The experience of female academics in Saudi Arabian universities

Alsalman, Asmahan Ibrahim Y.

Abstract

This PhD thesis explores the lived experiences of women professionals as represented by female academics and how they negotiate their working lives/careers in the social and cultural context of Saudi Arabia. My study is motivated by a desire for self-reflection, as I seek to comprehend who I am and how I see myself, as I tell the stories of my research subjects as well as mine, through stories – biographical/autobiographical narratives. I consider myself a voice of my subjects since they cannot get their stories out to the world. I have adopted a qualitative approach, using unstructured interviews as my data collection tool. I engage 20 women in a university in Saudi Arabia in a conversation in which they tell me their life stories by way of narratives, which I analyse using thematic analysis underpinned by reflection and reflexivity.
Findings show that societal structures and systems serve a dual effect by aiding some organisational restrictions on women but paradoxically also acted as a mitigant, a relief from those same restrictions. While women are denied certain basic privileges, class, family name, hierarchy, social connectedness, tribal affiliation and even marriage meant that some women were more privileged than others. Also, certain groups of women of specific social identities were more likely to face discriminations of a deeper level than others. In all cases, however, ultimately a woman needed to depend on a male figure to achieve anything; what was considered successful and the limits thereof were subject to male authentication.
This thesis extends knowledge in area of organisation studies/gender in organisation by first revealing how gender relations, female subjugation and patriarchy might be experienced in different cultures and why and second, putting forward propositions for applicable culture and context specific considerations which can enhance the cross-cultural applicability of gender theories in a country like Saudi Arabia.

Citation

Alsalman, A. I. Y. (2021). The experience of female academics in Saudi Arabian universities. (Thesis). University of Hull. https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4922454

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Nov 22, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 8, 2025
• Keywords: Organizational behaviour; Human resources
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4922454
• Additional Information: Organizational Behaviour & HRM; Faculty of Business, Law & Politics; University of Hull
• Award Date: Feb 7, 2021