Women Driving in Saudi Arabia
Posted by: amellie
2 years, 8 months ago
My dad told me (again) about the possibility women driving cars; quoting of what Crown Prince Sultan said a few days ago. We started talking about the effects of women driving; how it will change the Saudi society. It became a pretty interesting conversation to be honest.
In terms of financial, permitting women driving will certainly be a benefit. It will at least decrease the expenses of hiring a driver. Having a private male driver is common in Saudi Arabia. For Saudi and Arab people, public transportation is definitely a no-no. There are only 2 public transports in Saudi Arabia: bus and taxi. Bus is not effective; most of them do not allow women to get in. Taxi is accessible, but safeness becomes a real problem. So the only option for Arab women to go out of the house is by their own cars. Besides, these women are mostly wealthy and have a high self-pride (gengsi!) and dignity.
If the law passes, this could be a new beginning for Saudi Arabia to support the women’s rights. King Abdullah himself has solved many issues regarding the rights of women (eg. participation of women in politics). But why should I say a new beginning? Because it’s perhaps the most well-known crisis in the public world that women in Saudi Arabia are not allowed to drive. People around the world would see it as a milestone of equality and freedom for women in the Kingdom. And most probably, other women’s rights issues would be affected. In the future, women’s role in Saudi’s life and culture would be more appreciated and accepted than before.
Although I have been a supporter of women driving, the real situations are much harder than what I expected. I have observed every aspects that would effect or (in worst case) disadvatage the society, culture, sectors, and probably economy of Saudi Arabia.
Millions of women in the Kingdom have successful life in terms of financial. They are mostly teachers, bank’s staffs, and other professions that rely on the private drivers to go from one place to the others. Many of them are able to drive due to the frequent visits to the foreign countries. So if women are allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia, the cars industries will certainly be advantaged because of the increase of car’s demands. But on the other hand, the taxi companies will have a major financial loss. If there are less people using the taxis, the number of taxis operating on the streets will drop, many drivers will lose the job, and the unemployment rate will increase.
Now, looking at the condition of roads in Saudi Arabia. They are not cleared of the deadly male reckless drivers who dominate the roads. I would expect that traffic deaths will increase rapidly if women participate in the Kingdom’s dangerous and chaotic roads. I hope that the authority would tighten the driving’s regulation across the region of the country before they pass the law of women driving. I wonder if they actually will set a rule about whose allowed to be in the cars when only one passenger is involved. So far, there’s a rule which says that if a man drives with a woman as his passenger, he must be either her muhrim (e.g. husband, brother, etc) or her employee (meaning driver). Anyway, I personally agree of what Crown Prince Sultan said that the government will “open the way for women driving once they get consent from their families.” I respect some families who still have the traditional ways of life regarding how to treat women. These families will have options whether or not they will approve the women in their families drive.
Other issues which I call as long-term issues will affect Saudi society and culture in the future. I was honestly very, very surprised on how fast Saudi teenagers evolve. A few years ago, I hardly saw them going to the malls with their groups of friends without their veils on. They were still old-fashioned and way ahead from American cultures. But now, you can see them in the malls, chatting with friends, wearing fancy abayas with lots of make-ups, and dating with guys! Yes, it’s unbelievable. I mean, years ago, you would not find such a thing! Guys and girls were like two separate creatures that barely mix with each others IN THE PUBLIC. I’m talking about the teenagers here, not those who are already married. By allowing women drive, I actually think that there’ll be a time when free sex is going to be a major problem in this country - by looking on how aggressive women and men in Saudi Arabia are. Look at our country, Indonesia; the most populous Islam believers in the world. Sex outside marriage was not common, but now it’s everywhere! It happens to your friends, neighbours, everyone!! So certainly if the government does not aware of such a thing, it will happen even in the holy country like Saudi Arabia. So, what do you expect? The two holy cities (Mecca and Medina) surrounded by cities with unacceptable and disgraceful cultures?? What will the role of Islam be???
I just want to make it clear that although I really want this law to be passed, I’m aware of what will happen in this holy land in the future. I hope that the government will take a further step by making more regulations regarding women driving before they pass the law itself.
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Spot on !
ya mudah - mudahan peraturannya cepet dihapus =), biar gimana juga Aisyah R.A dulu pernah mimpin pasukan pake kuda, lha sekarang nyetir mobil ga boleh =)
Allowing women to drive by themselves in a hot-blooded society like Saudi is like giving aligators soft preys. Unless the mentality of the men is changed, women will never feel safe to drive alone. If they (the men) really understand the teachings of Islam, they will definitely understand the role women should play in the society and should start to have more respect towards their other halves.
waduh saya jadi pengunung tetap begini…
Mungkin masalah momen kali ya.. Lets’ look it as a different context..eventhough i’m litle bit conservative, but i’m supporting the right of women to drive in saudi…
Regulasi tersebut muncul kan karena keinginan untuk menghindari fitnah kan??? jadi INtinya adalah menghindari FItnah, bukan membatasi wanita untuk mengemudi (BTW saya sering di supirin perempuan, berhubung saya gak bisa nyetir).. Jadi regulasi yang harus tetap ada adalah bagaimana fitnah dapat dhindari..Misal perempuan boleh menyupir, tapi kalo bukan sama muhrim di cabut SIMnya…. atau apa kek, di sita mobilnya… artinya wanita tetap bisa menyetir dan fitnah tetap terhindari…
Kalu untuk konteks pergaulan bebas.. INi masalah dari Kerajaan Saudi, dan tidak terkait dengan regulasi menyetir..right???
The main problem is whether the saudi kingdom see this kind of phenomenom as a problem?? kenapa regulasi hijab tidak diperketat (tapi wanita tetap bisa nyetir)..artinya hukum islam kan bukan cuma motong tangan maling, tapi ada core yang harus terjaga..iya gak..
wah ini comment gue terpanjang…fiuh….udah ah takut bosen..
kalo bill-nya pass, bagaimanakah mereka (the State) akan mengontrol/ mem-verifikasi siapa yang telah mendapat family consent, secarik kertas dengan stempel? akan ada road block kah?
Hehe..iya nih, saya juga jadi ikutan pengunjung tetap. Compliment to your blog!
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Well, I think the issue is not only about religion. It’s too mean to relate the restriction with religion only. They also have rules about the veil, no women this and no women that in relation to the culture.
From religion point of view, for (almost) any reason, I against the restriction for women to drive-has Islam mention this in any part of Quran or hadist??. But if it relates to cultural point of view, sociological studies or upon considering Arabian individual character, I will leave it to the government.
Every community has its own character-that’s why we have different regulation, but for sure Islam is a blessing for the universe.
jangan jadi nak selesaikan satu masaalah akan timbul pelbagai masaalah lain pulak..
ahmad qisa’i: Saudi’s cuture has changed dramatically in most metropolitan areas like Riyadh and Jeddah. Then men have started to respect women, although yes, it’s a bit slow. But in other cities like Mecca, women’s issues are still a big problem. thanks for your comment!
catuy: Regulasi itu emang udah ada sejak dulu kok
emang untuk menghindarkan fitnah dan perbuatan2 buruk yg lain heuheuehe. Kalo ttg pergaulan bebas, saya sendiri menilai dgn dibebasin wanita untuk nyetir, maka pergaulan org2 Saudi semakin mengikuti western… skrg aja udah rada “gawat” gimana nanti…
mungkin org2 di indo ngeliat org Saudi itu alim2 atau apa. But actually they ARE NOT! “Didalam”nya kadang parah2 banget loh! Tapi itu dia, mereka org yg punya gengsi super tinggi, jadinya hal2 aib seperti itu tidak akan terungkap… sedikit yg terungkap. so menurut saya, isu ttg women driving itu akan memicu ke hal2 yg tidak diinginkan, KALAU pemerintah ga membuat regulasi2 ketat…
Masih banyak org2 saudi yg old-fashioned; mereka ga menyetujui dgn diperbolehkannya wanita nyetir. makanya masih dlm proses perdebatan di pemerintahan.
macchiato: hmm kayanya sih wanita2 yg akan mendapatkan sim nanti harus ada persetujuan dr keluarga. so yg ga dpt persetujuan dr suami/keluarga, then mereka ga bisa dapet sim.. gitu kali yah?? I dunno…
mulia nurhasan: blog mulia jg tulisannya bagus2 banget!! cuma aku ga bisa ninggalin komen yah?? soalnya commentnya hanya untuk member FS….
I guess, I’m still against everything that suppresses the role of women in this life, even if it’s the cultural point of views. Because some Saudi families are still traditional that they prohibit their daughters to go to the university, believe that their sons are much better in terms of future than their daughters, and force their daughters to marry with their chosen men. that’s why i’m against anything that relates to limiting women’s role in this life.
Ada banyakkah keluarga Saudi tidak mengijinkan anak wanitanya menempuh pendidikan universitas ???
woaaah … era jurrasic banget atuh!
mereka tidak berencaka akan ke bulan kah sementara jualan minyak masih laris ???
macchiato: yap, org2 saudi yg tradisional dan punya agama yg sangat2 kuat (dan kebanyakan ekstrimis) masih berpikiran seperti itu. bahkan ada temen2 ku yg gak ngelanjutin kuliah krn bokapnya gak ngizinin..padahal dia org yg kaya
Ya amel, maybe one time i’ll move to blogspot from friendster blog-when i have time so you could also put comment.
You have the right to disagree since you you live there. I would doubt if i have the capasity to agree or disagree since i’ve never been there-moreoever because i do not read newspaper or watch tv.
Again, maybe one time i’ll visit Saudi and make judgement.
do you know what the western women said about saudi woman??????
they said: “she is a real queen!!
because she doesn’t drive car, exactly as queens!”
you must be proud saudi woman!!!!