Rodina Maamoun hired 19 young women to work in stores selling women's accessories, almost entirely replacing male employees AFP/FAYEZ NURELDINERIYADH: Like thousands of Saudi women, Rouaa al-Mousa entered the workforce as reforms sweep the ultra-conservative kingdom and is certain that neither grumbling male bosses nor the coronavirus will change that.
"I wanted to do my best during my studies so that I could get a job in academia afterwards, because that was the best option available for us. But big changes happened during the past four years," she told AFP. An oppressive"guardianship" system also gave male relatives the right to object to the women's professional aspirations.
Despite being frustrated by the lockdown, which has forced her and hundreds of thousands of others to abandon their offices and work from home, Dakhil is confident that women across the country will continue to pursue careers. Saudi saleswoman Sarah Al-Dosari, 23, works at a clothing store run by three women at the Panorama Mall in the centre of Riyadh.But this attitude has been consigned to history, she said."Now customers say they are proud of us."