The King of the Ancient Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Decrees That Modern Veiled Women Will Be Allowed to Vote
Sep 27th, 2011 | 6 responses
Some might remember in my book, Women Who Run With the Wolves, I wrote about the veiled Muslim women transgressing the stringent rules of their religious and political land that forbades women to drive cars… that when the war broke out and people were imperiled, they ran and started up the engines of the family automobiles and drove all over hill and dale to warn people and help people. The very same women were not allowed to walk out of the house, nor to shop, nor to appeal to petty or local governances without being accompanied by a father or a brother. This was culturally and religiously written in stone.
But, then stone is also clay, isnt it. Yes, it is, even though some would have us believe what is ‘set in stone’ is impenetrable. It isnt. Before stone was stone it was only drifting, shifting sand.
This week the King of Saudia Arabia, the most ancient of Muslim kingdoms imaginable and one of the most repressive toward women living freely, granted women the right to vote in elections.
Remembering that women in Switzerland were not allowed to vote until the early 1960s, and it being said that Swiss women and other women across the world were ‘not interested in the political life of the nations’…
This is a good day… remembering too how in South Africa, I saw old women were literally carried in rusty wheelbarrows miles across the dust and dirt, simply to be able to vote in the first election ever… wherein they as people of Africa and as women, were finally seen as human beings.
To our loving and stalwart sisters in Saudia Arabia and their brothers and all who support them: Las Fuerzas, all. The brave and fierce ones.
Saudi women may not have the right yet to drive an auto, but for sure they are descendents of some of the most ancient of horsewomen…. just like you and me, male or female. Wherever there were horses on earth, there were horsemen and horsewomen amongst our ancestors.
May our sisters continue and never forget the heart of the horses are still within in terms of determination and patience and massive strength, despite some metal horse with four wheels being for the moment, out of safe reach.
CODA
the picture is a rider “dressed in a the costume of an Arabian princess.” Her Arabian stallion and she were in the 2008Sharjah International Arabian Horse festival. More than 200 Arabian horses and riders from United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrian and Kuwait took part in this three day event. Photo credit ©2008, by Marvan Naamani
6 Responses to “The King of the Ancient Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Decrees That Modern Veiled Women Will Be Allowed to Vote”
Baby steps.
Though they might have been wiser to start with letting them drive
.
Actually, in the Romansh canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden
Switzerland, women didn’t get the vote until 1990 and then only because it was forced by the federal government.
Beautiful photo, Dr. E.
It reminded my wife of some of the horse races she and some other Western women were allowed to attend in Riyadh in the early 80s.
Of course the riders were all men, and the women (including the “expats”) were required to sit separate from the men.
Yes, this is progress, and it will hopefully be followed by many other “baby” or not-so-baby steps.
One should keep in mind, however, that the new law will not go onto effect until 2015 and then only for municipal elections–they will also be able to run in them—and even then they will need the approval of a male family member to exercise either right.
But I agree with Dr. E “this is a good day” for Saudi Arabian women.
Yes Dr E. I do very well remember your book ‘Women Who Run With The Wolves. I read it from front to back and cherish it, especially ‘The Little Match Girl’ which made me cry’ and my second favorite one was ‘The Red Shoes’ They are told to remind the reader that something can always be done to rectify or correct the mindset, when one is in a seemingless hopeless situation and can lift the spirit higher than what that ‘victim’ of some kind of abuse.. or ‘Indifference’ bred into certain cultures by law of the land,that doesn,t have to be so. I think every person has a threshhold or tolerance for their inborn ‘integrity’ that either calls for fight or flight response and the stronger one is always stand your ground and inner principle.
Beautiful people are the ones who stand out among us..are those with guts and daring courage aren,t they?
Thanks for reminding me of that book again, I must review it to warm my spirit with winter soon around the corner
Thanks for the good news Dr. E. As Prof said, baby steps…
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