Lancaster University Management School - 54 Degrees Issue 12

SOLIDARITY IN ISOLATION In this fi rst stage, the women felt self- empowered through becoming entrepreneurs. After which, they take quiet and direct action, supporting individual women in their communities without collective organising or visible activism. This takes forms such as providing women-only o ffi ce spaces, onsite day-care, and safe transport to and fromwork. In 2019, theMale Guardianship Lawwas removed , which meant women no longer needed their guardian’s permission to work, but many bosses do not want problems with a woman’s husband or father. Rania*, an accountant who became self-employed after her guardian called her boss and prohibited her from working, told me: “I can employ women whose guardians do not like them interacting with men at work. [This] gives them a chance to learn, evolve and be fi nancially independent.” Elsewhere, Salma* set up a nursery on her premises, with all fees paid; and Karma* hired a driver and a mini-van to transport employees between work and home, avoiding issues of them travelling alone or with strangers. Even with women now allowed to drive, the change in mindset and culture will take longer to become embedded, and these changes brought about by women entrepreneurs show how their rage and frustration at the current system is followed by a desire to connect with other women. FROM SOLO-DARITY TO SOLIDARITY Moving to the next stage, the women begin using their entrepreneurial platform to raise feminist consciousness within their networks. Deena*, a fashion designer, helps her employees travel outside Saudi Arabia, having been prevented from doing so by her ex-husband. In 2019, the Guardian’s permission to travel restriction was lifted, but again the tradition remains engrained in society. Deena also has an entrepreneurship blog reaching out to other women: “I just want women to believe in themselves and see me and think, ‘if she can do it, I can do it’,” she told me. Maram*, a fashion designer and boutique owner, has led a ‘revolution of colour’, selling colourful abayas (cloaks) for Saudi women to wear. This silent activism against the culture of Saudi women wearing black, could in fl uence other women. Over recent years, and in a massive change to deeply embedded traditions, it has become acceptable for Saudi women to wear colourful abayas. This may not have been an organised movement, but the individual actions of those such as Maram contributed to an increasing feminist consciousness and a subsequent collective agency for social change. FROM ENTREPRENEUR TO POLITICAL ACTIVIST The fi nal step sees the women engaging in political change, confronting authorities who refuse to support their business a ff airs, and lobbying for women’s employment laws. Even, in Ameera’s* case, becoming a member of the King’s Consultative Council. In 2013, the late King Abdullah issued a royal decree granting women 30 seats in the Shura Council , as members. He decreed that women should always hold at least one- fi fth of its 150 seats among the consultative council. In 2015, women were able to vote and stand as candidates in the 2015 municipal elections, and Ameera, a business consultant, has been a member ever since. This was unthinkable a decade ago Amal* has owned a successful chain of retail outlets since the 1990s, but she was not allowed in government building to deal with paperwork. One day, she went to the government building and took down the sign that said ‘no women allowed’ and went in, invoking the King’s advocation of women in the workplace. After that, the sign was removed, and her form of activism – not without substantial risk – was rewarded. Five of 16 women I interviewed discussed lobbying the government for policy change to support women’s work and entrepreneurship. Salma*, a company MD, lobbied for policies to remove the need for women to have a male manager: “I fi nd it ludicrous that I cannot say I am the MD.”; and Budour*, a furniture store owner, continued e ff orts in supporting the development of sexual harassment laws and policies to protest women at work. In both areas, there have been subsequent legislative changes. A PATHWAY TOCHANGE Through their entrepreneurship, the women have a legitimate platformto execute solidarity practices in a place where activism is illegal. They are able to stand up to authorities when their business operations were hindered, lobby the government for policy changes to support women entrepreneurs and employees, and overall, provide opportunities for other women. They used their privileged positions to bring about social and political change, and, while the process is slow, their activism is no less important for it. *Names have been changed for security and ethical reasons. Dr Sophie Alkhaled is a Senior Lecturer in Entrepreneurship in the Department of Entrepreneurship & Strategy, with research focusing on the intersectionality of gender, entrepreneurship, empowerment and poverty alleviation. The paper Women’s entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia: Feminist solidarity and political activism in disguise? i s published in Gender, Work & Organization. s.alkhaled@lancaster.ac.uk FIFTY FOUR DEGREES | 9