analyzing women’s identity
Introduction Women identity
Identity is a heterogeneous concept that encompasses how one’s belief systems include; personal attributes, pride, honor surrounding interacts with those of the society, and the membership one is attached to, like culture, religion, and ethnicity. In the efforts of women to express and negotiate identity. One has to look back in the past and reflect on the position of old generation women were given; such role they were limited to, and responsibilities that were tagged towards their gender identity of family and domestic chores with little or zero economic boost.
Before the advancement of technology, women’s identity has been suppressed with decisions aligned to social-cultural factors, geopolitical factors, and religious factors. These factors meant that women did not have autonomy in places of work, in pursuing education, political voice, and regrettably in their physical identity in marriages. At the moment, there struggle for identity negotiation amidst these barriers is spearheaded by women who want to see gender equality. Several research works have been done to point out varying women identity negotiations at within the Saudia women with the following analysis; Don't use plagiarised sources.Get your custom essay just from $11/page
Research methodology
The research methods deployed in analyzing women’s identity are based on an inductive research approach where observations have been purely evident of the position women have held in society. Journiette (2014), looking back in time, Saudi women were treated primarily as mothers and wives. This specific observation is made in comparison with other women in the western countries who are within a social surrounding that is less harsh. The research is conducted majorly focused on a personal interview with these women. Through this, they can express their own experiences.
A bottom down analysis through the deductive research approach reveals how the general group of women in the society tries to negotiate for their identity, through shared experiences, the quest for social and workplace inclusion. The ideology of feminism is growing, where the topic of equal opportunities for both genders in all aspects of life is always emphasized. The fight against socio-cultural factors and political ideologies that infringes on the process of women identity negotiation is highlighted. Narrowing to the specific personal identity for the modern woman. The researches point out technological advancement where digital media platforms have been used to reinforce women’s identity and liberation from the 18th and 19th-century oppressions (Alqahtani, 2012).
Since earlier research work installed little efforts in women’s positions in areas of the wok, the qualitative method of research has been to address this gap. This helps realize the place the current woman hold in relation to the older generation, which was limited in terms of economic development. A clinical example of the Saudi women are now seen to be self-expressive and offered more economic empowerment in a society that once shattered such dreams.
Research questions
Research questions are structured and developed using the Ego Identity Process Questionnaire (EIPQ). The research questions are predominantly set to assess the women’s self-sense of importance and self-esteem. Questions were based on their exploration in terms of experiences such as; how they interacted with each having the different educational backgrounds and cultural upbringing. How they pushed through economic barriers and overcoming the gender norms, which is shows male-domination in the business sector (Alshoaibi, 2018). How economic empowerment has caused social change for women identity in their places of work (Alqahtani, 2012).
Research samples
The research sample is purposive to establish the critical socio-cultural, political, and religious factors that have been used to slow down women’s identity over time. Several pieces of research have been done, though limited in their findings, to illustrate what derails the efforts of women identity in the Saudia (Alqahtani, 2012).
They are also directed to address women in the current situation where social change is evolving, but women are still hesitant in self-expression. In contrast, others are perceived as passive in this new social order.
Results and findings
According to Guta and Karolak (2015) women are in the forefront of institutionalizing full women identity at different capacities though faced with challenges of exclusion in high ranking work opportunities with others reporting gender-stereotyping in family duties that are
The idea of self-expression by these women during an interview under a conducive environment; where they feel secure from being coerced by political or religious conservatives would allow them to share all aspects of identity that have been deconstructed.
Researchers would have an in-depth analysis of the interviewer’s perception of self-importance, future aspirations, which commonly miss in the society that is not based on promoting women’s identity. Importantly, women interviewed would present their experience of the segregated gender roles, their co-existence in relationships with family and friends during the interview. Women would prefer to have their privacy within the discussion of promoting identity development and negotiation, with reports of them having several social media accounts for engaging friends and families.
Conclusively, identity negotiation and development is a continuous process and is one that never stops. The advancement of technology continues to help promote these efforts, but the subject is yet to be fully realized, especially in states where religious and political decisions are tangled together.
References
Alshoaibi, M. (2018). Identity Negotiation, Saudi Women, and the impact of the 2011 royal decree: An investigation of the cultural, religious, and societal shifts among women in the Saudi Arabian Public Sphere (Doctoral dissertation, Duquesne University).Retrieved from https://dsc.duq.edu/etd/1729
Guta, Hala, and Karolak, Magdalena (2015). Veiling and Blogging: Social Media as Sites of Identity Negotiation and Expression among Saudi Women. Journal of International Women’s Studies, 16(2), 115-127. http://vc.bridgew.edu/jiws/vol16/iss2/7
Journiette I.B. (2014) Negotiating Identity in the Kingdom: A Conversation with Five Young Saudi Arabian Women about Identity Development and Expression. The University of Uppal.
Rajaa Taha Alqahtani (2012).Social Change and Women’s Work across Three Generations in Abha, Saudi Arabia Department of Sociology Faculty of Arts and Human Sciences University of Surrey.