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The women of Saudi Arabia

More and more, women are becoming college educated and entering the workforce in Saudi Arabia, but they are running into the walls of tradition in the workplace, as well as elsewhere outside of their homes.

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Oct. 8, 2012

Zainab al Talib, left, assists legal consultant Tala al-Hejailan at the law offices of DLA Piper in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Hejailan has a law degree, but she cannot practice law in Saudi Arabia, which does not grant licenses to women. So, she practices as a legal consultant in an office that segregates women from men. But she's one of the lucky, highly educated Saudi women with a job in their intended field.

Linda Davidson / The Washington Post

A young Saudi woman in her 20s shops for dresses on the women’s-only level at Kingdom Centre Mall in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. On the women’s-only level, female store employees and shoppers can take off their face and hair coverings without being seen by men. Unless designated as a women's-only area, most shopping in Saudi is staffed by men. Businesses in general, with the exception of hospitals, either have all-male employees or have segregated workplaces and businesses.

Oct. 2, 2012

A young Saudi woman in her 20s shops for dresses on the women’s-only level at Kingdom Centre Mall in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. On the women’s-only level, female store employees and shoppers can take off their face and hair coverings without being seen by men. Unless designated as a women's-only area, most shopping in Saudi is staffed by men. Businesses in general, with the exception of hospitals, either have all-male employees or have segregated workplaces and businesses.

Linda Davidson / The Washington Post

Women and men are segregated by a movable barricade in ordering food at Kingdom Centre Mall in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Women and men are segregated in public places unless they are accompanied by a blood relative or husband. Banks, food outlets and office buildings often have men's entrances and women/family entrances.

Oct. 2, 2012

Women and men are segregated by a movable barricade in ordering food at Kingdom Centre Mall in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Women and men are segregated in public places unless they are accompanied by a blood relative or husband. Banks, food outlets and office buildings often have men's entrances and women/family entrances.

Linda Davidson / The Washington Post

Saudi men are reflected in the mirrors of the al-Faisaliyah viewing level that overlooks the expansive city of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Oct. 8, 2012

Saudi men are reflected in the mirrors of the al-Faisaliyah viewing level that overlooks the expansive city of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Linda Davidson / The Washington Post

Saudis stroll on a pier over the Red Sea in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Sept. 25, 2012

Saudis stroll on a pier over the Red Sea in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Linda Davidson / The Washington Post

A tram takes students through campus at Princess Nora Bint Abdul Rahman University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The school is the first women's university in Saudi Arabia. All the school are darkened for privacy, and covered walkways assure that women are rarely seen outside of university buildings on campus.

Oct. 1, 2012

A tram takes students through campus at Princess Nora Bint Abdul Rahman University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The school is the first women's university in Saudi Arabia. All the school are darkened for privacy, and covered walkways assure that women are rarely seen outside of university buildings on campus.

Linda Davidson / The Washington Post

The administration building at Princess Nora University. King Abdullah approved the creation of the women's university, which comprised 32 colleges.

Oct. 1, 2012

The administration building at Princess Nora University. King Abdullah approved the creation of the women's university, which comprised 32 colleges.

Linda Davidson / The Washington Post

A glass mosaic mural in honor of King Abdullah hangs in the gymnasium at Princess Nora University. The university has 37,000 students.

Oct. 1, 2012

A glass mosaic mural in honor of King Abdullah hangs in the gymnasium at Princess Nora University. The university has 37,000 students.

Linda Davidson / The Washington Post

A two-tiered multipurpose court and a running track at Princess Nora University.

Oct. 1, 2012

A two-tiered multipurpose court and a running track at Princess Nora University.

Linda Davidson / The Washington Post

The swimming pool at Princess Nora University.

Oct. 1, 2012

The swimming pool at Princess Nora University.

Linda Davidson / The Washington Post

Student housing at Princess Nora University. Walls add even more privacy from view, and the female students take closed-in walkways and trams to academic buildings.

Oct. 1, 2012

Student housing at Princess Nora University. Walls add even more privacy from view, and the female students take closed-in walkways and trams to academic buildings.

Linda Davidson / The Washington Post

On-campus faculty housing at Princess Nora University.

Oct. 1, 2012

On-campus faculty housing at Princess Nora University.

Linda Davidson / The Washington Post

Covered walkways between buildings shelter female students from sight at Princess Nora University.

Oct. 1, 2012

Covered walkways between buildings shelter female students from sight at Princess Nora University.

Linda Davidson / The Washington Post

Tahany Omar, 36, has a masters of business administration from Shenandoah University, but she has found the job market in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to be challenging.

Oct. 10, 2012

Tahany Omar, 36, has a masters of business administration from Shenandoah University, but she has found the job market in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to be challenging.

Linda Davidson / The Washington Post

After months of applying for jobs in her field in Riyadh, Omar worked briefly for an insurance company before going to an investment firm. She is a compliance officer, a job somewhat related to her MBA but not in management.

Oct. 10, 2012

After months of applying for jobs in her field in Riyadh, Omar worked briefly for an insurance company before going to an investment firm. She is a compliance officer, a job somewhat related to her MBA but not in management.

Linda Davidson / The Washington Post

Omar believes King Abdullah supports education for women but his views are not filtering down into the hiring process in her country.

Oct. 10, 2012

Omar believes King Abdullah supports education for women but his views are not filtering down into the hiring process in her country.

Linda Davidson / The Washington Post

A family enjoys a picnic in the desert of Thumamah outside Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Families come out around sunset when the heat dies down and eat, build a fire and people-watch at the dunes. Younger men also are attracted to the area, watching all-terrain vehicles and other four-wheel-drive vehicles rip through the desert. Other than watching TV, using the Internet or cruising the shopping malls, most Saudis have few forms of entertainment in their country. Men are typically employed, but women are not, even though they may have college educations.

Oct. 4, 2012

A family enjoys a picnic in the desert of Thumamah outside Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Families come out around sunset when the heat dies down and eat, build a fire and people-watch at the dunes. Younger men also are attracted to the area, watching all-terrain vehicles and other four-wheel-drive vehicles rip through the desert. Other than watching TV, using the Internet or cruising the shopping malls, most Saudis have few forms of entertainment in their country. Men are typically employed, but women are not, even though they may have college educations.

Linda Davidson / The Washington Post

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