Some Progress to Report for Saudi Women

[housewolf]

There is potentially some good news here coming out of Saudi Arabia (finally!).


...
The past two weeks has quietly seen a flurry of small steps toward greater rights for women in the kingdom. Last Monday, January 21, it was reported that the Saudi government had ruled to permit women to stay in hotels without the presence of a male guardian, effective immediately. On the same day, government officials also confirmed that a decision had been reached to remove the ban on women drivers, with a decree to that effect to be issued before the end of 2008. ... Also, on Tuesday, January 29, it was revealed that the Saudi Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs has approved the establishment of the first women's rights organization in the kingdom, to be known as Ansar al-Mar'ah (patrons/supporters of women).

...
In short, the Saudi regime deserves credit for these apparent openings in terms of women's rights. Given the timing, the moves appear to be at least partly the result of constructive pressure from the international community including the United States. Needless to say, the Saudi regime still has a very long path to tread in terms of women's rights and equality, but hopefully these measures signal the beginning of a long period of steady progress,


more...
http://www.thewashingtonnote.com/archives/002892.php

[Warpy]

1. I've known quite a few Saudi women

and their main beef was not being able to DRIVE. They found all the other laws protective rather than restrictive and thought the abaya was a very feminine garment and a great protection against the strong desert sun. They said they felt very unprotected in the west.

Living in Saudi even under the less restrictive laws would drive me around the bend, but I don't have a large extended family to soften their effects like the Saudi women did. Plus, the women I knew were wealthy enough to be able to travel outside the country (with male permission, of course) and that undoubtedly made a difference, too.

However, they don't want our degree of freedom. They just want to be able to hop in the family car and go to the market when they need something.