19 December 2011

Saudi women's suffrage mired in suppression

.... These examples demonstrate how long and treacherous the road will be for the cause of women’s rights in Saudi Arabia. Even decisions at the highest level of government in an absolute monarchy such as ours will only just begin to dent the armor of fundamentalism behind which many hide their misogyny.

.... Steps such as appointing women to the Shura council and allowing them to participate in municipal elections, positive as they may be, are not as influential as enabling and empowering the average Saudi woman to represent herself without the obstacles of male guardianship, male drivers and strict segregation work codes.

What’s the use of having a female Shura member as a representative to the government when a woman cannot represent herself in her own life? [GlobalPost] Read more [via National Secular Society]