...WOMEN DRIVING IN SAUDI ARABIA Gender inequality has been one of the major challenging problem that has been experienced in Saudi Arabia since time immemorial, women are treated as lesser breed compared to their counterpart men. Important roles like decision making, implementation of policies are mostly men role and no woman is suppose to contribute or argue in decision making . Women rights such as voting, travelling outside their country on their own and driving cars are some of the cases that are denied to (Sodafeldt ). This paper will seek to enclave and give explanation as to why the Authority in Saudi Arabia prohibit women from driving, conclusion and recommendation that need to be done to alter the situation. Al-Rasheed argues that oppression of women , their rights and the role their play in the society as the main stumbling block that Saudi women faces . He goes on further to explain that Gender Gap Index, Culture, religion and traditions as the main reasons as to why the trendy has continued despite the international community pressure. These social implications explain best why women are denied their social right in Arabia. It is believed that only close to 30% of Saudi Arabia women are literate and the less are illiterate without basic education. Moreover the system tend to favor men with best curriculum system leaving women with substandard education, they also can't take engineer and law course because the authority in charge dictate...
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...who live in their countries tend to their culture than other. In my country, Saudi Arabia, there are a lot of cultures different from another culture. In this essay I will discuss about wedding, prevent woman driving car, celebration, wearing hijab, eating habits, greetings, polygamy, fasting, and education in Saudi Arabia. First, in Saudi Arabia, wedding’s ceremony is very different than others. When man want engage woman. He tells his parents about woman who is want. Then, they go to the house of woman and they meet her parents. Her father asks man questions about him if he prays everyday and if he has job or not. After that, father goes to his daughter and tells her about man. Father asks his daughter if she accept or refuse this man. If she accepts him, man can enter to see her with her father or brother. In addition, the family of woman makes a dinner for this event and man buy gold necklace or gold ring for woman. In the day of wedding, the father of man invites his family and friends because he makes a huge party. Man wears white thob and gotra. While, woman goes to salon to do something like hairstyle, make up, manicure and pedicure. I want point out to in the wedding women separate from men. There are a lot of Arabian coffee, sweets, cakes and fruit. In the end of day, bridegroom enters to his bride to take her with him. Second, in Saudi Arabia, women cannot drive car. Driving car for women is illegal because when woman goes out must go with her, her father, brother...
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...Today’s news Women to drive day in Saudi Arabia Women in Saudi Arabia took part in a protest on Friday against measures that pretty much ban them from driving. Around thirty female, would-be motorists drove their cars in various cities across the country. Their actions were part of a campaign from the Women2drive Facebook site. Manal al-Sharif, who set up the site, was arrested on May 21 and released the following day. She was rearrested after posting videos of herself on YouTube and spent a week in prison. Authorities said she was “inciting public opinion and harming the country’s reputation.” Another woman was given a traffic ticket in the capital Riyadh on Friday, but there were no arrests. Fewer women than expected decided to protest against their inability to drive. Friday’s protest was the latest in a string of incidents of Saudi women driving without a licence and then posting videos of themselves online. Maha al-Qahtani, 39, drove through Riyadh on Friday with her husband in the passenger seat. She said: “This is my basic right. It should not be a big deal. There is nothing wrong or illegal about driving.” Another woman posted a video on YouTube with the message: “All I want is to do my errands or go to work whenever I want.” Many women complain that they spend a quarter of their salary on hiring a driver to take them to and from work. There is no law against female drivers in Saudi, but women cannot get issued with a driving licence to drive in cities...
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...Women in the Middle East have been inspires the Arab Uprising movement. Since the fall these leaders’ women have raised their voices. They demanded equal justice for all people. Many of them are planning to be part of the coming elections. Driving car in Saudi Arabia has always been controversial issue. The Human Rights organization has raised concerns and requests the government to up lift the ban. Saudi Arabia is not rule by the Royal family. It is rule by religious conservative scholars.’ Although, there is no word in the Holly Quran saying women never drive cars. These religious leaders make women accept the ban as a part of their culture. We saw democracy is uprising in the Middle East. Women in Saudi Arabia saw it is a window of opportunity to over throw that law. Since the uprising Saudi young women have been put in jail by violating the law. The King never succeeds to convince these religious leaders to change their view. He is now suggesting up lifting the ban and allowing women to vote. Millions of religious supports are questioning how the vote will pass these conservative figures. Women in the Muslim world are empowering themselves. This is important step for women in Saudi Arabia. These women who never drive cars are one step closer to achieve their dream. This is one of many things they like to change. They are focusing to take a concrete step to change how their government sees Saudi women. They want to create environment where Saudi women not men and women...
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...Migration, Immigration and Their Effects on Religion, Women, and Minorities in Saudi Arabia Written By: Bill Cook HUMN305-Q3FF Professor: Barry Adams An Overview of Migration / Immigration in Saudi Arabia 1970’s - Today Although foreign workers have been a presence in the Saudi labor force since the beginnings of the oil boom in the 1930’s, large inflows of migrant workers began to flow into Saudi Arabia in the late 1970’s during the “oil crunch”. Saudi development of its infrastructure demanded both skilled and unskilled labor. Employers, finding it difficult to meet the labor demands with the local populace began to bring in workers from Southern Asia. “Migration of Asian workers was especially encouraged as it was thought that, compared to Arab foreign workers, they would be less likely to settle, less likely to organize, and hence more easy to control.” (Pakkiasamy, Divya; Migration Policy Institute, 2004) Saudi Arabia has nearly seven million migrant workers helping to build and maintain it’s infrastructure. Involuntary Servitude of Foreign Workers The treatment of migrant workers is widely overlooked by the international community. According to reports from many workers inside Saudi companies, foreign employees are “overworked, dehumanized and denied many basic rights” (Mekay, 2007) Many migrant workers enter Saudi Arabia on a service visa sponsored by a Saudi-based company or individual. These work visa’s are being held over the heads of the migrant...
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...liberal feminism, and I will be discussing its’ presence in the talk called A Saudi woman who dared to drive by Manal al-Sharif. Liberal feminism is the belief that women should have the same opportunities as men; it is based on a desire to promote equal opportunity between male and female. Liberal feminism produces arguments that women are just as rational as men and therefore should have equal opportunity to make their own choices. Liberal feminism seeks to erase gender-biased distinctions in law. Manal al-Sharif was a Saudi-Arabian woman, in which country women are not allowed to drive; this is not law, but more of a taboo. Manal al-Sharif decided to challenge this and it resulted in her being imprisoned for daring to break the taboo and be seen behind the wheel, as well as her brother being detained for handing over his car keys. This was followed by a huge media outrage and women took to the streets to drive (none of whom were arrested). Manal al-Sharif was released after nine days, and the talk she gives is describing the events, and the reasoning behind this, and the effects and consequences which her actions have had in Saudi Arabia. In her talk, Manal al-Sharif states that she believes “a society will not be free if women of that society are not free”. This demonstrates the argument often proposed by liberal feminists, that women should have the same rights as men. In effect, she is saying that women should be free; that they should not be oppressed by men, that they are...
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...Ethics Barb Butzen Ashford University PHI 208 Instructor Nicholes 11/01/2013 Ethics Ethical theories are based on questions of how humans should behave with each other. These theories give guidance and define what is right and wrong and how such behavior can aid in building a unified society. There are three major types of ethical theories; deontological, utilitarian, and virtue ethics and each theory brings with it a different set of strengths and weaknesses. While the three types of ethical theories contain great meaning, time has shown that universal ethical principles cannot be achieved because ethics is a learned behavior and cultural relativists will argue that right or wrong is decided by each individual culture. Deontological Theory Immanuel Kant is a philosopher most famous for his rationalism of the deontological theory. According to Kant, deontological theories are based on a duty that humans have a moral obligation to behave according to certain principles or laws. Kant questions what the fundamental source of morality and duty is, as well as what actions are committed by humans to justify an evaluation of those actions as right or wrong. Kant’s conclusion is that the ability we possess to rationally make decisions and our free will is the source of morality. Kant further concludes that rationality is the only action that can dictate the rules of morality (Kantian, n.d.). Kant’s categorical imperatives are certain rules that are a requirement...
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...Frederick Akoun ENGL 102 Aaron Percich December 6th, 2011 Women’s Rights in Saudi Arabia One of the most driving forces in the world today is the issue of power and who should have it or not have it. Power relates to rights and applies to both males and females alike. Power transcends to human rights and the free will to do as a person wants to do as long as it’s within the boundaries of the rules and regulations that govern a particular place. However, we know that power has been held by an overwhelming majority by males which has led to women being deprived of some of the basic privileges that should be afforded to every human being. There have been varying reasons why women’s rights and privileges have been denied ranging from their biological inferiority to religious reasons. Saudi Arabia is known as the birthplace of Islam. Consequentially, the country adheres to a strict interpretation of Islamic religious law called the Sharia. For example, in Saudi Arabia, men and women are not permitted to attend public events together. Furthermore, men and women are segregated in the work place with men getting finer office spaces and women getting offices that alienate them from public view. In Saudi Arabia, there is an obvious divide of gender roles where men basically have majority of the power while women are afforded very limited rights (Mackey 10). I will be evaluating women’s rights in Saudi Arabia to show how they are denied their basic rights as human beings like economic...
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...Ahmed Al-Matari Professor Marine English 111 October 30th, 14 Personal Narrative Life is all about making choices, but some of them can even change our life. Four years ago, I walked out the Washington Dulles International Airport for the first time. This was a significant event that changed everything about my life and me. Although leaving Saudi Arabia was a tough decision to make, I knew I would be leaving my family, my homeland, and my friends to go to a far-away place to seek for a better life. My parents supported my decision because they believe life is wonderful and the world was big. Arriving in a new country was exciting and discomforting. America is a wonderful place to live, which is full of adventure and challenge. I was highly fascinated by the Western culture. Although I lived in a westernized household and grew up in international schools, I learned English since I was a child. However, my writing and oral abilities tend not to be adequate. I had to study hard to improve my English, so that I can understand the people and the language more. Since I came to America, I made great progress not only foreign language but also adaptive capacity. I believe the most significant part of my life is when I was able to cope with the social differences I faced in two different countries. The most important social differences that affected me and made me who I am today are family, religion, and gender equality. Family is one of the most important parts of Arab culture...
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...mainstream, for example, women who have endeavoured to break that handicap in society as well as the political sphere. Modern times have shown greater acceptance and tolerance towards groups that do not meet requirements of circumscribed circles. In this essay, the issue addressed is the lack of equality in this particular circumscribed circle called politics on an international level. There is still the need to define discrimination, stereotyping and prejudice among groups and race. In modern times, psychologists and scholars have focused their attention to human behaviour, the human mind as well as gender based issues within the political sphere and even within that area, issues of discrimination, stereotyping, prejudice especially gender do not cease to exist. Sexism has, in the modern era, gained much academic and social legitimacy. Scholars and feminists have thoroughly examined the politics of identification as follows: (a) Gender shapes not only who we are but the world(s) we live in (b) Resistance to changing our personal (gender) identities obstructs feminist movement (c) The identity of the modern subject is not gender neutral but masculine (and typically European) (d) Feminist identity is itself problematic given the diversity (non-identity) among women. (e) Identity groups most closely associated with political power have also been historically based on gender inequality. (f) As members of these groups, women have interests in their success...
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...Saudi Arabia PEST analysis Policital factors Saudi Arabia is politically a very stable country in the Middle East since it is ruled by the Al Saud dynasty's which main goal is to concentrate on modernization and on developing the country's role as a regional power. It is general known that Saudi Arabia is the biggest petroleum exporter in the world which was discovered on March 3rd 1938. Before that the country was only a trade-based economy. The Kingdom is besides a member of the OPEC, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. It is of importance to mention that Saudi joined the WTO – the World Trade Organization - on 11th December 2005. This well-known organization reviewed the corresponding trade policies and practices in January 2012. Responsible for the developing followed by the realization of Saudi’s trade policies is the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the MCI. To enter Saudi Arabia by air you will need a Visa and valid passport for at least another six month from the date of entry. The country has two major visa options, a travel and a working one. A working visa which should be applied through a visa agencies accredited to the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia. Besides a business partner, any Saudi business that “hold a majority interest in the company”1, is needed, who acts as a sponsor which is required as well for doing business in SA. Be aware, “you may be refused entry to Saudi Arabia if your passport contains evidence of previous travel to Israel or indicates...
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...In Africa there is a large portion of the population that is greatly affected by acquired immune deficiency syndrome also known as AIDS. This is the final stage of HIV which causes severe damage to the immune system. People who have AIDS are more likely to get infections and tumors that wouldn’t affect people with working immune systems. The spreading of the disease is hard to control because anyone who comes in contact with any bodily fluid of an infected person will most likely end up getting it as well. “About 22.5 million people in Africa have been infected by AIDS as of 2007”. The adult rate of infection worldwide is 1% while in Africa it is about 6.1%. The severity of the epidemic is largely caused by the “poverty, lack of female empowerment, and high rates of male worker migration”. One of the worst parts about the AIDS epidemic in africa is that the national health systems are ill equipped for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, which means that in all honesty the people are basically hopeless. Anything that they can do medically costs way more than the normal African has. In Europe from 1348 to 1350 there was an outbreak of the Yersinia pestis bacterium. This disease was also known as the black plague. It caused the deaths of 30 to 60 percent of europes population. More than 350 million people died from this epidemic. The European population took 150 years to recover from the high amount of death. The original carriers of the plague were the rats that were...
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...education, but they rarely link them to the role that racism plays in the United States. He adds that the media often reports personal crimes while under-reporting organized and traditional discrimination. In the country, Black and Latino males are most prospective to have their cars stopped and searched for drugs. Tim’s argument regarding the color-blind perspective relates completely to the issue of the privilege system. In the system, color-blindness is treated like an inability. Talking about the realities race, oppression and white privilege make people uncomfortable. There are races that feel superior and their position oppresses the minorities. Institutional privilege and inequality exist in every society, including Saudi Arabia. The Saudi system is dominated by the rich. The rich are comparable to the White privileged in America. The economic inequality makes one fall either to the dominant or the oppressed group. Racial Privilege (white) means that racial affiliation stands across all spectrums of life. It seems like a privilege to obtain legal, economic and health assistance...
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...difficult or dangerous.” Courage is the motivator that allows a person to step outside of a comfort zone and persist forward with an idea. Courage provides the enthusiasm to grab onto the idea and see that idea through to completion. A person is capable of being persistent and enthusiastic about an idea or a concept; but without courage, setbacks or negativity can cause the persistence and enthusiasm to wane. In the video “Manal al-Sharif: A Saudi woman who dared to drive,” from http://www.ted.com/talks/manal_al_sharif_a_saudi_woman_who_dared_to_drive.html, there is a story of courage. In American society, it has been almost a century since the end of the Women’s Right Movement. While women may still face issues within the society, they have the ability to face those issues without the ridicules once imposed prior to the movement. In Manal al-Sharif’s video, the story portrays a whole different societal view. In Memphis, TN there is a law that is still on the books to date. This law states that whenever a woman is driving a vehicle, a man must be in front of that vehicle waving a red flag to indicate/warn other motorists of a female driver on the road. This law is obviously not in force and being enforced shown by the number of female drivers seen on a daily basis. In al-Sharif’s situation, there were no laws in place in regards to female drivers. She faced a ban instilled by societal and religious impositions. But yet,...
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...Introduction to Sociology-Socio-Autobiography | Floating in a Sea of Cultures | Sarah Hazim Abass | | 31344 | March 22, 2013 | There are certain instances where some individuals believe where they are from properly defines who they are. Each time I am asked, 'where are you from?' I find myself struggling with a response. The short answer would be I am from Iraq and America; however, that is not entirely true. Responding Iraqi/American makes me feel as if I'm selling out my true identity. My Father is Iraqi while my mother is Iraqi with Kurdish, Spanish, and Turkish roots. My identity does not stop there; I was born in Duncan, Oklahoma and moved to Caracas, Venezuela at the age of seven, then moved to Dhahran, Saudi Arabia at the age of 12, and finally moved to the United Arab Emirates at the age of 19. Although I would be classified as a nomad child, this aspect has allowed me to learn about and understand other cultures without assuming my culture is considered normal and superior to others, otherwise known as ethnocentrism. Though now I feel I am able to view other individuals' culture in respect to their own culture, also known as being a culture relativist, I experienced a sense of confusion and anxiety when moving from one culture to another, otherwise known as culture shock. Moving from Duncan to Caracas was my first culture shock. Duncan is a small town where neighbors greet one another as they walk out of their homes to collect the mail or as they rake...
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