The impact of culture and social norms on female employment in Arab countries in general and Saudi Arabia in particular: based on quantitative and qualitative evidence

Alotaibi, Dalal Masoud (2023) The impact of culture and social norms on female employment in Arab countries in general and Saudi Arabia in particular: based on quantitative and qualitative evidence. Doctoral thesis, University of East Anglia.

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Abstract

This thesis investigates the role of social and cultural norms on female employment considering behavioural economic theories in addition to the standard economic theories related to labour supply and human capital framework. This relationship between social and cultural norms and its impact on females’ employment is explored both at a macro and a micro level. At the macro level, differences in female labour force participation (FLFP) rates are explored empirically, considering countries that have similar religious and cultural background but have different rates for the FLFP; these countries are the Arab and non-Arab Muslim majority countries. At the micro level, the role of cultural norms and their link with FLFP rates is explored both qualitatively and quantitively, with specific reference to the context of Saudi Arabia. The first study in this thesis investigates the factors influencing FLFP. Results shows that diversity in religion has a strong positive association with FLFP. Results also show that, within Arab countries, countries with high oil dependence and displaying high level of social conservatism, are associated with lower FLFP. The second study investigates barriers faced by non-employed Saudi females toward their employment decisions. The study provides evidence that social norms established by the influence of male guardians; social norms manifested through the preference for working within female-only environments; social and cultural norms represented by responsibilities for caring for children and housework, are the most important social barriers faced by those non-employed females. The third study uses experimental vignettes as a research tool to employment decisions. Results show that Saudi males and females tend to assume that their personal preferences are in line with other participants, which could be a possible justification for their personal preference. Results show that nearly half of the females in the sample changed their personal preference from working in a Single Gender Work Environment (SGWE) to a mixed gender working environment when they were told that other females’ preferences are different from their own. The fourth study is an additional contextual study complementing the other substantive studies. This study can be considered as testing the temperature in regards attitudes toward females’ employment and hence, evidence on the informal institution that impact females’ employment in Saudi Arabia. It presents and evaluates policies and reforms implemented to enhance Saudi females’ employment. The evaluation is conducted in light of the findings from the interviews and vignettes studies. The thesis suggests the need to institutional changes affecting the formal as well as the informal institutions to reach effective polices enhancing females’ employment.

Item Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Social Sciences > School of Economics
Depositing User:	Nicola Veasy
Date Deposited:	11 Jul 2024 11:04
Last Modified:	11 Jul 2024 11:04
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/95877
DOI:

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