LOST IN RIYADH!
I came across something on my Hike news feed today that sparked in me a new load of thoughts that gave me this idea of writing this blog. There was a video about how a Starbucks in Saudi Arabia had denied service to women and asked for their drivers to get the coffee instead. This news enumerated my curiosity to know more about the women of Saudi Arabia and i started reading about it. What's it like living as a woman in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia? Questions about personal freedoms and rights immediately come to mind, such as whether women drive, can they vote? whether they have to "cover up" in black gowns and whether it's safe for woman to reside there. These are valid concerns and in many instances restrictions can be frustrating and cause feelings of unworthiness and helplessness. Life for women in Saudi Arabia is very different from what a woman living in india can even imagine. Saudi Arabia is a country where religion is given more importance than politics. In Saudi Arabia, women face several restrictions based entirely on gender. A woman, regardless of her martial status or age is required to have a male guardian. Her guardian may be her husband, her uncle, her father, her brother, or even her own son! A woman cannot travel alone, attend university, work, or marry without her guardian's permission. In some cases, a woman cannot receive major medical treatment without the permission of her guardian. Women can't drive and have to wear the abaya- a floor-length black nondescript robe, when outside home. The quality of life of a Saudi woman depends entirely on her family, namely the male members. If a woman is lucky enough to come from an open family, she will enjoy a free education, and have a say in who she marries. Today in Saudi,when it comes to divorce, women are either at the charity of their husbands or at the mercy of judges who tend to side with the husbands. The only circumstance in which a woman can ask for a divorce or in there language 'khali' is when her husband is in total agreement with her or if she comes from a very influential family who decide to back her up. Recently, government policies have produced significant change in women's legal standing, employment and education. Professional and university courses that were once barred to women have been now opened up, women have been authorised to apply for identity cards without a male guardian's consent, in 2005 they were promised the vote in municipal elections by 2009. They were allowed to vote in municipal elections for the first time in 2015, despite of this their actions are still severely restricted. I hope, one day women in Saudi Arabia, also walk shoulder to shoulder with men and not feel ashamed of being born as a girl child.
BHAVNA AGARWAL
20153035
Sent: Tuesday, May 10, 2016 6:53:46 AM
To: neeperemiti.baga108@blogger.com
Subject: blog post: Lost in Riyadh
Good post.
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