Saudi King Allows Women To Vote, Run For Office

For those of you who read Frugal Zeitgeist regularly you will know that I was living in the Middle East in Egypt. I was present for the first 8 days of the uprising that led to the ousting of President Hosni Mubarak. The revolution led the way for many marginalised groups of society (which was most of the population) to start voicing their concerns and what they thought should change. Of course women were one of the groups that fought hard during the revolution and they also are trying, despite a lot of backlash, to pave the way forward for better rights within the new Egypt.

The Arab Spring is encouraging women within the Middle East (and further afield) to get back out and start questioning certain governmental rules that certain women feel are holding them back and Saudi Arabia certainly could be considered a country that is just a little far behind on awarding equal rights (my opinion).

Disclaimer: I lived in the Middle East for two years and am not making a comparison or commenting on a woman’s individual right compared to USA or Europe. The issue is extremely complex and not as black and white as many put it out to be. Many women of the Middle East feel that Western Women have less rights in some respect so I encourage you to read more into the complex issue.

Saudi King Allows Women To Vote, Run For Office

Anyway, the Arab Spring and hard work from women’s rights activists over the years has obviously finally had what can only seem like a positive effect on Saudi King Abdullah who has granted women the right to vote, run in local elections and sit on the Shura Council which is chosen by him.

The next Saudi Election is on Thursday but sadly the new law will not be in place by then but will be ready for the next election in 2015.

Now that this hurdle has been jumped maybe we will see the King slowly loosen some of the other laws that disallow women from driving and also, without a male’s permission, traveling, working or seeking medical operations.

All of these positive changes are surely going to create some forms of protest and backlash and of course will not be smooth in execution as the patriarchal society gets to grip with the fact that the women of their world are being given positions that could threaten their grip.

Of course this issue can be a little sensitive for some and my white western view is of course clouded by me not being brought up in Saudi society or ever having visited the country so I would love it if you weighed in with your thoughts and views, especially if you are Saudi or have experience of the country. - Saudi King Allows Women To Vote, Run For Office

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Tags: egypt, revolution, womens rights