Date of Conferral

3-26-2025

Date of Award

March 2025

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Policy and Administration

Advisor

Lori Salgado

Abstract

In Saudi Arabia, the 2019 reforms to the guardianship system were implemented to grant women greater autonomy in areas such as education, employment, and travel. However, despite legal advancements, recent research shows that deeply ingrained cultural and societal norms continue to impact the full realization of gender equality, and a literature gap exists involving professional and educational contexts. The purpose of this research was to examine Saudi women’s perspectives on the 2019 guardianship reforms and explore how these changes have affected their higher education and employment opportunities. The study used Islamic feminist theory and the narrative policy framework as a lens to explore the research question of how Saudi women perceive the impact of the 2019 guardianship reforms on their professional and educational lives. This generic qualitative research used narrative and thematic analysis to examine 16 YouTube videos featuring 31 Saudi women of various ages. Six themes emerged: (a) reforms as a double-edged sword, (b) women’s empowerment and self-development, (c) increased female leadership, (d) community backlash, (e) the role of institutions, and (f) limited impact on empowerment. Findings revealed that while the reforms have legally advanced women’s rights, cultural and institutional barriers persist. Increased mentorship programs, public awareness initiatives, and stronger enforcement of legal protections can help to ensure reforms lead to tangible changes. The 2019 reforms have the potential to foster positive social change by enhancing women’s autonomy and opportunities in education and the workforce, and the results of this study show that overcoming cultural resistance, strengthening legal protections, and providing support systems for women might be necessary to ensure the reforms lead to full gender equality and empowerment.

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