AHMED IS A RATHER perplexed man these days. With a worried look on his face, he told me the other day how he was having a difficult time sorting out a career path for his college-age daughters.
Although one daughter is currently enrolled in her first year at the local university studying Computer Science, she has no real aptitude for the subject. While passionately wanting to study Psychology, she enrolled in this field as it was the only one available. The other daughter is in her last year at high school, and is not very interested in the existing curriculum at the university.
"I am a modest man with modest means, Tariq. As a father I would like to see my daughters excel in the profession of their choice. However, if one is not inclined to be a doctor or a teacher, what choice does one really have? I cannot afford to send them outside to pursue an education of their choice, and neither can I afford the high cost of tuition at either of the two private universities here.
"To marry them off as so many of my relatives have suggested to rest my anxiety is not the answer. These girls are all I have, and at this stage in their lives I would like to help them achieve a means, if you will, that will enable them to survive independent of any man if they so chose. And if and when they do decide to get married, then once again I would be there for them," he continued.
"That’s very noble of you, Ahmed. I think your elder daughter is on the right track with her interest. The way things are currently going on in our society, we need more Saudi psychologists. Most of the ones I’ve heard of are foreigners, and without cultural roots here, I cannot believe these foreign therapists would be very effective in uprooting some of the maladies of the Saudi mind. And as for your other daughter, what interests has she expressed so far?"
"Well, the younger one shows a significant amount of enthusiasm for physical sports and activity. While she is restricted from exercising this interest here due to the lack of facilities for women, she would like to study more about the human body and it’s relation to the field of sports."
"Ahmed, there are sports clubs here for women, subtly disguised as health clinics, for what absurd reason I know not! And while they do not offer courses of study in the field of athletics, they may provide some physical exposure to someone interested in this curriculum. However, I’m afraid that with their pricey membership fees they may be out of the question for your budget at this stage in time. Look, why don’t you consider distance learning through the Internet? There are many reputable and accredited institutions around the world that may cater to your daughters‚ interests and to your budget."
"And I’ll tell you something else Ahmed," I continued. "Do whatever it takes, but help them pursue their dreams. This society is in dire need of the professions your daughters have expressed an interest in. And I can think up of a few more at the top of my head that should open up here. A nutritionist, for example. There’s a lot of obesity in our society that needs serious addressing. And what’s indeed alarming is that it is affecting some very young children. Or how about being an artist, for another? One who could provide a bit of color to the drabness around. Or Sales and Marketing? Let them take over the counters selling feminine geared products that are currently manned exclusively by males. Or how about photography, still and motion, whereby a woman could earn a decent living, shooting wedding parties attended by women only?
"Yes Ahmed, I do understand your concern. Saudi women should serve their place in Saudi culture. They should be provided with all the opportunity to pursue their field of dreams. And perhaps when we do get to that stage, we can all rest in peace."
— Tariq A. Al-Maeena, [email protected]