Saudi Arabia commits to more gender equality in science

The Future Women Society establishes the legitimacy of women in the scientific world 

Lately, Saudi Arabia has multiplied progress and advances in the field of gender equality. In October 2020, the Future Women Society (FWS) of Saudi Arabia was established and has already launched a research, innovation and development unit to empower women in various scientific disciplines.

 

Indeed, while the place of women has become much more legitimate in many professional sectors such as business, technology or arts, their role in science is still too weak even though this sector “is the basis for the creation of new sciences and the realization of sustainable economic growth, as well as the strengthening of international competition and the creation of new industries” according to Dr. Gareebah Al-Twaiher, president of the association. 

This organization, aiming to raise awareness of the role of women in society, and to strengthen their capabilities in all fields, has a clear objective: to focus on the optimal investment of women’s knowledge and human and financial resources in order to achieve comprehensive and sustainable economic value and growth… 

Initiatives more common than we think

Let’s recall that in recent years, the role of women in Arab society has been evolving and more and more organizations are trying to establish their legitimacy in all fields. 

In recent years and through the country’s 2019-2020 renaissance plan, Jordan has strengthened its commitment to gender equality and the social and economic empowerment of women. 

New strategies for women are now being actively developed through the Jordanian National Commission, encompassing both the government’s vision for women’s empowerment and national plans that address the various areas of gender equality. To this end, the Jordanian government is committed to providing women with a combination of financial resources and technical assistance that will ensure these commitments. 

But Jordan and Saudi Arabia are not the only countries determined to make a difference in this area. In Egypt, the National Council of Women of Egypt, the only governmental body dedicated exclusively to the issues and concerns of Egyptian women, has been established and its chairperson is a scientist named Maya Morsy. 

Historically, Egypt was the first country in the world to launch its national strategy for women by 2030.