Beyond sacredness: Why Saudi Arabian bioethics must be feminist

Abstract

At the core of Saudi Arabian bioethics' moral foundation is a strict reliance on religious scripture. This methodology is far from perfect; religious interpretations often lack sufficient moral analysis and intellectual engagement. Women are the most affected by this limited religious understanding, which is often influenced by entrenched patriarchal norms. In this paper, I argue that Saudi bioethics must shift from its current unreflective practice to a more contemplative understanding of Islamic texts. The Saudi women's movement-an effort that utilizes a methodology of religious textual reexamination to offer feminist understandings of Islamic values-is presented as a model for Saudi bioethics.