Inclusion is in the Eye of the Beholder: A Relational Analysis of the Role of Gendered Moral Rationalities in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Saudi Arabia’s economic objectives outlined in Vision 2030 have led to a significant increase in women’s participation in the workforce. By applying a relational lens on inclusion theories, we offer insights from women’s experiences of actively negotiating their inclusion in response to societal and organisational contexts as part of the first generation to enter the workforce. Our analysis of 56 interviews with Saudi Arabian working women reveals how women negotiate tensions between labour market participation and societal gender ideals. Applying the concept of gendered moral rationalities to capture the complexity of the interplay between women’s gender roles and work roles, we identified three orientations: traditionalists, pragmatists and trailblazers. Drawing from our findings, we emphasise the necessity for current theories of workplace inclusion to extend beyond organisational efforts and focus on ways individuals actively negotiate workplace inclusion in the broader societal context.