Women can finally drive in Saudi Arabia

[Valka D'Ur]

They probably still need a male companion each time they drive, right? Maybe I'm cynical, but I think the only reason this was approved was because the men in the country won't mind being driven around by their wives.

Wahhabism is a dangerous sect that needs to be eliminated. This move might be a step in the right direction, but it's in the grand scheme of things it's a bit laughable.

Apparently they won't need a male escort.

My cynical hypothesis for this is that a man was having a heart attack, told his wife he needed to see a doctor, and she smiled sweetly at him and said, "But honey, you know I'm not legally allowed to drive."

Non saudis are! Maybe the women are excited, but you cannot tell because their faces are covered. Would driving while wearing a burqa impair one's vision? And what about adding sunglasses to the mix? Would they be worn over or under face coverings? This is the important stuff.

Yeah, if they actually were wearing burqas. Burqas are the tent-like things with the narrow mesh openings that must play hell with depth perception, not to mention peripheral vision. I don't understand how anyone could wear that stuff and not keep tripping or losing their balance because of the limited field of vision. Seeing the outside world only through a mesh window would basically be carrying around a portable prison.

The women in the photos I've seen were either wearing the hijab or the niqab (the latter is the one with the face covering that makes them look like they're about to rob a train, stagecoach, or a bank). Glasses are presumably worn in whatever way makes them stay on the face, instead of falling off.

 

[warpus]

Apparently they won't need a male escort.

That is great news.

Let me be the first to say that I await the creation of the All-female Saudi Arabian sports car racing league.

 

[luiz]

Slow progress is better than no progress.

Specially because the Muslim world has a tendency of actually going backwards, not forwards. Just some decades ago women in miniskirts could be seen in Iran and Afghanistan, and nightclubs abounded. In Saudi Arabia, movie theaters were common in the 1970's, and were only completely banned in the 1980's.

So progress like allowing women to drive really is cause for great celebration, given the messed up context.

 

[Peuri]

Imperialism is forced upon people. Wanting things and wanting to do things that originate elsewhere is not Imperialism.

Ah yes, maybe. But in this case it seems that the leading clique wants to open the economy in order to better compete with the capitalist west by eventually mobilizing women as a workforce. So are they really doing this because they want to do it, but rather that they are forced to do it because of western economic imperialism? Is it not the case that western culture is encroaching upon this pristine islamic state and in this way destroying a culture?

 

[Birdjaguar]

Ah yes, maybe. But in this case it seems that the leading clique wants to open the economy in order to better compete with the capitalist west by eventually mobilizing women as a workforce. So are they really doing this because they want to do it, but rather that they are forced to do it because of western economic imperialism? Is it not the case that western culture is encroaching upon this pristine islamic state and in this way destroying a culture?

There is more than one force at work. One may be a desire to better compete by adding women their workforce, but is a long term proposition and its progress can be paced by the kingdom. A more powerful force is pressure from the people to have the ability to enjoy a lifestyle that they can see all around them, which they can afford, but have been denied access to. That ongoing denial risks unrest. and Unrest is very dangerous in world where people can and will blow stuff up to make a point.

The Saudis already compete with capitalists in the oil arena and they have done pretty well. They are unlikely to successfully compete in any other arenas except as a financial center. I think the younger Saudi leadership recognizes that there are serious risks to their rule if they remain culturally backward. There is no support for Windows 95, time to upgrade.

 

[Lexicus]

The Saudis already compete with capitalists in the oil arena and they have done pretty well. They are unlikely to successfully compete in any other arenas except as a financial center. I think the younger Saudi leadership recognizes that there are serious risks to their rule if they remain culturally backward. There is no support for Windows 95, time to upgrade.

This is why I think it's a mistake to characterize this as a victory for feminism. This is a victory for a fundamentally regressive, sexist, patriarchal regime more than it is a victory for feminism. That said it will improve the lives of Saudi women and it may prove a stepping-stone for further progress.

 

[Peuri]

There is more than one force at work. One may be a desire to better compete by adding women their workforce, but is a long term proposition and its progress can be paced by the kingdom. A more powerful force is pressure from the people to have the ability to enjoy a lifestyle that they can see all around them, which they can afford, but have been denied access to. That ongoing denial risks unrest. and Unrest is very dangerous in world where people can and will blow stuff up to make a point.

The Saudis already compete with capitalists in the oil arena and they have done pretty well. They are unlikely to successfully compete in any other arenas except as a financial center. I think the younger Saudi leadership recognizes that there are serious risks to their rule if they remain culturally backward. There is no support for Windows 95, time to upgrade.

For the record, I totally agree with you. Interesting realpolitik take on the situation. I'm just trying to play the devil's advocate with leftist jargon. I'm not sure where to go from now on. I guess the thing would be to criticize the concept of "cultural backwardness" as signing to an enlightenment narrative of progress and implying cultural superiority of the west.

 

[Birdjaguar]

I agree. Local context provides a better marker of impact that globalizing everything. Assembling a bunch of localized events can lead to trending conclusions. Saudi Women driving is cool, but just a single data point.

 

[Archon_Wing]

What. The next thing you'll know, they'll start going out on their own! And maybe regarded as people and stuff.



But really, freedom will overcome. I just hope I'll be alive to see it.

I guess the thing would be to criticize the concept of "cultural backwardness" as signing to an enlightenment narrative of progress and implying cultural superiority of the west.

Meh. It's fine. It's not like the west hasn't created a few abominations to cancel it out. As a whole, we have 2 world wars, imperialism, and all kinds of dirty meddling to account for. It is indeed fine to decry sexism regardless of cultural differences though I suppose we should hold back with the patronizing. (It's very hard, I know, from experience). It might be a bit hypocritical, but I am sure that even if some of us can't sleep that well at night for it, it's a small price to pay for those that benefit from institutions of oppression being chipped away.

 

[tuckerkao]

Women's Rights definitely started in the Middle East region. They are following the United States from a century ago.