Editorial: Women in Saudi Arabia

In the olden ages, women all around the world didn’t have rights. In this day and age, it would be idiotic to imply that a woman can’t work or vote. Times have changed and most women have the freedom they crave. But in the country of Saudi Arabia, this isn’t the truth. Women aren’t allowed to work, or drive, or have a say in public decisions. They aren’t even allowed to show their hair in public. In Saudi Arabia, women are objects again, shunned into a life of modesty and property, tied to their husbands just like in the past. Except in this country, they aren’t even allowed to choose their own husbands.
Having lived in Saudi Arabia for over three years, I wasn’t expecting any changes. This was a country that refused to let the outside world change them. Laws dating back to before the 1900’s are still in place and the King doesn’t have any motives to change anything since it works out great for him. These laws are also based on the religious text of the Qur’an and it is illegal to be anything other than Muslim. Churches are banned, and there aren’t any Jews anywhere to be seen. Tourist visas aren’t allowed and foreigners are only allowed to come into the country for previously approved work. This completely cuts out new businesses and new ideas that people bring in and out of other countries, which is what Saudi Arabia is missing. There have been proposals to try and fix women’s rights, but nothing has been approved to be carried out and women simply have stopped trying. In fact, most of the women were born and raised in Saudi Arabia, and therefore, don’t know any different. Oblivion isn’t bliss; as those who do manage to leave the country don’t ever want to come back.
While the system does seem to work for most typical Arab families who don’t know any better, there are many women out there protesting to make changes. It is outrageous not allowing women to work, to drive, to leave the house without a male escort. Movie theaters are banned, because of the close proximity it would cause between males and females. These laws don’t have faith in mankind, they belittle us as people, and compress our freedom to a point that these women don’t even know that they are living in captivity.