Women Drivers in Saudi Arabia - Essay Example

of the English of the Teacher 26 November Women Drivers in Saudi Arabia It is a known fact that men all over the world do have the freedom to drive and go any place they want to go. Similarly women also have the freedom to drive and visit the places they intend to visit. However, it is a sad reality that the women in Saudi Arabia are not allowed to drive. Government and a big section of the public in Saudi Arabia do not appreciate the women who drive or want to drive. In the past few years the women activists in Saudi Arabia have been demanding the right to drive (TED Talks 1). Yet, irrespective of these protests, women’s driving in Saudi Arabia is something that is considered to be illegal (TED Talks 1). Over the past few years the ban on women driving in Saudi Arabia is an issue that has attracted much international attention. The women are not allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia owing to a variety of reasons like being harassed by anti-social elements, a big section of the population being opposed to women driving and a failure of the government to address this important issue. The mere act of driving a car does not make a woman immoral and bad. It is a fact that every culture happens to have its own definition of character and goodness. However, in Saudi Arabia, many people consider the women who intend to drive to be having a loose character and a faulty sense of morals (TED Talks 1). Hence, even if a woman gets a chance to drive, she is quiet bound to be harassed by the anti-social elements in the Saudi society (TED Talks 1). In Saudi Arabia the mere act of driving a vehicle on the part of a woman is enough to her being labeled as being immoral (TED Talks 1). This in a way gives the anti-social elements in the Saudi society an excuse to chase and harass female drivers (TED Talks 1). Hence, such acts do discourage Saudi women from driving and a fear of being harassed by the bad people makes they stick to the usual social and legal norms. Going by the fact that the world today is extending their due rights to the women, the act of considering a woman to be immoral just because she dares to drive is indeed non-sense and wrong. It is totally foolish to believe that a woman will become immoral simply because she is found driving a vehicle. It is time that the society and the government in Saudi Arabia stand up against such acts of harassment. There is no such scientific research study that has proven that the mere act of driving could make a woman immoral. Hence, the Saudi women who chose to drive should not be considered immoral and bad. The society in Saudi Arabia should change so as to extend to the women the right to drive. There other big reason that women in Saudi Arabia are not allowed to drive is because a large part of the Saudi society does not believe in giving more rights to the Saudi women (Jamjoom 1). In that context, Saudi Arabia happens to be a male dominated society that does not want women to be strong and confident (Jamjoom 1). Many people believe that if women are allowed the right to drive, they will stop tolerating the male dominance (Jamjoom 1). Truly speaking, this fear is right to some extent (Zuhur 24). The Saudi people should consider the fact that in today’s globalized world, men and women are considered to be equal. Hence, any society that tries to deprive women of a simple right as the right to drive will make it appear to be backward and conservative (Zuhur 24). In the nations were women are allowed to drive, the women there are more confident and are making big contributions to the society and their families. Hence, if Saudi women are allowed to deprive, they will not stop respecting the male members of their family. Respect is something that has to do with the behavior of a person. Thereby, believing that a person could win more respect by not allowing the women to drive is totally childish and foolish. So, the Saudi society should get over such vague fears and must allow the women to drive. It must be said that the Saudi government needs to take a lead in extending more rights to the Saudi women by allowing them to drive automobiles. If the government makes a strong effort in this direction by changing the laws, the people will also start accepting women drivers. One big reason why women in Saudi Arabia are not allowed to drive is because the government of Saudi Arabia also does not want the women to be independent and free. There is no law in Saudi Arabia that stops women from driving (TED Talks 1). However, considering the fact that there is no way that the Saudi women could get driving licenses, this automatically stops them from driving (TED Talks 1). Besides, the women who dare to drive have to face the threat of being arrested, harassed and fired from their jobs (TED Talks 1). The Saudi government should introduce the long due reforms in the area of women rights and must make arrangements that allow the women to get a driving license. This will not only earn much respect for the Saudi government from the international community, but will also allow the women to add to national wealth by doing the jobs they aspire to do. It is a fact that in the last few decades, the world has become a more interconnected place and the nations simply could not help being influenced by each other in the area of political and cultural rights. Hence, it is high time that the Saudi Arabian society and the government should respond to the changes taking place in the world by allowing the women to drive. Certainly this will require much commitment on the part of the Saudi society and the government. This will not only make the Saudi women more independent, but will also help them become a productive member of the society. Works Cited Jamjoom, Mohammed. “Why Saudi Arabia can’t Ban Women from Driving Forever”. CNN 25 October 2013. Web. 26 November 2013. Manal al-Sharif: A Saudi Woman who dared to Drive. TED Talks June 2013. Web. 26 November 2013. Zuhur, Sherifa. Saudi Arabia. Carlisle Barracks, PA: Strategic Studies Institute, 2005. Print. Read More