Saudi Arabian women believe education is an important measure for their advancement and the growth of a significant professional middle class in the Kingdom, according to the findings of a study conducted by Women without Borders, a Vienna-based international non-governmental organization (NGO). Despite persistent stereotyping of Saudi women that they stay at home, an overwhelming percentage of women surveyed – 78 percent – said they considered a successful career as part of their life plan, said Dr. Edit Schlaffer, Chairperson of Women without Borders and co-author of the study titled “Bridging the Gap”. The study took one-and-half years to complete. About 4,455 men and women university students of an average age of 21, from across the Kingdom, were interviewed. A total of 83 percent of the males surveyed also wanted women to pursue careers, it was found. A majority of the Saudi population, both male and female, want to promote women's status in Saudi society, she added. The findings of the study completed in 2006-07, revealed that 44 percent of Saudi women believed that within the next five years there would be substantial changes in the Kingdom with regard to women's access to work and other public spheres of life. She said 80 percent of the Saudi women said they want to pursue a career after graduation. The Saudi women not only want a job but want to pursue a career in their life. However, a high unemployment rate presents a real problem, she said. “Only slightly over one third of men and 21 percent of the women interviewed expect to find a job after graduation,” Schlaffer said. The study was introduced last week in the British House of Lords and was also presented at the recent Westminster University's panel discussion on Saudi Arabia, said Schlaffer. Dr. Ulrich Kropiunigg, co-author of the study said the interest for the study arose after Europe was confronted with Muslim ideas and thoughts that were new to the people living in that part of the world. It was the primary reason that drove Women without Borders to conduct a study on Saudi Arabia, which is the center of the Islamic world, he said. Women without Borders has also launched a campaign called SAVE – Sisters Against Violent Extremism -- that was aimed at finding out what gave rise to violent behavior by people described as militants, said Schlaffer. As part of the campaign, mothers of Jihadis were targeted. But surprisingly, it was found that mothers of Jihadis were living in “self-denial” because they failed to voice concerns, even though they knew their children were moving in the wrong direction, she noted.
