Mingling of sexes fine with JCCI deputy chief
Published: Mar 10, 2010 00:14 Updated: Mar 10, 2010 00:14
JEDDAH: Lama Suleiman, deputy chairperson of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), has said women would not be able to play an important role in society without physically interacting with men. “There is a section of society that opposes mingling of the sexes but I say that women will not be able to participate in society as a principal partner without mingling,” she said.
She rejected the idea of having separate work places for men and women. “The idea of dividing the Kingdom into cities for men and cities of women goes against the nature. We cannot invent an environment that suites our thinking,” she said in an interview with Al-Madinah Arabic daily published on Monday. Suleiman described Saudi women as the most modest and decent in the world. “It’s the woman who taught her sons the limits ... subsequently, she is the one who taught men,” she explained. She said women have a great role to play in the Kingdom, adding that women should be appointed to the Shoura Council.
“We should have women members in the Shoura because it discusses the Kingdom’s strategies and regulations, to ensure that women, being men’s partner in society, should have her voice while taking decisions. In the beginning we can have a few women Shoura members with the possibility of increasing their number in the future,” she said.
Suleiman also said that women should be given more seats in the boards of directors of chambers. “We see equality and justice only in books. In reality there is a strong movement against women. Of the 18 seats of the JCCI board we have got only two seats. It is better for women to contest for a particular number of seats allocated for them in the board, instead of participating in the general board election. The competition between men and women for the board seats is not fair because of women’s special situation,” she said.
The JCCI deputy chairperson called for more efforts to improve the global image of Saudi women. “Saudi women should go out and say they play an important role in society. But we are not given a chance to defend ourselves. The participation of women in delegations visiting foreign countries would give them an opportunity to express their views,” she said.
She described the growing unemployment rate among women as a big challenge. “Customs and traditions are the main reason that prevent women from entering the job market,” she said. About 57 percent of university graduates in the Kingdom are women. “We cannot ask companies to have separate buildings for women because many of them will not be able to do that.”
She opposed the plan to employ only women at lingerie shops. “We should have both men and women in the sales and give shoppers the choice from whom they want to buy.”
Suleiman supported women driving in the Kingdom. “For women, a car is like any other modern technology such as a television and a fridge. How can somebody say women driving means abandoning of principles and values,” she asked. The ban has nothing to do with Islamic teachings, she added.
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