Saudi Arabia: Women social workers speak of field issues

Fatima Sidiya | Arab News

JEDDAH: Social workers complain about difficulties they face while touring around residential neighborhoods in search of families that need help.

According to two social workers interviewed by Arab News, the places these social workers — many of whom are women — must travel are faraway and sometimes dangerous.

“In some cases we have to walk for long distances,” said one social worker, who did not want her name published in the press. “In addition, many areas that we go to are extremely dangerous and it is risky to be there.”

The job entails investigating social assistance claims by individuals or families that have sought help from various charity organizations.

These investigators often interview applicants; women are sent to interview women.

There have been cases where young women hide details of their assignments as social workers from others because the idea of a woman traveling around doing this type of work would be frowned upon by society. Many of these women are volunteers, who might have been married or have jobs.

One woman doing this work said it would be helpful for volunteers to have some kind of official document that would “protect us in any dangerous situation and in case we are questioned by the police.”

She added that some kind of official document would help because when they arrive in remote villages, it tends to attract a lot of attention from the locals.

She also said some security details would help, too.