Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Graduate Theses and Dissertations Dissertations 2019 The aS udi Arabian bride shopping experience Wijdan Tawfiq Iowa State University Follow this and additional works at: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/etd Part of the American Material Culture Commons, Fashion Design Commons, Islamic World and Near East History Commons, Near and Middle Eastern Studies Commons, Near Eastern Languages and Societies Commons, and the Social Psychology Commons Recommended Citation Tawfiq, Wijdan, "The aS udi Arabian bride shopping experience" (2019). Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 17107. https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/etd/17107 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Dissertations at Iowa State University Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Iowa State University Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The Saudi Arabian bride shopping experience by Wijdan Tawfiq A dissertation submitted to the graduate faculty in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Major: Apparel, Merchandising, and Design Program of Study Committee: Mary Lynn Damhorst, Co-major Professor Eulanda A. Sanders, Co-major Professor Sara B. Marcketti Brian A. Burt Tera Jordan The student author, whose presentation of the scholarship herein was approved by the program of study committee, is solely responsible for the content of this dissertation. The Graduate College will ensure this dissertation is globally accessible and will not permit alterations after a degree is conferred. Iowa State University Ames, Iowa 2019 Copyright © Wijdan Tawfiq, 2019. All rights reserved. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF FIGURES ...................................................................................................................... v LIST OF TABLES ....................................................................................................................... vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ....................................................................................................... vii ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................................. ix CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................... 1 Significance of the Study ............................................................................................................ 2 Purpose Statement ................................................................................................................... 4 Research Questions and Approach ......................................................................................... 4 Limitations .................................................................................................................................. 6 Definitions of Terms ................................................................................................................... 7 Celebrations before the wedding ............................................................................................ 8 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW .......................................................................... 12 Definition of Culture ................................................................................................................. 12 Background of Saudi Arabia ..................................................................................................... 14 Islamic Faith .......................................................................................................................... 14 Culture ................................................................................................................................... 15 Culture in Hijaz Region ........................................................................................................ 16 Changes in Saudi Arabia ....................................................................................................... 17 Media Influence .................................................................................................................... 18 Saudi Consumers .................................................................................................................. 19 Marriage in Islam and Saudi Culture ........................................................................................ 21 The Saudi Wedding Process ................................................................................................. 23 Bridal Culture in Other Countries and Related Consumer Behavior ........................................ 27 Theoretical Framework ............................................................................................................. 28 Symbolic Interactionism ....................................................................................................... 30 Dramaturgical perspective. ............................................................................................... 31 Social Identity Theory ........................................................................................................... 35 Symbolic Consumption ......................................................................................................... 38 Extended Self. ................................................................................................................... 40 Social and Cultural Capital ................................................................................................... 42 Gaps in the Literature ................................................................................................................ 44 CHAPTER THREE: METHODS ............................................................................................. 47 Data Collection ......................................................................................................................... 48 Sample ................................................................................................................................... 48 Recruitment process. ......................................................................................................... 52 Interview Procedures ............................................................................................................ 53 Translation and data processing ........................................................................................ 56 Pilot study ......................................................................................................................... 56 Honorarium ....................................................................................................................... 57 Data Analysis ........................................................................................................................ 58 Trustworthiness ..................................................................................................................... 63 iii Credibility. ........................................................................................................................ 64 Consistency/dependability. ............................................................................................... 66 Transferability. .................................................................................................................. 66 Confirmability. .................................................................................................................. 67 Issues of Researcher Subjectivity ............................................................................................. 68 CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS .................................................................................................. 71 Narrative Inquiry: Participants’ Stories .................................................................................... 71 Abrar ..................................................................................................................................... 72 Atlal ....................................................................................................................................... 74 Balques .................................................................................................................................. 77 Batool .................................................................................................................................... 82 Baylassan .............................................................................................................................. 83 Eithar ..................................................................................................................................... 86 Fayha ..................................................................................................................................... 90 Nalah ..................................................................................................................................... 94 Norah ..................................................................................................................................... 97 Rania ..................................................................................................................................