This Friday, June 17th of 2011 a group in Saudi Arabia are urging women to take to the streets of their cities to drive their cars – not in a manner of “disrespectful rebellion” to cause a parade-looking scene, but rather realistically to go about daily tasks such as going to the grocery store, driving their children someplace, or getting to their weekend activities. There is no legal law banning women from driving in the KSA, but in countries like this, tradition and culture often bear more weight than the law, and the cultural tradition is that women take the backseat when it comes to everything – cars and all.
The excuse that is often used is religion; several Muslim clerics have issued edicts that it is somehow un-Islamic that women drive. This probably stems from their other belief that women shouldn’t leave their homes unless necessary, and if they should leave they must fully veil and be escorted by a male guardian “for the woman’s protection.” It is however allowed for a woman to hire a private driver to help her go out and about to work, school, and anywhere else. The less fortunate can pay for shady taxis. The true reason for banning women’s driving is more because allowing it stands for far more than a woman being in control of a moving vehicle, but rather stands for a woman being in control of her own life and being independent. Once they would be allowed to steer their cars, they would demand steering their lives.
International news agencies, such as CNN, are considering this push for women to drive in the KSA headline-worthy news. Saudi news agencies so far have turned a blind eye. I doubt tomorrow’s newspaper will include anything related to women’s driving either, unless it is to discuss the arrest of any women who did bother to dare break the law written in invisible ink.
The general public became aware of this push via a facebook page, twitter, texting, blackberry chat broadcasts and mostly, word of mouth. I wish I could say this movement will cause a major change, but it most likely won’t. People have been discussing how women “will be allowed to drive in Saudi soon” for at least the past six years, and every couple years an article in a Saudi newspaper has appeared stating that women’s driving is being seriously debated and considered. Time will only tell, but until then we women of Arabia will be patiently waiting as we always are…
I totally agree with you
Women also should do something about it, I arrived from Canada 6 days ago, and honestly, I feel unsafe and unsecured, if any thing happens to my dear kids, I will be helpless, no car, and no driving, even no Taxi..I started to look up the emergency numbers, and it will take way too long for somebody to help me, than if I did it my self..
If there is such a demonstration again, or perhaps a women parade, I will be counted in
I don’t know if I can survive this..