The Development of Women’s Rights in Saudi Arabia: The Public Reaction to the Changes

Abstract

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is currently witnessing a transformation in its social, economic, and political structures that has not been seen since its initial founding in 1932. These major changes are ongoing to meet the objectives of the Kingdom’s Vision for 2030. Over the past few years, Saudi has made notable advancements in the field of women’s rights due to the latest expansion of social reforms introduced by the de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The recent changes have shown the government’s willingness to carry out socio- economic liberalization for all. However, there is an internal debate. As the reforms caused an obvious shift in the Saudi way of life, and these noteworthy modifications have had an effect on citizens both socially and psychologically. While some Saudis are embracing this fast- changing way of life, other conservative members of society are fearful of a potential erosion of public morals and commonly held traditions. In light of the above discussion, the goal of this paper is to examine and document the ongoing development of women’s rights in the Kingdom, along with the public’s reaction towards it.