Challenges facing Saudi working women in travel agencies and banks

• Published in: African journal of hospitality, tourism and leisure Vol. 9; no. 1
• Main Author: Norah Basheer Alotaibi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: AfricaJournals 01.01.2020
• Subjects: banks; gender disparity; islamic society; kingdom of saudi arabia; travel agencies
• ISSN: 2223-814X

This study aimed to identify the challenges facing Saudi women are that working in the travel agencies and banks by focusing on the self, social and organizational challenges. This study also aimed to find out suitable proposals to reduce the challenges facing Saudi women working in the travel agencies and banks. This study was a descriptive and analytical study based on the field data collection and analysis and linked to the studies and literature related to the subject of the study. The study was based on the social survey methodology by use of samples. A questionnaire was used to collect the data applied to a sample of (350) workers in the travel agencies and banks in Riyadh. Several results represent a cognitive and realistic framework that can be put in front of planners and decision makers represented in the most important challenges facing Saudi women working in the travel agencies and banks, which are self- challenges, including the feeling of psychological and family insecurity. As a result of conflict between the requirements of the family and work, the social challenges are the negative view of the work for the women in the work generally carried out by men. The society does not accept the nature of mixing at work because of the cultural heritage of some Saudi families. Furthermore, in some cases, working in a place that allows mixing of sexes, and the existence of some customs and traditions that impose a lot from the social criticism stemming from (custom) and not religion, which makes women weak in addressing this and the organizational constraints are the lack of nursery to care for the children of workers, and the length of working hours. The lack of application of the social insurance system in some travel agencies and banks and the reduced level of wages provided, as well as the inflexibility of the current work systems impose severe constraints on women and they are unable to achieve for themselves and exploit their full potentials and to overcome these challenges. Proposals are made to reduce the obstacles, and there is the most important review of regulations and legislation and laws on women's work in the travel agencies and banks, which represents some restrictions on women in society. Saudi Arabia does not contradict the provisions of Islamic law, spreading the culture of women 's rights and the correct negative mental image about them and strengthens their developmental position in Saudi society.