In recent years, the discourse around women’s empowerment in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has gained remarkable momentum, reflecting both societal shifts and policy reforms aimed at enhancing gender equality. Notably, a pioneering study investigates the intricate psychological dimensions that underpin empowerment among Saudi women, distinguishing between those engaged in political roles and those who are not. This nuanced analysis provides critical insights into how different forms of empowerment interact with psychological well-being and self-perceptions in a transformative social landscape.
The research delves into the concept of psychological empowerment as a multi-faceted construct encompassing a woman’s sense of significance, impact, self-efficacy, and self-determination. These components collectively capture the inner experiences that fuel motivation and active participation in various domains of life. Importantly, the study contrasts how politically empowered women—which include those involved in governance, advisory councils, or political activism—and non-politically empowered women perceive their psychological empowerment, unveiling complex relational dynamics within the Saudi context.
At the heart of this inquiry lies the hypothesis that political empowerment is closely linked to enhanced psychological empowerment. This premise is grounded in theories of empowerment that emphasize empowerment as not merely an external status but an internalized psychological state that invigorates agency and purposeful action. The investigation aims to empirically examine this association, thereby contributing to a deeper understanding of the pathways through which empowerment influences women’s lived experiences in Saudi Arabia.
The study’s methodological approach involves a comprehensive assessment of psychological empowerment dimensions, grounded in established scales and adapted to the cultural specifics of Saudi society. By measuring four core psychological states—significance, impact, self-efficacy, and self-determination—the research systematically evaluates how political involvement correlates with these internalized feelings. This technical framework ensures that the insights are not merely anecdotal but supported by rigorous quantitative analysis.
One of the critical findings relates to the sense of significance—the feeling that one’s actions and presence matter within their community and society at large. Politically empowered Saudi women reportedly experience a heightened sense of significance, reflecting their roles as visible agents of change and leadership. This contrasts with non-politically empowered women, whose sense of significance might be tied more to familial or local spheres, highlighting the broadening impact of political participation on self-perception.
Similarly, the feeling of impact—the belief that one can effect change in their environment—emerges as a pivotal psychological indicator influenced by political empowerment. For politically engaged women, the belief in their ability to influence policy and societal norms is substantially stronger, reinforcing the feedback loop between empowerment and effective agency. This finding underscores the potential of political roles to reinforce women’s confidence in shaping public discourse and decision-making processes.
Self-efficacy, defined as the confidence in one’s capacities to achieve specific goals and overcome obstacles, also shows notable variation between politically empowered and non-politically empowered women. Engagement in political activities appears to bolster self-efficacy by providing opportunities for skill development, public speaking, negotiation, and strategic thinking. These competencies translate into a more robust internal belief in personal capabilities, which is a key predictor of proactive behavior across life domains.
The fourth dimension, self-determination, reflects the degree to which individuals feel autonomous and in control of their choices and actions. The research indicates that political empowerment enhances this sense of autonomy among Saudi women, allowing them a greater degree of freedom to define and pursue personal and collective objectives. This enhancement of self-determination is particularly significant in a society undergoing rapid cultural and legal reforms, where new forms of agency are opening up to women.
Beyond statistical correlations, the research situates these psychological dimensions within the broader socio-political context of Saudi Arabia. The Vision 2030 reforms, including expanded rights in employment, mobility, and political participation, provide a backdrop against which women’s empowerment is evolving. The findings resonate with these reforms, illustrating how structural changes translate into altered psychological states, indicating a positive shift in women’s self-conceptions influenced by their political engagement.
The study also contributes to empowerment theory by empirically validating the interplay between external empowerment—such as access to political roles—and internal psychological states. This duality challenges simplified notions of empowerment as solely external or internal, suggesting instead a dynamic relationship where each dimension reinforces the other. For policymakers and civil society actors, this insight is invaluable in designing interventions that foster both structural inclusion and psychological resilience.
Methodologically, the research’s comprehensive assessment advances the measurement of empowerment in contexts where cultural nuances shape women’s experiences uniquely. By tailoring psychological scales to capture culturally relevant aspects of significance, impact, self-efficacy, and self-determination, the study paves the way for more culturally sensitive research frameworks that can be adapted globally to diverse empowerment environments.
The implications of these findings extend beyond academic discourse. For Saudi women, enhanced psychological empowerment correlates with greater participation in civic life, higher educational attainment, and improved mental health outcomes. Politically empowered women can serve as role models and catalysts, creating ripple effects that encourage other women to pursue leadership and advocacy roles, thereby promoting gender equality at multiple levels of society.
This research also highlights challenges, such as persistent traditional social norms that may limit the psychological empowerment of women outside political domains. Addressing these challenges requires integrated strategies that combine legal reform with community engagement and awareness-raising to shift perceptions and foster inclusive environments conducive to all women’s empowerment.
Furthermore, the study underscores the transformative potential of empowerment initiatives when they are grounded in psychological realities. Efforts to increase women’s political representation, for example, are not merely about numbers but about nurturing qualities such as self-efficacy and self-determination that have enduring impacts on women’s life trajectories and societal participation.
In conclusion, the intricate relationship between political empowerment and psychological empowerment among Saudi women reveals how socio-political reforms resonate within individuals’ internal worlds. This multidimensional understanding enriches the global discourse on women’s empowerment by providing a detailed case study of empowerment dynamics in a rapidly evolving cultural context.
As the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia continues to redefine gender roles and empower its female citizens, studies such as this offer crucial evidence that empowerment is both a psychological and political phenomenon. It is this dual empowerment that holds promise for sustainable progress toward gender equality and inclusive social development.
This pioneering research not only offers a roadmap for future empirical inquiries but also inspires practical interventions aimed at harnessing women’s full potential as leaders, change-makers, and architects of their own destiny within evolving socio-political landscapes.
Subject of Research: Psychological empowerment of politically and non-politically empowered Saudi women
Article Title: Psychological empowerment of politically empowered Saudi women
Article References:
Moubarak, H.F.A., Afthanorhan, A. Psychological empowerment of politically empowered Saudi women.
Humanit Soc Sci Commun 12, 517 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-04610-8
Image Credits: AI Generated
