About women?

Question

I need some informaion for an essay I am writing, so I would appreciate your help with the next few things.
I cannot really understand, reading the answers here, is it an obligation for women there to cover their hair or not? People usually say it is, but then some people mention some cities in which they say it isn't and there are also few of them who say that it is obligation only to cover legs and hands?
Also, what about working for women in Saudi? What percentage of them attends university? What occupations do women choose most often and what percentage (at least roughly) of them work?
I know that Islam accepts divorce, but what about society? How does the society act towards a woman that is divorced, if her husband asked for divorce? What about child custody?
Can a woman really get a divorce if she wants that?
I heard that very few people have two or more wives today. Is that true (percentage, if possible)?

I want to thank to A N, John K, cat_k00tah, ahmadaa85 and Satan for all your great answers. It is very difficult to choose the best one, as all of them helped to get a picture.
Karimashraf911, I don't see why my question would be and how it could be ignorant when I only asked about facts.
Fatima, please, think again who the moron is. Reported for an offensive and disrespectful answer.

Answer 1

In Saudi all women have to cover there hair in public places, i.e. streets, stores, restaurents...In Private they are free, some for religious reasons choose to cover their hair in private when non-family male members are in the presence of the woman. In Saudi the woman have to cover hair and all body parts except for their hand and feets. In other Arab countries that no law for women covering up except in Iran (which is a Muslim country not Arab).
Currently more and more women are educated in Saudi. They are educated in Girls only institutions they can't be in the presence of a male instructor (he does a tele conferance).
Soceity is more open to divorce than in the past. Here the backgound of the involved partners will have an effect on how the soceity look at the divorced woman. If they are from a conservative background, the woman will be discouraged from divorcing. If she divorced it will kind of the end to her social life. Some woman don't like their husband to be around divorced women. Few women work since a lot start families early on. The average age in Saudi for both male and female is low. It is typical for girls to get married when 18.
Eventhough Islam allows divorce, but in currentley (male dominated) soceities, it is very easy for a man to divorce his wife. Simply says I divorce you and go to civil office/Clerk to fill paper. Than all done. Now there are some laws allowing women to get divorce if they give up all their rights. If not than she has to ask her husband to divorce her and has to be willing to do it. If not she can file a lawsuit which can very long.
Child custody in Saudi typically is for the father (as he is the one who have the money and works). If not the parent can come to an agreement.
Islam (which governs the civil laws in Suadi)allows men to have up to 4 wifes, but there is a trick ONLY IF THEY CAN BE JUST. Meaning that if they buy one candy than they have to do the same to other, if they have sex with one than have sex with others. It doesn't have to be on the same night but allocate same amount of time etc. Than God said and you won't be able(to be Just). Therefore not really allowed. But again in Male dominated soceities people read and understand what they really want. So, in Saudi it is Ok to have up to 4 wifes.

I hope I helped you some. It is such a big and open subject . Good luck

Answer 2

look mate. This is only in Saudi Arabia not in other Arab countries so don't think they're all alike. Everyone calls Saudis primitive people living 1000 years in the past which is true.

Over there women don't have to cover their heads nor faces, just wear that black thin robe that's all. Co-education is not common at all. People are 100% sexist.

Divorce is a very disturbing topic in Saudi and should not be mentioned. They do their laws AGAINST Islamic laws and regulations trust me i've been there so many times and have relatives who've lived there over 20 years.

Women cannot work at private firms only at government firms and in complete quarantines that no male can see or interact with.

i have no idea why you're making an essay about KSA, why not write something about Beirut or Cairo or DUBAI!! those are civilized Arab Muslim cities in the Mid East

Answer 3

1st; women in KSA have to cover with a certain robe called Abaya + cover their hair.. although these days it becoming more open that covering the hair is optional
and about the differences in the cities, there are some cities here which are more open than others meaning their people ofcource are more open
2nd; you are talking about a country which didnt even exist 100 years ago so its going through new proses and structures
there are universities and getting more with years passing by women here can work in lots of fields
most of them choose what they wanna do and mostly bankers and doctors
3rd; divorce is a big issue every where every society would prefer there people not to get divorced for the children's sake but if you cant live any more then the people are OK with it the only problem that most divorcees find that they wont get married soon cuz alot of the guys prefer a girl with no experience
4th; women or men have the right to ask for the divorce
and yes having more than 1 wife is less these days than 25 years ago

Answer 4

First of all, it is a part of Islamic religion for a woman to cover her hair. And about the debate that she should cover her face or not you should research "Feqh" books for more information. This is the religious part of the "hejab" or the head cover. Saudi societies are different with the hejab issue. Some are more conservative than the others.
I would say as a general answer for your question that the women issues are different in different Saudi societies. Some socities are so rigid with the women issues and others are wrongly open. But people are getting better with women. I can say that in some socities women are the happiest among all of the women in the world (seriously).

For more aqurate info you should do surveys by your self in the middle of Saudi people. Dont beleive what the media say about us.

Finaly, some quick answer for some of your question based on my society.
A majoroty of women attend universities. They work mostly in teaching and medicine. Some of them work in IT and administration. But most of them retire early.
Divorced women respected and becomming more accepted. The child custody is determind by the judge depending on the surcumstances.
Yes a woman can get a divorce if she had a reason.
Men are alload up to 4 wifes in Islam. Not a pleasent fact for women :). Most of men have one wife.

sorry I didnt give any percentage since it is diffecult to guess.
hope I helped and happy to give further info.

Answer 5

First of all don't confuse Islam with Saudi Arabia, Islam says that a woman should cover their hair. it is however a custom for Saudi women to cover not only their hair but their faces as well.
But that is only a custom not required by Islam. In Saudi Arabia women are slowly being allowed to work , Mostly Doctors, Nurses and teachers but they are slowly being integrated into the workforce, they rule however is that they must work apart from men. Not that many of them work yet unless their is a family business but the younger generation is demanding more equal opportunities that the previous ones did and that will change.
Islam does accept divorce in some circumstances but it is more difficult that it is in the Western countries to obtain. In Saudi Arabia there is still a stigma attached to a divorced women and she needs the permission of her family to get a divorce I think.
A women gets custody of the children usually until they reach puberty at which time the father may take custody.
There are some Saudi's that have more than one wife, but I think economics alone limits that somewhat. I hope this helps, you can email me if there is anything I forgot.

Answer 6

Your question is a very complex one to answer but I will give it a shot. First, I assume you are thinking in terms of Saudi Arabia. That is good because I lived and worked there for 23 years.
As an American who had many Saudi friends, both male and female, and discussed at great length the questions you have asked, I can probably give you something you can use.

There is no RELIGIOUS obligation for a woman to cover their hair. There IS a religious obligation for a woman to cover her "beauty" from the eyes of men not in her immediate family (read husband, children, parents, and siblings). That obligation has "evolved" into including hair, and in many places in the Muslim world, the face.

Women working in Saudi Arabia is limited to the medical and education field, at least for a Muslim woman and especially for a Saudi woman. There are Muslim women who work for the national airlines and also in retail shops and banks that are for women only. Other than that, it isn't a "land of opportunity" for female workers or professionals.

Many Saudi women have a university degree and that number is rising all the time. Most attend university in the Kingdom and attend classes made up of female professors and female students. It is rare for a female Saudi to attend classes outside the Kingdom because of the co-ed classes, but some do. That is usally predicated on the requirements of the student to acquire specialized knowledge that isn't available otherwise.

As to multiple marriages. There are very few Saudis that have more than one wife. The reason is actually twofold. First is religious, strangely enough. Islam holds that you may have more than one wife - PROVIDED - you treat each wife exactly the same and show no favoritism of any kind. That can get to be a very expensive proposition both financially and emotionally (no humor intended). The other reason, is that most Saudi women really don't want to share their husband and most men don't want more than one wife. I would guess that the percentage of Saudis that have multiple wives to be less than 15%. It takes a very wealthy man to be able to do that. The men I have talked to have said, laughing, usually, that they see no valid reason to compound their "problems" with having more trouble than they really want. I can understand their feelings very well.

As to divorce. Yes, there is a social stigma attached to a divorced woman. Once divorced, a woman usually moves back home with her family and will very rarely remarry. The children will almost always go with the father as Saudi culture is a patriarchical society. Most Saudi men would have nothing to do with a divorced Saudi woman, not to mention the man's family.

I hope this gives you something to work with.

Answer 7

op, in ISALM women have to cover their heads and body as well, some told that she has to cover her face too, but the most clear is that women should cover their body all, the order of God, and mentioned in Holy Quraan, not you, me or any one would discuss this issues and ordered,
Islam give human freedom and all the love with peace life, degnity and honsety
Now, some people dont activate in isalm in good way, women work, go out alone, but some parents/husband, do nt like that they are free to do that or not, no one force them to let their women go out or work, it is hounore matter......
in syria we have a huge number of working women, she is now in parlement and minsters too , and vice president of the repeublic. Dr Najah alattar,
divorce is in islam, but it is the last item in the solutions list, god express the hate of divorce, but if they cant life any more together they should divorce friendly and peacfull
but if the divorce happen, women are accepted in society as normal person,
i dont know percentage,
i sitll insist that you shoul dlive there in our society not to read all from the internet....

Answer 8

Saudi Arabian Women Rights and under the Saudi Arabian Tradition: For further details, link to this web:
http://www.geocities.com/saudiwoman2001/women.html

Answer 9

ew..why these ppl with no lives would give you such long answers is BEYOND ME! ahahhaahha losers go get a life!!!

Answer 10

ignorant