WUNRN
Gulf Research Center
THIS
IS THE SAUDI WOMAN |
By: Mshari Al-Zaydi |
Publication
Date:
October 2009 |
Source
Name:
Al Sharq Al Awsat |
Saudi
society as a whole is in a state of effective movement and activity that is
attracting the attention of foreign and local observers. The issue of women’s
rights is part of this activity and “natural” interaction [taking place within
Saudi society]. This is a raw fact that has nothing to do with our assessment
of the situation, or whether or not we admire such activity and development.
Generations of Saudi girls have been educated since the procession of formal
education began back in 1960 following a royal decree that was issued by King
Saud granting girls the right to education.
The decision was protested at that time by certain currents, but the march went
on and Saudi girls took part in formal education. Some of them were even sent
to study abroad and within a few years Saudi Arabia had its own female doctors,
bankers, engineers and businesswomen.
Every stage of personal “development” was met with opposing apprehensive voices
repeating the same old arguments and expressing the same old fears. But the
ship of women’s rights would, in most cases, sail through those obstacles,
leaving those fears to dwindle or recoil in some distant corner until a new
stage approaches.
Today, in the midst of all the grand transformations that have taken place
within the large Saudi society since the revolutionary rise of the internet and
satellite television stations, and considering the large numbers of young Saudi
men and women in comparison to the overall Saudi population, and in light of
the inability of the public sector to incorporate women in public and private
sector jobs, or let us say the limitation of such incorporation due to its same
old fears and problems related to the structure of the labour market in
general, which have affected both young men and women equally, in light of all
of this, we have come to face a serious issue concerning women, one that stands
out on its own and is backed with facts and figures.
There is no denying that women constitute around 50 percent of the overall
Saudi population. They make up about 8.2 million of 16.5 Saudi nationals whilst
the total number of people living in Saudi Arabia amounts to 22.7 million.
Despite the aforementioned figures, the number of employed Saudi women is
estimated at 10.25 percent of the overall workforce according to the UN
development program report on women and development goals in the third
millennium.
We cannot deny the fact that female university graduates need work and a source
of income, not to mention their need to gain the moral satisfaction that comes
with employment. Otherwise, there would be no point in arduous study, going and
coming from university and paying university fees if it would only lead to
young women staying at home for fighting over jobs leftover for women. Why then
give them an education in the first place?
This is an honest question which has nothing to do with all the ongoing fierce
controversy. There is a real crisis with which employers in the private sector
and experts on labour market requirements and economic and social development
in Saudi Arabia are very familiar.
At the end of the day, Saudi society is a community of people subject to the
laws and norms of natural development that apply to all societies. Therefore,
just a few years ago, it was perfectly natural for us to witness a strong
return of women to society, very much against the will of those who want to
marginalise them in terms of discussion and presence.
Recently, the local media brought to the fore Saudi women who excelled in the
field of scientific research and in their field of expertise and were honoured
by their universities and places of work in the West, such as Professor Ghada
al Mutairi and Professor Hayat Sindi. Saudi women have featured on the cover of
the US’s Time Magazine, one of the most important magazines on the media
market. The magazine devoted its main segment to Saudi women.
It would be a great injustice to Saudi women if people thought that their cause
is being stirred by foreign influence rather than by the culture and concerns
of the country itself. This is not the case.
The procession of Saudi women and the transformation of women in society began
a long time ago and have been deep rooted in the national conscience ever since
the rise of the modern state brought about by the founder King Abdul Aziz, may
God rest his soul.
In Saudi Arabia, the issue of women’s rights began very early on. The author
Ahmed al Subaei wrote an article entitled ‘Women’s Literature in the Hijaz’ in
the Sawt al Hijaz [Voice of Hijaz] newspaper on May 21, 1934, in reference to a
female writer who believed that it would be wise to conceal her name as a very
knowledgeable and cultured woman. Al Subaei said that this learned woman, after
reading so many books, said to herself: “I really don’t know about my fellow
brothers and sisters. Would they still call me a deviant and brand me unorthodox
even though I believe that wearing the veil is a religious duty but that women
should be educated?”
In the same issue, al Subaei writes in response to Sawt al Hijaz’s
Editor-In-Chief Mohammed Ali Reda who opposed opening schools for girls on the
pretext that a woman’s place is in the home. Al Subaei contends that the
educating of girls is not a pretext for corrupting them. In 1936, al Subaei
published a book called ‘Wahi al Sahra’ [Inspiration of the Desert] which
contained a number of articles including one entitled ‘Our Need to Educate
Girls.’
Earlier than that, in 1933 to be precise, Mohammed Rassem wrote an article in
Sawt al Hijaz supporting and endorsing women’s rights to education. He ends it
by saying, “A life of knowledge and a life of ignorance are poles apart.”
In Akhbar al Zahran newspaper, which used to come out of east Saudi Arabia,
Saudi writer Abdul Karim al Juhaiman wrote an article in 1955 entitled ‘Our
Other Half.’ Back then, he published it under the alias of “al Bassir.” Years
later, he re-published the article using his real name. In it he says, “We can
still see many of our fellow citizens dreading the idea of educating girls and
who go to extremes that go beyond the wild imagination rather than actual
reality so they leave their daughters to become parrots.” Saad al Bawardi wrote
something similar in the sixth issue of his magazine Al Ashaa [Rays] published
in 1956.
In the heart of Saudi Arabia, strong voices were battling for women’s rights to
education. These voices were supported with the signatures of a group of girls
and women that they published in Al Qassim newspaper, the archives of which
contain a large record of the battle for the right to education. Those female
students ran their article in the column of ‘Hawa Tatakalam’ [Eve Speaks] in
the 21st issue of the newspaper back in 1960. They supported King Saud’s policy
for women’s education which was met with opposition from the conservatives.
Furthermore, those female students called the Saudi monarch “the king of democracy.”
In the 26th issue of Al Qassim newspaper published in 1960, an article entitled
‘Women’s Education’ contained the following excerpt: “The idea of women’s
education, which has always been advocated by intellectuals and examined by
researchers, has been realised. The illusions and fears that got in the way of
educating the nation have all melted away.”
Another article was published in the 107th issue of Al Qassim newspaper in 1962
by a woman poet and writer called Sara Abu Humaid entitled ‘Don’t Deny Your
Daughters an Education.’
The battle for educating women initially waged by King Saud then King Faisal
with strength and determination was a decisive one. Paradoxically, many of
those who were vehemently against the idea of women’s education had their own
daughters enrolled in schools later on. Both Saudi women and men had a say in
this battle.
The issue of women’s education was a major issue in the past and it caused a
great deal of controversy. But the state decided to proceed on this journey. The
endorsement of the political leadership made all the difference for Saudi women
and enabled them to win their battle. Thanks to the efforts of faithful Saudi
citizens, men and women alike, the Kingdom has managed to introduce generations
of educated women full of energy and eager to work. Men like King Saud, King
Faisal, King Khalid, and King Fahd were all keen to give the people of Saudi
Arabia a good education. The same goes for women like the wife of King Faisal,
Princess Effat, who was known as the pioneer of women’s education in Saudi
Arabia.
What is happening now in the era of King Abdullah in terms of development and
change is an extension of the earlier development efforts and progress that is
in line with natural development. This does not contradict Islam as some people
are trying to make us believe. Change and development are not to be dreaded or
feared, unlike what these protesting campaigns are claiming.
In this context, the recent statement made by the head of the Supreme Judiciary
Council in Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Saleh Bin Humaid, in response to a question on
the plan to develop the judiciary system, was eye catching. He pointed out that
development does not mean demolishing previous achievements, but rather looking
forward to a better future. He added that changes require change in order to
keep abreast of things.
This is true and those who do not develop their mechanisms are actually harming
themselves and their society. No culture emerges or lasts without an embracing
human community. No human community could make up a force unless it is a
capable community. Those who do not possess the courage to transform and
develop are bound to extinction. This is the way of the world.
From this we conclude that Saudi society is now trying to place itself in the
right position, between the need to change and keep abreast of things on the
one hand, and the need to maintain its proud cultural identity on the other.
================================================================
To contact the list administrator, or to leave the list, send an email to:
wunrn_listserve-request@lists.wunrn.com. Thank you.