Hijab and state feminism in Saudi Arabia : reform, resistance, and the illusion of choice

Abstract

This thesis interrogates the shifting politics of veiling in Saudi Arabia during the era of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (2015–2020), a time when the state sought to rebrand itself as modern and reform-oriented. The hijab, once strictly required as a religious and moral duty—along with the black abaya—has now been reframed as a matter of personal choice. But this apparent freedom raises deeper questions: Who is granted the authority to choose, and what are the socio-political implications of this perceived freedom? Using ideas from state feminism, Michel Foucault’s theory of power, and Islamic feminist views on agency, this study argues that state control over women has not ceased; rather, it has transformed in form and visibility. Instead of enforcing strict regulations and punishments, the government now seeks to promote national pride and ideas of empowerment, particularly in relation to women’s clothing. In the past, non-compliance with hijab regulations posed significant social and legal challenges for women, but now, if it aligns with the state’s desired image, she may be commended for taking it off. This study highlights a significant paradox in Saudi reforms by examining legislation, government media, and activist voices: whereas women are increasingly visible in public life, those who speak out on their own or seek actual rights are frequently silenced or even imprisoned. While women’s visibility is increasingly sanctioned by the state, their voices and political agency remain restricted. This research focuses on the actual experiences of Saudi women—those who wear the hijab, those who do not, and those who navigate between veiling and unveiling depending on social or spatial contexts—rather than reducing it to a simplistic symbol of either tyranny or freedom. Their choices are influenced by their need to live, adapt, and achieve moral balance in a strictly regulated society in addition to their religious or political convictions. This study returns attention to power in a society where governments, feminists, and international observers continue to debate the hijab. Who gets to define what it means to be visible, modest, or empowered? And whose bodies bear the consequences of such choices?