COMMENTARY | Women in the U.S. have a lot to be thankful for despite our poor economy and nearly broken health care system. At least we don't live in Saudi Arabia. Although it seemed the nation was making strides with the King announcing women would be given the right to vote in September, according to the Huffington Post, a well-known academic scholar has now claimed that allowing Saudi Arabian women to drive could encourage premarital sex.
The report given by Kamal Subhi was given to the all-male Shura Council, which advises the monarchy. Subhi claims that allowing women to drive will hurt the country's centuries-old tradition of virgin brides. They believe it will ultimately lead to more commingling of males and females, and promote sex.
Most nations have criticized Saudi Arabia's male-only driving rules, but going up against the ultraconservative culture in the kingdom is going to be a very tough battle for those who hope to see a change for the better in the rights of Saudi women.
When King Abdullah made his announcement to give women the right to vote, he stated, "Because we refuse to marginalize women in society in all roles that comply with Sharia Law, we have decided, after deliberation with our senior ulama (clerics) and others ... to involve women in the Shura Council as members, starting from the next term."
While I applaud his efforts, there is a long way to go before women are even close to being equals in Abdullah's kingdom.
Just days after the King's proclamation, a Saudi Arabian woman was sentenced to ten lashes for driving her car, according to The Guardian. Saudi rights groups claim it was payback for allowing women to vote in 2015.
Married Saudi women must obtain the permission from their husbands to leave the country, seek medical treatment, work, or even to get an education. If you thought the health care system in the U.S. was bad, can you imagine, as a grown woman, having to ask your husband to allow you to go to the doctor? What if your spouse was abusive?
According to A Safe World for Women, in Saudi Arabia domestic violence has been on the increase, and their backward laws do nothing to stop their horrific statistics. It's likely that many cases are not reported at all. Many Saudi women are stuck in isolation, too fearful to report abuse when they are considered such low-class citizens.
Giving women the right to vote, unfortunately, is barely making a dent in the lives of Saudi women when Saudi men are so fearful of giving them independence in other areas of their lives.
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