Now... all you Westerners put a pin in your big western ideals and recognize that this is a momentous occasion that deserves to be celebrated!
Saudi Arabia is a deeply conservative country with so many restrictions in place for women... from an extremely strict dress code to the guardianship law where women are required to have a male "guardian"(husband, father, uncle, etc) who can control everything from travel to working to even undergoing medical procedures. The ban on driving was just one of many obstacles in the way of womens independence and freedom.
Women first began to protest the ban in 1990 and many were arrested or lost their jobs. Now, eighteen years later, those same women have licenses and can drive themselves to work or the supermarket or wherever they wish to go. This marks a huge change in the right direction for the country and the crowned prince Mohammad Bin Salman has spoken about overhauling the country and moving their society forward so we can only hope that more changes are on the horizon.
When the women sat behind the wheel for the first time on Sunday, their joy was met with excitement and support! The military even handed out roses and cards to the new drivers!
All the roses had these sweet notes attached... my friend Fatima said that they say "goodbye and be with peace and safety"
As a westerner, and one born in the United States at that, I can't fathom a life where my dad or husband can control my life or the decisions I make. I've never been a believer in "submitting" to my husband (let alone anyone else) and have always been independent and viewed my marriage as a partnership of equals. But these women grew up in a very patriarchal society and have fought long and hard to make changes to gain freedom and independence and having a license is a HUGE step in the right direction. So, I stand in solidarity with these amazing women and send them well wishes, many congratulations, and lots of hope for the future!
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