Stand up for Saudi Women

Stand up for Saudi Women

Dr. Khalid Alnowaiser (DEBATE)

23 January 2010

The subject of equality for women in Saudi Arabia is still one of the most difficult and complex issues to be discussed. Although everyone has the freedom to talk about all matters of life freely and easily, the subject of women’s rights is entirely different and always needs to be considered carefully.

Ignoring a frank and honest debate on this very important subject, though, has led to the exclusion of women in playing an active and effective role in the development of Saudi Arabia, especially when women comprise half of society.

It is undisputed that a woman‘s status in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is very difficult.  Due to ingrained cultural traditions, Saudi women are not treated equally with men, and this has created a significant impediment for the Kingdom’s development plans.  As a consequence, confusion and chaos have ensued, so that it has become very difficult to distinguish between what is religiously mandated and what is required due to Saudi social customs and traditions.

Islam clearly appreciates and defines women and their role in life and work. Indeed, Islam does not advocate the old rigid social customs and obsolete traditions, which have relegated women to the status of second-class citizens.  Unfortunately, customs and past practices purporting to be based on Islam, have actually distorted the faith throughout the world.

In reality, Islam treats men and women as equal in many things.  As the Qur’an says, “O mankind! We created you all from male and female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other. Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you.  And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things).” 

What we can understand from this verse is that women and men are equal in everything, and the only thing that can differentiate them is piety before Allah. In fact, a fair reading of the Qur’an and Hadith proves that the problem is not with Islam, but it is in cultural stereotypes that have dominated Saudi society for decades.

The absence of a clear boundary between religious and secular thinking has led to the exploitation of the wrong habits and traditions by men and, by extension, the entire society.  Although purporting to be based on Islam, men have used Islam as a tool to persecute and belittle the role of women in Saudi society.

The strange thing is that men thought that by marginalising and repressing women, they would elevate their status in the society, when in reality all it does is increase their duties and burdens in life.  Men have become solely responsible for all these challenges, when they are actually in need of assistance and contributions from women. 

As a consequence, the development of this male-dominated society has resulted in an unfortunate increase in the number of divorce cases, immorality, domestic violence, mental illness, and greater health problems among men.

In Saudi Arabia today, women are still suffering from the rigid constraints society has placed upon them, where men can control them physically, psychologically, and mentally.  For example, a woman is limited to a narrow range of jobs which she is allowed to perform, in spite of substantial efforts the government has instituted to expand employment opportunities among women in the age of King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.

Even though women work, they are still isolated and controlled in all their actions and behaviour by men, and Saudi society remains divided into two categories contrary to all other societies in the world, male and female, although Islam has neither excluded nor restricted women from work.

Unfortunately, male control of women has caused the latter to be ignorant of their rights such as the rights to marry, divorce, dowry, custody, inheritance, travel, and a right to drive.  It is absurd that Saudi women still cannot operate a motor vehicle without employing foreign drivers to drive for them. Saudi women have also been prevented from selling their clothes, while men are permitted to do so. What is the rationale for such a contradiction? Is there any reason other than to keep men and women entirely separate culturally?

Certainly, most Saudi women believe that allowing women to drive a car is not one of the most important rights, but the lack of decisive action to resolve this issue and allow half of Saudi society to freely move around the country by motor vehicle is disgraceful.  This issue deserves immediate attention and quick resolution by the government.

There is no doubt that the outmoded customs making women subservient to men in the kingdom have dominated Saudi society and allowed men to exploit this inequality in order to control women, confiscate their rights, destroy their self-esteem, and kill their pride as human beings entitled to equal rights and opportunities.

So what is the solution to this problem that threatens to undermine future progress in Saudi Arabia?  First, no solution will be achieved without the full participation of women, and the Kingdom is no different than any other country that strives to become more civilised and to progress as a society.

Therefore, it is now time to create a special independent body headed by women to discuss ways to help all Saudi women to live, work, and express their opinions as fully as men. This body would strive to spread a culture of women’s rights, defend and assist the appropriate authorities to regulate and create laws to ensure all women’s rights are preserved, and protect all legal, civil, social, and family rights.  It is up to each one of us to push for Saudi women to be treated equally with men in all aspects of our society. 

The establishment of a body charged with this responsibility is an indispensable first step. 

Dr. Khalid Alnowaiser is a Saudi lawyer and columnist based in Jeddah.