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Abstract

This research analyzes perceptions surrounding the social reality for women in poverty in Saudi Arabia (K.S.A.) to assist policy-makers in the creation of programs better able to help women in poverty. This study may be considered the first of its kind that includes Saudi women and foreign-born females in the K.S.A. In this study, poor women in Saudi Arabia were examined using the phenomenological approach. Using open-ended questions, in-depth one-onone interviews with the participants were conducted. The findings indicate that the reasons behind their situations include the following key points: (1) dependency on women’s traditional roles, (2) poverty relating to more structural attributes than individual factors, (3) less decision-making power, (4) intersection of gender, citizenship, and tribe status, including occupational status, stateless or non-tribes, education, and age, where older and less educated women experienced more poverty, and (5) financial assistance from SSD and other charities that is not sufficient to leave poverty.

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