Patriarchal Beliefs and Conventional Understanding of Family Honor as Obstacles of Women Empowerment

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the effects of patriarchal beliefs as measured by women's inferiority and domestic role and traditional understanding of family honor on the attitudes toward women empowerment in Saudi Arabia. A proportionate sample was selected to administer the questionnaire. About 1400 responses were received and analyzed. A regression model was applied to test the relative effects of each variable. The findings reveal that beliefs in women's inferiority have the highest negative impact on the attitudes of women empowerment. Understanding family honor and beliefs in domestic role of women also have low negative effects. The other significant variables were gender (women have positive attitudes), exposure to media (positive) and family social status. Patriarchal beliefs affect attitudes toward women empowerment than the understanding of family honor. Religiosity, age, and family economic status have no significant relation with the dependent variable. The findings confirm the results of various observations and research based on empirical evidence that is lacking in these studies and observations. From the findings, it can be said that any social reform to empower women must be complemented with efforts to change traditional beliefs to ease the transition and avoid social rejection of such changes.

Received: 4 June 2024 / Accepted: 31 August 2024 / Published: 05 September 2024