the research questions revolved around whether the last twenty years’ gains in women’s education have led into a broader social change, translating into widespread labour market and societal participation of Saudi females; and how these changes influence the modernization process of Saudi Arabia fostering and providing equal human rights and closing the gender gap. To achieve these goals, the research employed a quantitative survey and qualitative deep interviews. The research findings of the “shock generation” of highly educated working women show that Saudi women are as bridging the gap between tradition and modernity in the Saudi society which undeniably fosters women’s empowerment and emancipation.