The making of a good woman : analysing children’s narratives on female gender identity and role in pre-school Saudi Arabia

In this research, I explored young girls’ (4 – 6 years) perceptions of female identity and role in in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Exploring the ways in which their gender identities were interpreted and manifested in narratives and stories to identify and analyse the influences, apparent ideologies and discourses that affect female gender construction in pre-school children in the KSA. The data was gathered through a multi-method approach using observations, story-telling, picture prompt cards, group interviews, drawings and annotations thus giving children ‘multiple modes of expression’. My research took place in a particular cultural context and I created a book that relates to the prohibition of females to ride a bicycle in public in the KSA. I analysed the data and interesting results emerged that included aspects such as normative gender roles, children’s criteria of permissible and nonpermissible behaviour and attitudes. The results of my research and analysis highlighted the fact that female gender is often constructed through fear and restrictions. It also emerged that young girls in the KSA are required to navigate between two worlds to maintain a female gender identity role that is accepted. One world, where they are expected to show all the attributes of femininity and beauty and the other world, where they are required to develop a strong sense of ‘self-control’ to be ‘a good girl’ who complies with the societal confinements and restrictions on their female body and mobility. In the KSA, young girls’ identity and role as a female are constructed by society through a rigid gender framework controlled through moral heteronomy and male power.

Grantor dc:publisher

Oxford Brookes University

Year dc:date

2019

Author dc:creator

• Al Zahrani, Mona Shanan

Contributors dc:contributor

• Alexander, Elise
• Wild, Mary

Statement dc:rights

• All rights reserved

Language dc:language

en

DOI dc:identifier

https://doi.org/10.24384/29cm-p191

OAI identifier oai:identifier

tle:a264a699-9293-47be-b777-f12d019072c8:d6bd9758-527a-46cd-bfe2-c433766e8fca:1