Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

Saudi Arabian women’s contributions to literature and feminism are relatively unknown in the United States. Aisha, a graduate student from a conservative Saudi family, experiences culture shock due to the differing cultural landscapes between Saudi Arabia and the United States. Student engagement varies, requiring hospitality and tourism practitioners to support individuals like Aisha in alignment with the personalized approaches advocated by scholars. Despite her achievements, Aisha may need assistance with coursework and extracurricular activities, as she faces potential challenges that could affect her academic journey and aspirations. Aisha brings valuable diversity to the Hospitality and Tourism major, offering unique insights from Saudi Arabia that can inspire innovative solutions in the U.S. hospitality and tourism industry. Identity development is crucial for college students, especially for Saudi Arabian women. These women are shaping the future of education and contributing significantly to their communities. Their leadership and commitment underscore the importance of fostering an inclusive environment that empowers all students, regardless of background or origin. Living and thriving in the United States requires resilience and adaptability. As educators, we can foster moral growth by encouraging dialogue, empathy, and understanding.

Keywords

intersectionality diversity feminism hospitality and tourism empowerment higher education U.S. college environment academic challenges culture shock Saudi woman

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

AllahMorad

(2020). Education in Saudi Arabia. WENR. https://wenr.wes.org/2020/04/education-in-saudi-arabia

Badran

(2013). Feminism in Islam: Secular and religious convergences. Simon and Schuster.

Chamas

(2024, March 6). Why Muslim women cover their hair with a hijab and the importance of modesty in Islam. ABC News. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-06/house-of-gods-exploring-hijab-islam-muslim-women/103376332

Chickering

A. W.

Reisser

(1993). Education and identity (pp. 43–52). Jossey-Bass Publishers.

CityNews. (2018). Saudi women exercise their new right to jog. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEtbcXWZtsE

Edwards

(2008). International engagements: The characteristics of international students’ engagement with university. Australian Survey of Student Engagement, 2, 1–9.

Garcia

H. A.

Villarreal

M. D. L.

(2014). The “redirecting” of international students: American Higher Education Policy hindrances and implications. Journal of International Students, 4(2), 126–136.

Gottschalk

Greenberg

(2018). Islamophobia and anti-Muslim sentiment: Picturing the enemy. Rowman & Littlefield.

Graham-Harrison

(2019). Saudi Arabia allows women to travel without male guardian’s approval. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/01/saudi-women-can-now-travel-without-a-male-guardian-reports-say

10.

Hamdan

(2005). Women and education in Saudi Arabia: Challenges and achievements. International Education Journal, 6(1), 42–64.

11.

Handal

(2015). The poetry of Arab women: A contemporary anthology. Interlink Books.

12.

Kang

H.-K. S.

(2010). Cultural citizenship and immigrant community identity. LFB Scholarly Publishing.

13.

Kim

(2012). An alternative theoretical model: Examining psychosocial identity development of international students in the United States. College Student Journal, 46(1), 99–114.

14.

MacAri

D. P.

Maples

M. F.

D’Andrea

(2005). A comparative study of psychosocial development in nontraditional and traditional college students. Journal of College Student Retention: Research, Theory & Practice, 7(3), 283–302.

15.

Macias

(2016). Saudi women studying in the United States: Understanding their experiences [Dissertation]. https://athenaeum.uiw.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1027&context=uiw_etds

16.

Martin

J. N.

Nakayama

T. K.

(2022). Intercultural communication in contexts (8th ed.). McGraw–Hill Education.

17.

Mishra

(2007). “Liberation” vs.“Purity”: Representations of Saudi women in the American press and American women in the Saudi press. The Howard Journal of Communications, 18(3), 259–276.

18.

Patton

L. D.

Renn

K. A.

Guido-Dibrito

Quaye

S. J.

(2016). Student development in college: Theory, research, and practice (3rd ed.). Jossey-Bass.

19.

Peek

(2005). Becoming Muslim: The development of a religious identity. Sociology of Religion, 66(3), 215–242.

20.

Stewart

J. R.

Logan

(1998). Together: Communicating interpersonally. McGraw–Hill.

College Student Development: A Case of a Saudi Woman’s Experience in a Hospitality and Tourism Graduate Program in the United States

Abstract

Keywords

Get full access to this article

References