Cultural Perspective:
Women's Rights in Saudi Arabia
When comparing the rights of women in America and women in Saudi Arabia, there are very noticeable differences. Saudi women are treated similar to minors in such that they are required to have permission from their male guardian in regards to traveling, studying, marriage, and even health care. Women are now able to work without permission, but are not allowed to work places that they will come into contact with other men (Wilke, 2012). Saudi Arabia views gender equality as “different, but equal”, meaning that women and men are equal in their rights and duties. However, a 2003 treatise by the Saudi Arabian scholar, Dr. Rabee al-Madkhali, said that God gave men and women different rights and duties. A man’s duties are “appropriate to their manhood and their strengths and their minds and their willingness to face the dangers,” and a woman’s is “what benefits their femininity and vulnerability and lacking compared to men in mind, strength and vulnerability in the willingness to face the dangers and hardships” (Wilcke, 2012). This, meaning that men are expected to provide for their women, and sequentially should obey their guardian and care for the family and household. Sex segregation is still applies to most places in Saudi Arabia and is sometimes still considered a crime (Wilke, 2012).
Women are also not allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia. In May, Manal al-Sharif was arrested for defying this ban and was charged with “tarnishing the kingdom’s reputation abroad” and “stirring up public opinion” (Human Rights Watch, 2012). Those charges sound strange to an American, but in Saudi Arabia those were the charges she was given and Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world that does not allow women to drive (Human Rights Watch, 2012).
However, women’s right in Saudi Arabia are starting to improve. Women are not allowed to vote in Saudi Arabia yet, but the time is coming. King Abdullah made a declaration that women will be able to vote in municipal elections beginning in 2015. This is one of the biggest changes to take place in over a decade. In March 2011, a group of women activists held a protest known as the Baladi (meaning “My Country”) trying to vote, but they were unsuccessful. They king has also made a promise to appoint women to the Majlis Al-Shura, which is a council that addresses public policy. Also, women can now order a national identification card, which can allow them to own and operate their own businesses (Wilcke, 2012).
Women are also not allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia. In May, Manal al-Sharif was arrested for defying this ban and was charged with “tarnishing the kingdom’s reputation abroad” and “stirring up public opinion” (Human Rights Watch, 2012). Those charges sound strange to an American, but in Saudi Arabia those were the charges she was given and Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world that does not allow women to drive (Human Rights Watch, 2012).
However, women’s right in Saudi Arabia are starting to improve. Women are not allowed to vote in Saudi Arabia yet, but the time is coming. King Abdullah made a declaration that women will be able to vote in municipal elections beginning in 2015. This is one of the biggest changes to take place in over a decade. In March 2011, a group of women activists held a protest known as the Baladi (meaning “My Country”) trying to vote, but they were unsuccessful. They king has also made a promise to appoint women to the Majlis Al-Shura, which is a council that addresses public policy. Also, women can now order a national identification card, which can allow them to own and operate their own businesses (Wilcke, 2012).