Male / Female Relationship in Pre-oil Saudi Family

Abstract

Poverty and scarcity of resources in the Arab Peninsula before the discovery of oil, obliged all family members: males and females to work inside and outside their homes. But they had never recognized their contributions to family subsistence as “ work” maybe because it was not paid, and they did not own any property. Marital relationship in traditional Saudi society was based on a dominant / subordinate relations. Women were expected to show great respect to their husbands. Men`s supremacy was unquestioned issue in Saudi culture. Women believed that men should come first in everything. Saudi women were brought up to believe that the good wife should be obedient and respectful for her husband. Women did not have one status in pre-oil society. A woman`s status was determined according to her family status, the number of children she had, her age. Married women had higher status than unmarried ones. Elderly women had higher status than young ones.