Final: Women in Saudi Arabia vs Women in the United States

Many women in the United States don't know how good they have it. I was one of those women until I researched how women in Saudi Arabia don’t have half as many rights as we do. In most parts of Saudi Arabia it is believed that a women's place is in the home taking care of the husband and the family. When women do leave the household, they must be accompanied by a man or boy of the household at all times. Saudi women are prohibited from driving, voting, traveling abroad, getting an education, choosing their own husbands and working without permission from a male relative. Some females as young as seven are led to think that they are being wed to rich Saudi men so their families can receive a dowry, but end up becoming servants, maids, sex slaves, and even prostitutes. Because of this, women only make up 5% of the workforce in Saudi Arabia (the lowest proportion in the world). Women are also strictly required to follow a dress code. In public, a woman must always cover her head, face and entire body. Many Saudis believe that allowing women to have these basic rights, such as driving, will lead to Western assimilation and an erosion of traditional values. Therefore, many women live oppressed lives under the control of men with not much hope for social change. The government recognizes these problems however they do little to protect these women and prosecute violators.


Saudi women covered up


American women in bikinis

I knew that I couldn't be the only women that took my rights for granted so I went out and interviewed three women on campus to see how they reacted to the ways in which women in Saudi Arabia were treated and how they themselves live their everyday lives. To collect my field reports I first asked a set of six basic questions:

1. What is your major?
2. How old are you?
3. Are you married? If so, did you choose your own husband?
4. Have you ever had a job? If so what did you do?
5. Have you ever voted?
6. Have you ever worn a bikini to the beach/pool/lake?

I then revealed the information that I had discovered to them and continued to ask the following six questions:

1. If you weren’t allowed to come to this university how would your life chances differ?
2. If you were given away by your family at the age of seven and turned into a sex slave how would your relationship with your family be?
3. If you couldn’t choose your husband and were assigned a man to marry can you imagine being happy with that person? Keep in mind that he chooses how you will carry out your day.
4. If you were like a Saudi women and were not able to go outside the home alone, describe for me three words that would reflect how you feel.
5. If all the men in the United States could vote, and you couldn’t simply because you were a female, how would you feel that they are deciding how you are to live your life? And why do you think it is important that you have a voice and opinion in the societal structure?
6. Since women in Saudi Arabia are forced to cover up their entire bodies and faces in public in very high temperatures, do you think you could switch roles with them for one day? How different do you think the garment industry would be in the United States if the values were the same as in Saudi Arabia?

Here are my field notes...
(click picture to view larger)







All of the girls couldn’t imagine living the life of a Saudi Arabian women. They were very upset with the thought of not having basic rights such as getting an education or working. Since all of the women I interviewed are college students they held very high expectations for themselves and how they were going to live out their career paths. It seems to me that if they were forced to answer to men and lacked independence they would not consider their lives enjoyable. It is interesting to explore different cultures and recognize the differences of values and morals because it helps people understand social structures. The American women I interviewed may not comprehend the ideas and ways of life of Saudi Arabia, but to Saudi women, it is what they know and are advised not to question.


Saudi women and girls outside


American women outside

But as Americans we are able to question such ideas and values. So here are some questions to consider after reading over information of the Saudi people. Could you imagine living in a place that didn't allow you to drive or go anywhere without an escort? Why do you think countries are still set in traditional ways of patriarchy? Do you think that social change can ever come about? If it did would it be a positive thing?

For more information on Saudi Arabian women, please check out these library reference at the WSU library:
Saudi Arabia in the balance: A Political Economy, Society, Foreign Affairs
(call # DS244.52 .S28 2005)
Women and Words in Saudi Arabia: The Politics of Literary Discourse
(call # PJ8005 .A87 1994)


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relate to

Women are more and more entering the workforce and many couples are dual earning families due to this powerful new ideology and the present day economy. Research shows that in 1960 only 15% of married women with children worked outside the home and in 2007 60% of those women are out at work.




Although many women are continuing to enter the work force, most are segregated into the secondary sector. Meaning, they are typically with low pay, no authority, no autonomy and therefore easy to fire and refill. And usually these jobs/occupations are female dominated where females are concentrated into. Most low wage workers are white, high school educated females with family responsibilities. Because of all this, women tend to make less money and their career ladders are cut short with their mobility stopped by male domination and this idea that men are "better" than women not only in the workforce but many other aspects.

If you are a women in the labor force needed help or simply interested in further information on how to help please visit this website,


http://www.timeschange.org/

For centuries, women have been inferior to men, not only in the workforce but in the home. Over time things have been changing. Today's society has begun to realize the full potential of women and have started to treat them with the respect the deserve. With the help of sociologists and education this issue of gender has began to ask questions and get answers.

For me, being a women, I understand the struggles females face simply because of their sex. There are many stereotypes attached to women that make them seem inferior and incapable of doing a good job. There are still people out there who think that the women's place is in the home. Coming to college I have realized how much women have gone through to get to this point where women are doctors and lawyers. Its amazing to see how far women have come because it gives hope to how much further we can go until men and women are in complete equality. Change in this case is such a good thing because its for the better.


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resource guide

Women's Empowerment: Measuring the Global Gender Gap

http://www.weforum.org/pdf/Global_Competitiveness_Reports/Reports/gender_gap.pdf

Pamphlet explaining why gender discrimination exists and how the world/society/culture contributes to this issue

Discrimination and Obstacles Women Face in Workforce as They Face Barriers to Reach Their Full Potential

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2798466/discrimination_and_obstacles_women_pg2.html?cat=31

Great article that talks about how discrimination prevents females mobility in the work force along with examples showing how this issue persits

Women's Continuing Struggle with Inequality in the Workforce

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/527753/womens_continuing_struggle_with_inequality.html?cat=3

discussion of historical conten, glass ceiling, statistical evidence

Gender Inequality in the Workplace

http://socialissues.wiseto.com/Articles/FO3020630304/?page=1

discussion on discrimination, male domination, wage gap

Gender Discrimination in the Workplace

http://psychcentral.com/news/2009/10/09/gender-discrimination-in-the-workplace/8868.html

Studies showing how gender discrimination still exisits globaly today

The Working Woman: a "Second Class" Worker

http://www.newyouth.com/archives/interviews/working_woman__a_second_class.html

information on low pay, childcare and maternity leave, health and saftey at work and sexual harrasment in China unemployment

Inequality among women explored

http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2004/05/07/inequality_among_women_explored/

Discusses difference of work in regards to race, also gives valuable statistics

WORKING WOMEN IN CHINA

http://factsanddetails.com/china.php?itemid=365&catid=9&subcatid=60

issues aound Discrimination,Chinese Women in High Positions, Factory Workers, Poor Working Conditions

China forcibly relocates Uyghur women and girls for factory work

http://womenmakenews.com/content/china-forcibly-relocates-uyghur-women-and-girls-factory-work

Influence of Chinese government, forced labor, intimidation, deprivation

Women vulnerable to gender discrimination in workplace

http://opinion.globaltimes.cn/commentary/2009-06/438474.html

Includes a cartoon expressing gender discrimination in the workplace as well as imformation on China's Acts that ware supposed to help women but have continued to be ammeneded

Women Suffer Most in Garment Sweatshops in Bangladesh

http://cawhk.tripod.com/9904/9904art05.htm

Examples of low pay, poor working conditions, and physical harm in sweatshops

Women and Sweatshops

http://www.webster.edu/~woolflm/sweatshops.html

Talks about working conditions in sweatshops, popular US companies that use sweatshops, global sweatshops, along with information on efforts to end sweatshops

Sweatshops and Third World Living Standards: Are the Jobs Worth the Sweat?

http://www.independent.org/publications/working_papers/article.asp?id=1369

Questions wheather sweatshops are worth it and graphs with evidence on horrible working conditions

Sex Discrimination and Gender Discrimination in the Workplace

http://www.hrhero.com/topics/sex_discrimination.html

Lists the laws and acts that are used to help prevent discrimination in the workplace

Dealing with Discrimination in the Workplace

http://www.allbusiness.com/legal/laws-government-regulations-employment/11554-1.html

Gives tips on how to prevent and help discrimination in the workplace


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Help for Haitian Sweatshops

In the beginning of this semester a tragic earthquake hit Haiti and the effects were tragic. Because this incident was a global matter, we discussed it in class that is set to understand certain issues such as globalization. Since then there has been many efforts in order to restore and help Haiti recover from this disaster that has destroyed the lives of many. One of these ways that the United States has stepped into help was the Haitian Hemispheric opportunity through partnership Encouragement (HOPE) Act. This act was created in order to provide flexibility of exporting goods such as garments. In Haiti, garment making is a big part of where Haitians income comes from. A lot of the natives are considered poor and underclass so the jobs are scarce and taking on a rough job in a "sweat shop" tends to be better than nothing. In order to help these horrible conditions, the HOPE Act has not only made garments exported from Haiti duty-free (un-taxed) but they have also coordinated with other organizations to help the working conditions become better for the people of Haiti that work in these garment shops. Along with these efforts to make Haitian garment jobs better, they have also offered technical and financial support to further help with the production of income.

-For more information on Haitian recovery and the HOPE act please visit

http://blogs.cgdev.org/globaldevelopment/2010/01/haitian-recovery-sweatshop-jobs-and-the-role-of-trade-preferences.php


After reading about this act to help Haiti, I wonder why it took such a natural disaster for others to get involved. It again relates to the issues we have talked about in class such as social inequality and sweatshops that leads to globalization. Effects of things such as branding has pushed companies in the U.S. to outsource to poorer countries in order to get more product for their buck. In this process, they pay the hard workers little amounts of money and force them to work long hours away from their family. A large majority of this unfortunate group is young women who are physically and emotionally tortured. As a young women living in the United States its hard not to draw a connect to these poor Haitian women workers. I will admit I have bought brand name garments and I tend not to even think twice. It is such a normality to American consumers to go out and shop and buy clothing. However it is the complete opposite for many in Haiti and I am so saddened by this. Most people can barely afford food and clean water let alone clothing.


After reading this I ask myself and others a few questions on consumerism. It ultimately leads to globalization, however this isn't how it always used to be. What has happened to stir up such cruel treatment for more money? Has it stemmed from the American Dream and pushed its way towards this want for the newest things and fancy items to become labels of class and power? How must our society and culture changes its thinking and ways in order to better the lives less fortunate than ourselves here in America?


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guiyu: city of e-waste

Americans produce tons of electronic waste (e-waste) every year. This includes computers, printers, video games, cell phones, televisions, ect. When new technology comes out or someone’s electronic breaks down they go out and buy newer items to suit their lives. This idea of living a lavish life of expensive and new things leads to consumerism that affects many people in directly. These consumers, like me, don’t realize that buy throwing out our unwanted electronics we are hurting not only our planet but the people living in it. This is a global issue that it caused by massive amounts of consumerism and should be brought to attention. Many people in poorer countries live in electronic filth, perform difficult labor in horrible conditions and ultimately suffer. People in India, Africa, and China don’t have the luxuries or opportunities we have here in the United States for many reasons. Partially because of their poor government and the fact that they are being taken advantage of by companies like ones in the United States that are trying to make money off them.

Although there are laws to help prevent American e-waste into countries like China, this process still continues, and more and more waste is illegally exported into these helpless countries. There is a trading system that is at work that is too difficult to monitor because of the ways in which the waste is processed overseas. People who remove the electronics dump them on the streets and in the water areas of the city. This is a very easy procedure since it is inexpensive; however it is not environmentally safe. Companies continue to act this way because the amount of money, machinery, and labor that it would take to go into disposing of the electronic material in a proper and safe way has a small (what they consider too much) cost. Although they understand of the implications that come from pollution, they believe that it isn’t worth it to pay so much money.


For example, a southern city of China, Guiyu is home to many people who are surrounded by the massive amounts of waste that is being dumped on their land. This city is taken over by the e-waste trade and everyone in the city is involved in the process. In order to make a simple living Guiyu people strip the electronics for usable parts and sell them off to corporate companies, only to make small amounts of money to live on. By doing this they not only pollute their land but they pollute their bodies. Many people of Guiyu, mostly women are forced to work in these harsh conditions because it is their only way to survive and provide for their families. They torch off parts of computers and inhale harmful toxic fumes that can be life threatening to not only themselves but their children as well. Women basically cook circuit boards to salvage the computer chips that can be considered gold. What they don’t know is that they are slowly poising themselves with lead fumes that excrete from the machines. For women, these health hazards affect not only themselves but their children as well. Many pregnant women are forced to work in these poisonous areas, because unlike here in the U.S. they are unable to take time off (maternity leave). This harmfully affects their unborn children. Studies show that it can often affect their development skills with the amounts of dangerous fumes they inhale each day.




For more information on the hazards for pregnant women working with e-waste, please visit…
http://www.eht-forum.org/news.html?targetPage=news/fulltext/news091222051349.html&from=search



With that being said, I like to hope that this blog can make you think the next you buy new electronics. The electronic goods that try to improve our Western lives actually destroy the lives of many in places such as Guiyu. Is it worth it? Can you survive without things such as the newest video game system? Or Flat screen computer? If not, does that mean that you can live with the thought that people are being smothered with our old electronics? It is hard to say, because we Americans are so used to the buying new things without having to deal with the consequences.


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Comparing History of Workforce Gender Inequality in the United States and China

Throughout history, women, both white and of color, have been discriminated against in the workforce by the men in power as well as society. In the pre-industrial era of the United Sates, it was socially unacceptable for women to work outside of the home since the men were considered the main wage earners responsible for providing for the family. In the beginning of the twentieth century there was an expansion of the government and a change in the economy which demanded workers in the labor force. When WWII came about, the absence of men gave women availability to work outside the home. During these times, White women were segregated into sales and clerical work, whereas women of color or immigrant women were pushed into domestic service and manufacturing work.

Although women were allowed to step out of the home to work, they were still seen as weak and temporary workers. Since there was an ideology that women’s primary role was connected to the home, they were seen as distracted by their family, therefore less hardworking. Because of this ideology, employers (White men) paid women less due to this undeserving label that was attached to them. This then lacked the ability for women to support their families and excel in their careers. It also affected them emotionally with the negative facade that has been constructed about them throughout history. This inequality based on gender still affects women in the United States today in many aspects such as:

· segregation into female dominated jobs that pay less and have low autonomy
· minimal career ladders
· sexual harassment
· wage gaps

For more information and a deeper reference, check out…
http://www.answers.com/topic/women-and-the-work-force

This history of gender inequality/ male domination has not only been apparent in the United States, but globally as well. It is much more apparent in Asian cultures both past and presently, therefore that is where I will focus most of my attention. For example in the early years of China, there was this ideology that men were the dominate gender and that women were meant to serve and answer to men in all aspects of life. Chinese women were ripped from all their rights and equality and the men were responsible for the work outside the home. In this way, women were forced to rely on the dependency of men in regards to economics. This is ultimately how the men could further control their wives and family. When women were finally depicted in the workforce, it was because of the Opium War of 1840. The economy was down which forced employers to outsource to other groups of laborers that they could pay less and ultimately treat poorly. Women were taken from their homes and forced into hard labor such as textile, agriculture and industrial work. Although this was a harsh time for Chinese women, it ultimately gave experience for women to work outside the home today.

The links below provide in-depth looks on the ways in which early Chinese women were treated...

http://www.hyperhistory.net/apwh/essays/cot/t3w24womenchinap2kk.htm

http://acc6.its.brooklyn.cuny.edu/~phalsall/texts/chinwomn.html

The United State's culture ideologies of patriarchy and White supremacy shifts its way overseas in countries such as China. Over the recent decades, the United State's capitalist economy has resorted to outsourcing overseas in order to minimize labor costs and maximize profit. In the process, the treat women and people of color (minorities) poorly and unfairly. Over my next few blog posts I will continue discussing this issue.

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Introduction: Work Force Inequality

On my blog over the course of this semester I plan to discus poverty and inequality that minorities, especially women, face globally. In many poor countries minorities face much harsher treatment, however, although it is harder to recognize in the United States, inequality still exists. Along with that I hope to question why the things are the way they are, including what social factors contribute to such unfair and cruel treatment. I plan to recognize that women in the workplace are treated inferior and less competent than the dominate social group, white men, and because of that they are treated poorly in the workplace and paid less than men, ultimately lacking the ability to support their families.

Here is a link to a website that encompasses a pamphlet that has steered me in the direction I hope to take on this subject.
http://www.weforum.org/pdf/Global_Competitiveness_Reports/Reports/gender_gap.pdf

I am writing on this subject because as a woman I have sympathy towards other women who are lacking the respect in the workplace simply because of their gender and the social stereotypes that are attached to it. I want to expose the unfairness that continues throughout this world in order to inform others on this topic.

This topic connects to many of the themes that this class plans to discuss over the course of the semester. For example, the ways in which social inequality is perpetuated through social institutions reflect the economic inequality and the vision that lives are considered unimportant.

Throughout my discussion on this subject, I hope to not only get valuable information that can broaden my education, but to connect with other members in my class and share information with them. I will be pleased, because in this way I am not only learning, I am educating others which is what must be done in order to solve or at least help prevent inequality and discrimination in this world.