Student Research Projects

The Status of Women in Jordan and Saudi Arabia the Differences and Their Causes

Student Name(s)	Sarah McDermott
Faculty Mentor(s)	Dr. Laura Landolt
Department	Political Science
Course	POLS 499

Abstract

My research on the status of women involved reading interviews and first-hand accounts of women's lives in Jordan and Saudi Arabia. Translated copies of constitutions and legal code also provided insight on personal status laws and women's rights in each state. In researching the differences in women's status in Jordan and Saudi Arabia, I discovered several possible causal factors. Although both countries are Arab and Muslim, and despite their close proximity to each other, the historical background and establishment of each state varied dramatically, resulting in different political and legal systems, and very different outcomes for women.