Beyond Women’s Empowerment in the Labour Force – A Study of Saudi Female Engineers

Abstract

One of the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 is to increase women’s participation rate in the labour force, and Saudi Arabia has introduced regulations that support women in the workforce. This study explored working women’s personal and social experiences, using phenomenology to understand these experiences through a cultural and historical lens. The research questions are as follows: What is the impact of legislation aiming to empower women at work in Saudi Arabia on both female employees and the workplace? What are the experiences of Saudi women studying and working in engineering? How does work-life balance play a role in their lives? To answer these questions, I conducted 20 interviews with Saudi female engineers and thematically analysed the data. Although the results are not generalisable, they provide insights into the participants’ lives. Most of the participants felt that government legislation has positively changed the norm in Saudi Arabia. As engineering faculties nationwide recently opened for Saudi female students, several participants were the first to study or work in engineering. Thus, some felt the need to prove themselves, possibly because of the gender quota system enabling the perception of women as less qualified. Finally, most participants believed that women are the primary caregivers, possibly increasing their burden. Future research can explore policies concerning paternity leave in Saudi Arabia to alleviate the burden on working mothers and should investigate mixed-gender university education to enhance communication, as well as the experiences of women who have changed careers or withdrawn from the labour force.