Comments on: Hidden Kingdom: Understanding Womens’ Rights In Saudi Arabia

By: Sarah

Sarah — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 02:04:06 +0000

I don’t actually think it makes the men happier either. This is a misconception. My bestfriend/roommate is from a middle eastern country. She’s lovely. When her parents moved here, they were traditional. Now they’re just like any other westernized family.

They always invite me over, and her mom is stuffing delicious home cooked food down my throat and telling me to fatten up. They love to tell me about what it was like back home, and how much happier they are here. Her dad loves that his wife goes to work, and earns money too (although she still is ALWAYS the one to cook). They love each other. He loves that she is happy. He is happier that she is happy… and really, what man is that opposed to seeing a little female flesh?

I think the men/boys there are, in a way, oppressed too. It must be so confusing to grow up in a society where looking at female flesh is an evil sin. You are responsible – COMPLETELY responsible – for your wife and daughters. That must feel like a burden. A loss of freedom. A terrible strain. They have to spend their lives attached to someone who is an unequal sub-human, and maybe even unhappy because of it. You never get to appreciate the beauty/appeal/charm of a women who is shrowded in black and obediance all the time. They’re losing out.

My bestfriend, born and raised here, is seriously the most awesome girl ever. It’s hard to believe that under those burkas are sassy, intelligent teenaged girls, just like she could have been.

Peace out to any Saudi girls reading this, us girls in the West are rooting for you!

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By: Phoebe Cole

Phoebe Cole — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 09:10:31 +0000

Hi, I think that what is going on in Saudi Arabia is absalutley appaling Men have deemed them selves superior and women are like slaves to enjoy and exploite cruelly. If a women is a victim of rape, then she will get prosecuted, not th emen who actually do it. It will be her fault because she was near a man at the time. I think that change needs to happen fast. Women can not vote, drive cars and only 5% of the workforce in Saudi Arabia is made up of women. Women have no voice, they must only serve their husbands till they die. Males are deemed superior in everyway but with out us women they can not live, we give birth to them, we nourture them when they are babies, we obey them when they are our husbands.
Oh and Eric, just think again when you say that it is acceptable for women to be treated like this.

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By: Snailgoop

Snailgoop — Mon, 11 May 2009 01:05:07 +0000

You’re 20 years old and you choose to go to the Kingdom? So, don’t go. That’s a choice too, right? Stay where you are and enjoy your summer sans the misery.

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By: Snailgoop

Snailgoop — Mon, 11 May 2009 00:57:23 +0000

Eric, stupid post. Have you ever raised children, cooked meals, washed clothes by hand in a bucket or river, dipped a string in candle wax to make candles, woven yarn into clothing, shaped pottery from which your family can eat… or for that matter really made food, e.g. pounded corn into tortillas? Men weren’t the only ones working throughout history. Educate yourself.

Matt, I don’t like the idea of an abaya. I wouldn’t want to visit Saudi Arabia, except from sheer morbid curiosity. Arranged marriages are unfortunate but there is something to be said for appreciating the beauty of women, underneath the abaya, to not be accustomed to it so that it continues to enchant. In America, men are having serious problems appreciating female bodies that aren’t perfected, or worse perfected through cosmetic surgery. Surprisingly though, apparently women over there get nose jobs pretty frequently, so I guess it’s still an issue. None of it is worth losing one’s freedom. I’d much rather be an American woman any day.

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By: doug

doug — Sun, 10 May 2009 05:52:00 +0000

I lived and worked in Saudi Arabia for 18 years and experienced the low mantality of how Saudi females are treated and exploited by Saudi men who think they are the masters for women to obey, any female objecting to this treatment is either beaten into submission or divorced.There are too many factors supporting the poor disrespectful way Saudi women are treated as second class citizens and the men use their personal Koran beliefs to support there actions and try to brain wash any female that has been educated to change.When you look at history in many Western style Countries a lot of change has come from the women, so in Saudi Arabia the educated females need to unite and have the courage to challenge the barbaric mantality of men against females,it will be very costly and there wll be many loss of lives amongst women ,but the whole western world would support them in their actions and I am sure the Saudi Government will buckle to public International opinion and only then changes will be made. The Saudi men will never willingly change as they have their cake and eat it ,so why spoil a good thing, but with that attitude it will always show Saudi Arabia to be a third world Country with too much money from oil revenue to give the impression they respect there women when in actual fact they are abusing them and the whole International world is becomming aware.So if Saudi females want respect from men stand up for your rights and stop hiding behind your abiya and being content with being treated like a second class citizen, have the courage of your convictions to bring change,just look at Bahrain a short trip across the causeway to see how Muslim women play a much more active roll in society and have the freedom of expression in a mixed environment which has gained them respect from their men.

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By: Joe

Joe — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 20:54:21 +0000

In saudi I belive it would be difficult for a western woman to “tour” I work there on ocasion and it always leavs me un-easy. I think if you are a western woman and want to expierience arab culture ( sort of ) go first to UAE Dubai and abu dhabi are much more liberal. Visit sharja while there they have a very conservative cultue also. If you can stand it there go to saudi
If you take away the: Thobes,Abaya’s no alcchole, movie theators, well Saudi is not soo bad I am VERY happy I am a man though when I go Hope this helps Joe

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By: A

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 03:46:56 +0000

Nice article. By the way, I just came back from Saudi Arabia after a 2 week trip. It was my first time there and it was truly an experience. I am an American girl born and raised here by somewhat religious Muslim parents. When I was first going to Jeddah, i had forgotten to keep my abaya and hijab with me to change into. It was the most awkward thing ever, everyone kept staring at me. I wasnt even wearing revealing clothes, just my hair was showing. It felt strange, as it would to anyone who wasnt raised in that kind of society where such strict morals are placed on women. For my entire stay, I began wearing a hijab and abaya everytime I went out, It didnt occur to me to think twice before putting it on because I knew I had to. Saudi Arabia is a highly religious place, Its the birthplace of Islam and in Islam, it teaches that women should be modest in appearance so that translates to women wearing abayas to Saudi’s. In other Muslim countries, woman dont have to wear abaya or hijab, but atleast dress in non-revealing or tight clothes. Its all culture/religion. and some people are more strict about it than others, such as the Saudi’s. I dont wear hijab in everyday life, and I am a Muslim, and thats my choice. But in Saudi Arabia, the woman dont have a choice unless they want to be outcasted, I disagree with that but i dont consider hijab/abaya restrictive if its the womans choice to do so.

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By: Kiana

Kiana — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 05:01:33 +0000

Hi, Im doing a senior global issues project and my topic is on Middle Eastern Women's Rights. Can you give me any information that might help? That would be great (:

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By: Camellia

Camellia — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 13:07:59 +0000

Women in the middle east are not treated unfairly the rules here are not strict at all .
In Bahrain we get to do almost anything . we have no problems at all.
we get to wear what ever we want; go where ever we want as women. Also work in high positions as well and are recognized when something is done.
We are respected greatly here, no man can even possibly think of touching or doing anything to insult us. You might be surprised by the things we have here. Dubai is in the middle east and is known the new york of middle east. Things are changing here and aren't as bad as it seems.

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By: saudigirl

saudigirl — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 01:31:34 +0000

i'm really sorry matt but you only saw what is not important i mean there are more other things that are more important than walking on the beach , i mean you been there for a week you didnt even meat with women and see how they felt about living like this .."as a 20 year old girl and living in the kingdom it's just like prison or worst , imagine that my 17 year old brother have the power over me beside my father of course " we have three monthes summer vication here in the kingdom i spend them all sitting at home while i have money to go to the place i want but they won't let me go ..every single day i feel so sad about this live i'm living , we all saudi women are living like slaves and cant do anything about it .

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