Parenting Practices in Saudi Arabia: Gender-Role Modeling

Abstract

Information presented in this chapter addresses the cultural practices of parenting in the context of Saudi Arabia. This chapter starts with an overview of the historical and sociocultural context of the country. Family values and traditions are a central organizing part of the Saudi family. Values such as religion and the family-oriented culture are especially important in shaping the parenting practices. Bandura’s social learning theory and Bem’s gender schema perspectives are the theoretical foundation of this chapter. This chapter presents gender-role modeling as one of the parenting practices in Saudi Arabia and explains two of the desirable child outcomes, namely, Al-Birr (obedience to the parents’ orders) and Al-Wali (a male who provides protection to his family, especially females, children, and the elderly). Younger Saudi generations seem to have more modern views about gender roles, yet these gendered child outcomes are still culturally valued. Parenting practices are deeply rooted in the Arabic culture and Islamic traditions. The lack of empirical research that addresses the parenting practices and gender-role modeling in the Saudi context was one of the challenges in writing this chapter. Future research should explore the theoretical argument of this chapter and continue to explore the unique experiences of parenting in Saudi Arabia. To avoid the risk of making inappropriate generalizations, this chapter was written from the author’s position. The author grew up in a Sunni Muslim, tribal-background, lower middle-class household in an urban area of Jeddah city, Saudi Arabia.

Glossary

Al-Birr

“The Birr toward parents entails obeying their orders, expect when that orders is in disobedience of Allah” (“Meaning of Birr toward parents,” 2012). This includes taking care of them and fulfilling their needs and interests, and they must be accompanied by the offspring, even if they are not affiliated with Islam (“Meaning of Birr toward parents,” 2012).

Uquq

“Uquq entails neglecting parents and withholding one’s kindness from them” (“Immense hurting of one’s parents Uquq,” 2018). “Uquq against parents pertains to unfulfilling their needs and requirements that are within their rights, while Birr pertains to fulfilling these needs and requirements. Therefore, if the parents or one of them order their offspring to do something, it is necessary to obey their order as long as what they order does not contain disobedience (of Allah)” (“Immense hurting of one’s parents Uquq,” 2018).

Al-Wali

Wali is an Arabic word that means the “custodian” in English. It refers to a near male relative whom it is unlawful to marry because of the close blood relationship, which includes but is not limited to fathers, grandfathers, great-grandfathers, sons, grandsons, brothers, and stepbrothers. The Al-Wali should provide protection to his family (“Al-Wali,” 2018).

Welayah

A word that means giving the authority to a male over female relatives. It is also another word for guardianship. It is the system in which the Wali practices the Welayah (“Al-Wali,” 2018).