By: James E. Sellers, CPP - ASIS International Security Service Council Member Since 2008, President of Accion Security Consulting, LLC Atlanta, GAObservations from an expat on the increase of “Women in Security” in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
I have been working in and out of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia since 2010. I first came to instruct the Certified Protection Officer course for the International Foundation for Protective Officers (IFPO) at a major oil company’s security training center and now I am currently a Security Advisor helping build a “world class A” security department and guard force at a large petro/chemical company that is a twenty-five billion dollar joint venture.
When I first arrived I was told women security guards were only allowed to work post where the client population was female such as at a ladies university, women’s hospital wards or a ladies bank. Women and men bank in separate buildings with only same-sex tellers and loan officers.
I have noticed a major shift toward the use of females in security office positions and use as guards on post. I offer some of my observations of how things have changed since I arrived. My first observation was while working at a large Saudi based oil company that opened a fifty-three million dollar security training center in 2010. The training center had first in class design and construction. But despite the most modern and expensive planning and materials it was built without being fitted with a working ladies restroom, prayer room or ladies cafeteria. I was told in 2010 by a supervisor and staff members that women would never work in the security field at that company, so there was no need for the ladies facilities in the training center. They should learn to never say never because by 2012 a lady had been assigned to work in the building and the ladies restroom and prayer room were retrofitted into the facility. By 2013 there were two ladies working administration assistant jobs at the training center and at least one lady working in the security administration offices at the security operations headquarters. By 2014 she was considering and preparing to in the future become an ASIS International board certified “Certified Protection Professional (CPP) and was a feature speaker at the 2014 ASIS Middle East Conference held in Dubai.
The change to employing more “Women in Security” in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is slow but none the less has started! I believe it will soon continue at a more rapid pace now that ladies have their “foot in the door.” They are making female employees and customers feel safer and showing their value to security operations by being attentive to potential security breaches.
The move towards more “Women in Security” got a huge jump start by an ASIS International Security Service Council (SSC) member Ms. Sandi Davies who is also a former SSC Chair. Ms. Davies has been instrumental in the move to more “Women in Security” for many years with her work with ASIS and as the Director of the International Foundation of Protective Officers (IFPO).
She went to the Kingdom in 2009 and was involved in training the first class of female guards in the IFPO “Certified Protection Officer (CPO) ”course. International certification was offered by IFPO to the female students who were able to pass the tough examination.
Recently a second jump start occurred this year from a campaign by Saudi women on Twitter, the online social networking and micro-blogging service. I noticed a seemingly immediate change after the Twitter campaign by Saudi women. In the campaign women were asking for female guards to be used in retail areas. Some female sales ladies stated when they were harassed by a male customer they would rather report it to a female guard because they would feel more comfortable and more confident they would be taken seriously.
No disrespect meant when I use the use the term “Guard” instead of “Officer” but for now the term “Security Officer” is not used in the Kingdom, the term “Guard” is used but the most often term used is “Security Man.” I do hope in the near future the title “Security Officer” becomes the norm to address male and female security personnel.
Women in Security Operational Level
As stated I have noticed an immediate change after a Twitter campaign by Saudi women. In the campaign women working in retail establishments were asking for female guards to be used in the retail areas. Some female sales ladies stated that if they were harassed by a male customer they would rather report it to a female guard because they would feel more comfortable and confident the complaint would be taken seriously.
(Please read the article from Arab Times newspaper and you will see there is still some resistance to be overcome for utilizing more female guards.)
My observation directly after the sales women’s twitter campaign appeared to show an immediate response by a large global (Swedish owned) home goods store in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. The home goods store is one of the most popular shopping venues for both male and female shoppers. Of note is the significant importance of shopping in Saudi Arabia. Shopping is considered a major source of entertainment in Saudi Arabia since no mixed-sex music concerts, movie theaters, sports venues such as bowling or amusement parks are allowed. Within a week of the twitter campaign I began seeing two uniformed female guards stationed by the stores popular cafeteria at lunch time. These were the first female guards I have seen working in public location in Saudi Arabia. While female guards are used in public locations in other Gulf Countries for example at the malls in Bahrain, the UAE and Qatar, in Saudi they have up to now been limited to work only post where the client population was female such as at a ladies university or a women’s ward of a hospital.
Interview with a Female Guard
Recently I conducted a brief interview with one of the female guards at the retail home goods store using the assistance of a female coworker. By Saudi custom and law I am not allowed to engage in a personal conversation with an unknown or unrelated female. For this reason the interview had to be kept general and short.
It was explained to the female guard by my female coworker that I was seeking information on her job as a guard and how she liked it. She agreed to answer the questions so long as I didn’t use her name, as her family and supervisor would not like that. She was wearing a full length black Abaya – the abaya covers the entire body and the veil covers the head and hair. She also had a Nigab covering her face. The Nigab has a small slit open for the eyes. Over her abaya was a tan ¾ length security uniform jacket with a security patch on the shoulders to identify her as a guard (see the picture).
Although I could not see a smile because of her face covering I could see the pride in her eyes and those little lines that occur around the eyes when you smile. I could also detect from her tone and her verbal enunciation that she enjoyed her job and being asked about it.
The Interview
The brief interview provided the following information from the guard.
- Question: What brought you to a job in security?Answer: I needed work and saw the job advertised. I thought I like to be out in public so I will try it.
- Question: I know you need your father’s permission to work, was he supportive of the idea of you working in the security field?Answer: Yes my entire family was proud of my wanting to try the job and wear the security uniform jacket over my abaya.
- Question: How do the male guards treat you?Answer they are very respectful and treat me well.
- Question: What about the public? How do they talk to you or treat you.Answer many ladies come up and say I want to thank you for being here. Especially for watching out for the children’s safety. Some men show respect but sometimes when I tell a man that no shopping trolley’s (carts) are allowed in the cafeteria area they say “Why are you telling me what to do? You are not in charge of me. Some men have said why are you doing a man’s job? Your father should not allow this.”
- Question: Did you receive training for this job?Answer: Yes with the guards at the ladies hospital.
- Question: Should more ladies work as security guards?Answer Yes, I think they will enjoy having a job and looking out for people.
Comments on Female guards at the Retail Location
Some of my Saudi coworkers said the use of the female guards at the retail location would soon be reversed but I am happy to report they were wrong. This type opinion is common in the Saudi work place but is rapidly changing. These female guards have weathered any complaints. They seem very attentive and approach violators softly to get compliance. They are equipped with two-way radios to get any backup from male coworkers when needed. The two lady guards have been on this retail post at lunch time for over three months now! They have showed value. My guess is if they were replaced customers and store employees would miss their work and ask they be returned. When you consider the over all restrictions placed on women by the culture and law it this is a monumental accomplishment.
Progress is being made
I believe that the use of women in security will increase in Saudi Arabia due to the skills and talent the ladies have to offer the security field. Compared to the males applying for a security position many of the ladies are at least or more qualified many with university degrees and excellent English skills making them ideal guards and supervisors for public and retail locations where English speaking expats shop.
Secondly because is a shortage in the security workforce is due partly due to the law of the land requiring all security officers to be Saudi Citizens. Allowing women to work as security guards could fill the empty positions and help solve the high female unemployment rate.
Cultural Considerations toward more “Women in Security”
Breaking the Glass Ceiling
Considering the social and legal blocks to more women entering the workplace. Women that want to work and companies that want to hire them have an up hill battle breaking the glass ceiling.
There are limited numbers of available jobs for females due to cultural issues, for instance a female cashier would only operate a cash register for females or families that are shopping. An unaccompanied male customer would be required to go to a checkout line in a male area to make his purchase from a male who is most often an expat who works at a cheaper pay rate.
Currently when women are introduced to a work location the logistics have to be worked out just as they have been in other countries in the past. The logistics have to comply with the Saudi culture norms and current restrictive laws of the land. For instance transportation to and from work must be provided by the security company, this is an additional cost. The male security guards can drive themselves to work which in general makes it cheaper to employee them. Females are not permitted have drivers license to drive automobiles and must be accompanied by a family member or acceptable male driver when in public.
A complete list laws that are specific to women in Saudi Arabia are not within the scope of this article and would be a too lengthy and for this format but I should attempt to explain the over all cultural climate and types of restrictions women face in Saudi Arabia. Women don’t have the authority to drive a car, work out at a local gym, utilize a public pool, or wear beach attire while at the separate “families only” beach area. They must be accompanied by a male family member when outside their family home. Generally they are under the male guardianship of their father or other senior male family member Females cannot book a trip or travel without their father, brother or husband’s permission. The government has a notification system that sends a text to the male guardian if they arrive at the boarder or an airport for an international flight.
In Conclusion
From my personal observations there is no doubt a positive change has begun toward more woman being employed in the security field in Saudi Arabia. I commend the company where I observed the retail security females for the first time. By providing the opportunity for these female guards to enter the security workforce they are demonstrating a true commitment to employment equality. Their employees and the shopping public will reward them for their business leadership. I strongly encourage other companies to join in this move to have female guards work in public venues. I believe this change will be soon be supported by the business community’s need for increased numbers of reliable employees and the public’s request for more female security guards. Because of these first steps the growth of females in the security industry will multiply rapidly in the near future.
Some of the world’s largest security guard providers have a good size footprint in the Gulf States and particularly in Saudi Arabia. These companies have the experience employing woman globally in the security field. Hopefully as the public support for women guards increases these international security companies will see the value in hiring and training this huge newly available work force. Once the global companies set the example the other Saudi owned security companies will follow.
If the public continues to show it appreciates the added value of having the female guards on post in public and it becomes more of a common sight at retail and other locations security companies will be encouraged to find a way to factor in any additional cost. I encourage these global companies to put some thought into supporting this effort and being in the forefront of the movement toward more “women in Security.”
I am looking forward to the day when these new Saudi female guards are mentored by females in the vast global security community and become the future managers and supervisors of the inevitable coming wave of “Women in Security” in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia!
The below article is from the Arab-Times Newspaper. You will see the public has some mixed feeling about the use of females in security.
JEDDAH: RIMA AL-MUKHTAR ARAB TIMES Published — Thursday 6 February 2014
Several Saudi women have started a campaign on Twitter calling on shop owners to hire women as security guards.
However, not everyone agrees that women are capable of running after thieves or stopping men from harassing women.
“We are keen to have more Saudi women take up jobs in various sectors. There are already women in existing security jobs at universities, colleges and airports, so why not expand this and employ them at boutiques and shops,” said Salma Haddad, a saleswoman.
“This will be great for us because if we have a problem now we have to call the male security guard who will come into the shop to investigate. Working with a female security guard will make it easier for all of us,” she said.
Sarah bin Sahal, a retail manager at Nayomi, disagrees. “We usually depend on the security guards hired at the malls." She thinks it is "impossible" for women to work in these positions because female thieves at stores are usually accompanied by male members of their family.
“Women are not physically capable of dealing with these situations, running after thieves in malls, handcuffing them and then taking them to the management offices where only men work and can deal with the police and file cases,” she said.
Sarah said she supports hiring female security guards at malls only to search female thieves.
Mariam Amran, a stay-at-home mother, agrees with Sarah and argues that people tend to be more comfortable with men security guards at shops.
“I don’t think these jobs should be occupied by women because it is almost impossible to arrest thieves and take steps to charge them,” she said. “We women feel safe when we see security men, especially if we've been harassed at the mall. I wonder what a woman security guard would do if something like this happens. I don’t think she would be able to stop young men from bothering female shoppers,” she said.
Seba Ahmed, owner of an abaya shop, said hiring women security staff would be an added financial burden for her business.
“It was easier back when I had non-Saudi employees because they were paid less than Saudis,” she said. She said that since the Labor Ministry forced them to hire Saudis, many businesses have had to spend more money on salaries and transport costs to ferry workers to and from their homes. "Now this. I don’t think I can do it,” she said.
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