Saudi Cultural Missions Theses & Dissertations
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Item Restricted NAVIGATING BARRIERS: WOMEN'S CAREER ADVANCEMENT IN SAUDI ARABIA POST-VISION 2030(University of Birmingham, 2024-09) Bakadam, Lina; Cai, MinjieThis dissertation investigates the barriers to women’s career advancement in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in particular, within the context of economic and social changes driven by Vision 2030. The introduction highlights the importance of understanding these barriers as the Kingdom aims to empower its citizens and diversify the economy. The methodology chapter explains the systematic approach to extracting data, quality assessment, and thematic analysis of current literature, uncovering main themes to understand the career advancement of women. The findings emphasise the persistent challenges women encounter, which include cultural expectations, gender disparity, and a lack of support within the workplace. While there is a gradual improvement to empowerment, women remain challenged by a complex landscape of organisational and societal challenges. The discussion chapter integrates the findings with relevant theoretical frameworks, providing insights into recommendations for future research and practical implications targeting the enhancement of women’s role within Saudi society.19 0Item Restricted Prevalence and Risk Factors of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) Infection in Saudi Arabia: An Extended Literature Review(SWANSEA UNIVERSITY, 2024-09-21) AlKhuraym, Nasser; Pockett, RhysAbstract The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a considerable public health risk worldwide, including in Saudi Arabia, where around 358 women are diagnosed each year, resulting in 179 fatalities due to HPV-related malignancies. More than 10.7 million women aged 15 and older are susceptible to HPV infection and its related malignancies. The prevalence of HPV among women in Saudi Arabia is estimated at 2.5%, with HPV-related malignancies constituting 72.4% of cases in the region. Sexual practices constitute a significant risk factor for HPV infections. Aim This comprehensive literature analysis seeks to evaluate the prevalence of HPV and its notable risk factors in women aged 12 to 40 years in Saudi Arabia. Methods The review methodology adhered to PRISMA recommendations, emphasising inclusion criteria for papers containing primary and secondary data for individuals at risk for HPV. The review utilised the POE framework for database searches, extracting data from 8 electronic databases, including Educational Research Information Centre (ERIC), Academic Search Complete, PubMed/Medline, Google Scholar, Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), SCOPUS, Science Direct, and Web of Science. The CASP critical appraisal technique was employed to evaluate the risk of bias in the selected studies. Results Eleven papers fulfilled the inclusion criteria, with 90% being cross-sectional and one being a cohort study. The prevalence rates of HPV in Saudi Arabia varied between 5.9% and 31.6%. Principal risk factors encompassed insufficient understanding of HPV vaccination, the knowledge of healthcare providers, and sociodemographic variables. Identified effective strategies included educational programs, regular HPV screening, and focused public health initiatives. Conclusion The review finds that HPV is a complex concern with diverse risk factors shaped by regional and sociodemographic variables. Additional investigation is required to examine the influence of sexual behaviours and sociodemographic factors on HPV transmission. This will facilitate the formulation and execution of public health policies to enhance HPV prevention and health outcomes in Saudi Arabia.11 0Item Restricted CULTURAL IMPACT ON SELF-EFFICACY OF DIVORCED WOMEN AND THEIR ATTITUDE TOWARDS MARRIAGE IN AL-AHSA, SAUDI ARABIA(UNIVERSITI KEBANGSAAN MALAYSIA, 2024) Almuthaffar, Nouf khaleed; Lyndon, Novel AnakABSTRACT The increasing rate of divorce in Saudi Arabia has become a social problem that has weakened the cultural values, the social relationships of Saudi families and affected not only divorced women but their children as well. Hence, this study explored the socio- demographic profiles of divorced women in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia as well as the impact of cultural factors on the self-efficacy of divorced women. The impact of divorce on the social relations of Al-Ahsa children is also discussed in this study. The study also examined the attitudes of divorced women towards the institution of marriage in Al- Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. The theory of feminism was applied as a theoretical framework in this study. The study used qualitative data collection techniques based on a case study approach. Both purposive and snowball sampling techniques were used to select informants. A total of eighteen informants comprising divorced women, parents, children from divorced families, academics, and social leaders were selected for in- depth, face-to-face interviews. Thematic data analysis has been used to analyze and interpret data. The findings showed that divorced women experienced emotional emptiness, had self-esteem problems, and were very depressed by the status of widows labelled by society. This situation clearly shows that the cultural impact faced by Saudi women is related to social, economic, psychological, and legal challenges in family and marriage institutions. This study also found that the self-efficacy of divorced women is particularly affected by women who are fully dependent on their husbands, especially in terms of finances. In addition, the vast majority of divorced women in the study still believe that they can remarry, do not give up hope of getting a better life, and believe in the role and function of marriage as an institution. This study concludes that the impact of divorce on women's self-efficacy is high in Al-Ahsa Saudi Arabia due to traditional cultural views on male and female roles and gender inequality. The implication of the study is that female-friendly intervention programs are needed to help divorced women adapt to the needs of life that are within the social structure of society.9 0Item Restricted Entrepreneurship dynamics for women entrepreneurs' inclusion in emerging markets: a case study on Saudi Arabia(University of Glasgow, 2024-05-16) Alzahrani, Eidah; Keston-Siebert, Sabina; Gordon, JillianThis study explored the ways in which institutions affect women that either support or hinder their entrepreneurial endeavours and considers how women can leverage these institutions to their advantage. Few studies have focused on women entrepreneurs' interactions in their local economic and social contexts (Cavallo et al., 2018). This study explores the role of institutions in women's entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia amidst COVID-19 and post-pandemic. The data collection for this study utilised multiple methods including: conducting interviews with (31) Saudi women and (6) institutional representatives; remote observation of entrepreneurial events and document analysis. A thematic analysis approach was adopted to examine the data and identify recurring patterns and themes within the discussion. This research examines the intricate relationship between institutions and women's entrepreneurial activities. Through analysing how institutions can influence and be influenced by women, this research has uncovered the potential for mutual benefits and opportunities that exist within this dynamic. The study utilises complementary frameworks integrating institutional impact and identity play as theoretical lenses with a ‘multi-level model’ (McAdam et al., 2019) and ‘do context framework’ (Baker and Welter, 2020) to gain a better understanding of how entrepreneurs interact with their contexts. This study makes a crucial contribution by emphasizing the pivotal role that women entrepreneurs have in shaping society, offering invaluable insights, and acting as a catalyst for empowering women in the field of entrepreneurship. The decisions they make, the risks they take, and their resilience in the face of challenges are influenced by beliefs, faith, self-worth, confidence, tenacity, self-awareness, risk-taking, adaptability, autonomy and independence, determination, and self-empowerment. Such attributes serve as the defining characteristics of their entrepreneurial journey. The importance of institutional influences is highlighted by the constantly changing environment in which these women operate, thus illustrating their significance. By examining the connection between women and institutions in the field of entrepreneurship, this research provides valuable insights of the complex mechanisms that influence women's interactions and highlight the transformative power of women entrepreneurs to shape institutions and society. Thus, through the development of a multidimensional theoretical framework, it illustrates the continuous interaction between entrepreneurs and their environments in a continual cycle. Through this, women have influenced family, cultural norms and institutional policies in subtle ways. The study describes bidimensional process influences and leverages their contexts to make entrepreneurial decisions, providing a framework for further research.38 0Item Restricted THE SOCIAL AND CULTURAL FACTORS INFLUENCING WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP: KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA(Lincoln University, 2024-03-30) Alatawi, Manal Farhan; Ali, Dhakir AbbasThe study aimed to explore the social and cultural factors influencing women's empowerment in entrepreneurship in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in light of Vision 2030. A survey was utilized as a tool for statistical analysis and was distributed among male and female entrepreneurs in Riyadh. The study found that educational and training services significantly impact the empowerment of Saudi women in entrepreneurship, followed closely by income improvement and women's sense of importance and status. Additionally, cultural factors and media also play crucial roles in empowering women in entrepreneurship. Legal challenges, customs, and traditions were identified as factors influencing women's empowerment in entrepreneurship. The study recommends enhancing dedicated educational and training services for women entrepreneurs, focusing on skill development, business management, and financial literacy. It also suggests implementing policies and initiatives to improve income opportunities for Saudi women in entrepreneurship, such as access to funding, business networks, and mentoring programs. Furthermore, it advocates for promoting the status and role of women in achieving social development and entrepreneurship through awareness campaigns and gender awareness programs, recognizing women's contributions. Leveraging media platforms to portray successful women entrepreneurs as role models and promoting inclusivity in entrepreneurship is also encouraged. Finally, fostering open dialogue and challenging customs and traditions that hinder women's empowerment in entrepreneurship is essential, aiming to create a more supportive environment for Saudi women13 0Item Restricted Gender and intersectionality: Understanding and Addressing Women's Mental Health and Mental Health Policy within the Cultural Context of Saudi Arabia(University Of Glasgow, 2024-02-06) Alghamdi, NadiaAhmed Alhamd; Melville, CraigBackground: Intersectionality concerns the interconnected nature of social categories (e.g., race, gender, age, education) and how these ‘intersect’ to produce privilege and oppression. In the current context, this helps to understand women's mental health in socially disadvantaged positions, especially how intersections among gender inequality and factors such as socioeconomic status contribute to women’s mental health inequalities and experiences. Yet this remains an under researched area. This study’s overarching aim concerns understanding Saudi Arabian women’s mental health disorders, risks, challenges, and issues. For this, it has three objectives: to review the effects of intersectionality on this group within extant quantitative literature; to identify and explore the significant interactions among variables relating to this population’s social disadvantage and mental ill-health (e.g., gender and the risk of depression); and to analyse Saudi Arabia’s current mental health policy and gender equality. This study’s more specific aims involve furthering understanding of the effects of content, context, and actors behind mental health policies and programmes on Saudi women to help address their mental health needs. It takes the form of three studies. Study 1. This systematic review investigated quantitative methods used to study the intersectionality of multiple social disadvantages in women with common mental disorders. It reviewed studies on the intersectional effects of gender with multiple social disadvantages from the PROGRESS-Plus inequity framework and examined the quantitative methods these studies employ. The most common and means of studying intersectionality in mental health studies in the included studies was statistical interaction analysis. Other methods such as multilevel modelling and mediation decomposition analysis were also used. These robust statistical methods facilitate research on intersectional effects on mental health and improve understanding of the complex intersection of gender and other social disadvantages concerning women’s risk of common mental disorders. Study 2: This study analysed the National Survey of Saudi Food and Drug Authority dataset, a nationally representative sample of individuals aged 18–88 in Saudi Arabia (3,408 participants: 1,753 males and 1,655 females). Evaluating variable risks of depression using the PHQ-2 screening questionnaire, it found significant correlations between depression risk and the variables of gender, education, family income, and employment status. Although a subsequent multivariate analysis found the only significant predictors of depression risk to be female gender and education below the bachelor level. No interaction effects were observed, implying an additive effect of gender and education on the risk of depression. Study 3: This study analysed Saudi Arabia's mental health policies and gender equality. Using Walt and Gilson's health policy analysis framework, it highlights the need to address gender inequalities in the country's mental health policies. It provides evidence-based mental health policy recommendations relating to women in Saudi Arabia about enhancing their mental health and well-being and establishing an equal health system. Conclusions: Examining women’s mental health through an intersectionality lens can help policymakers address Saudi Arabian women’s mental health issue . To reduce inequalities, advances must be made in women’s education, training, employment, socioeconomic status, access and participation, equality, and overall independence. However, this must take place within a wider targeted and tailored reform agenda (legal, policy, political, PR, cultural, religious, economic, careers, educational) within which women must actively participate. Urgent inclusive, deep, and far-reaching intersectional initiatives, adjustments, research and reforms are needed to elevate Saudi women’s circumstances, experiences, and mental health and thereby address the current issue and ultimately improve society overall.41 0Item Restricted "Oh misery!": Wordsworth's Representation of Female Wanderers in Lyrical Ballads(Saudi Digital Library, 2023-11-23) Alomari, Mona Qlayel; Watt, JimThis dissertation explores Wordsworth's experimental representations of women in light of the marginalized experiences they are compelled to undergo. They are represented as having marginalized identities, indicating how female figures are far from gaining an acknowledgment of their humanity and sympathy for their suffering from society. These images refer to the poet's purpose of challenging his readers ethically by posing questions that are hard to answer. In this study, I find it appropriate to analyze the intertextual reading between the poems due to its significance in highlighting Wordsworth's poetic genius that depicts women in an innovative and experimental approach. Chapter 1 focuses on how the female character Martha Ray in "The Thorn" is portrayed as a gothic subject with an eerie existence. The aim is to demonstrate how males' prejudiced beliefs against this female figure dehumanize her. In Chapter 2, I explore the protagonist's voice in "The Mad Mother", which is represented in a dramatic monolog depicting a disordered mental state with an excessive maternal passion. This leads readers to a deceptive perplexity, prompting them to question their biases against those with mental disorders. Chapter 3 explores "The Complaint of a Forsaken Indian Woman". This poem presents the titular character as a figure with a universal human instinct to live rather than suffer stoically. The poem introduces the Native American culture as barbaric and degraded because it ignores the sufferings of women. Therefore, these poems throw up questions rather than merely provide easy resolutions, thereby encouraging readers to critically consider an ethical response to these issues.13 0Item Restricted In Between(2023-06-01) Baamer, Ethar; Blazer, LizIn Between is a three-minute, 2D animated film about a girl who struggles to find her true self. In Between focuses on one woman’s journey of self-exploration as she separates into multiple versions of herself in her search for her true identity. The film begins in reality and then journeys to various dimensions of consciousness, unconsciousness and the in-between.30 0