Last week, Raid Qusti wrote yet another article about women and elections. This was not the first time he tackled the issue, making it clear to all of us, again, that he agrees with the government’s decision to exclude women from participating in the first municipal elections ever to be held in Saudi Arabia. Despite the many letters I had received from female (and even some male) readers countering his arguments in several articles, I have thus far declined because I truly feel the topic has been exhausted. This time, however, I must agree that something must be said.
With all due respect to all those who argue that it is fine to exclude women because Saudi Arabia is “different”, they are missing a crucial point. Of course, Saudi Arabia is different; of course, we are like no other country in the world; and of course, there are many obstacles in the face of women nominating themselves for political positions. That is our main problem. That is why we need to change. That is precisely why it was crucial to give women a chance to revolutionize all that is “different” about us in a perfectly acceptable way. With one bold decision, the government could have given the chance to seven courageous women to change history forever.
As I step into Qusti’s hypothetical situation, I can see this: First, there are no barriers that prevent women socially from voting. I think we all agree to that (him included). As for the “technical reasons” excuse, we all also agree that it can be easily overcome with a little planning. The point I would like to add here is this: Why couldn’t the technicalities have been dealt with before any elections started? Hypothetically speaking, if the government had announced that only women would be allowed to vote this year for “technical reasons”, I am sure that the nation — and the whole world — would have had a field day with the news; it would have been the joke of the century. People here; however, tend to forget that women have just as much right to this country as men do. And, if that means postponing the elections for a year until all facilities are ready, so be it. Half the nation is certainly worth it.
Second, regarding women being nominees, Qusti says, “Let’s get practical. Would a woman actually want to place her picture and full name in a street advertisement or newspaper advertisement?” While, I agree that many women have social and cultural restrictions on doing so — there are others who do not have a problem with it and who would readily do it. We all know Saudi women, who do have their pictures next to their newspaper columns, and women who show their pictures in magazines during interviews and on Internet sites. That decision should be left up to the women themselves. I think that women should have been given the chance to show what they are willing to do in order to “reach their public”: From posing for billboards and newspaper ads to setting up tents to address visitors. No one can really say what would have happened, unless they were given a chance.
I personally feel that all the women who nominated themselves are women of extreme courage and determination, definitely not your average, typical, restricted Saudi women. Just the fact that they were willing to be pioneers speaks for itself. We, as a nation, needed to give such women a chance; not just for other women’s sake but also for the whole nation’s sake. Maybe these women would have succeeded in changing much of what is wrong with our society; much of that which makes us “different”. They could have started with the election process itself by breaking all barriers restraining women from appearing in public and ended by actually giving voice to women-related issues on a more political level. They certainly would have started giving more balance to our male-only public society.
Thus, in another hypothetical situation, I see this: I see a woman running in the elections. I see her posting her picture in newspaper ads, and by doing so she breaks the faceless mold many of us live in. I see a woman hosting many events, meeting with people of both sexes, and by doing so she breaks the social phobia we have of allowing such situations. I see some Saudi men and women voting for this woman, because they want change and because this woman embodies “hope of a different tomorrow” to them. I see a woman winning in the elections. I see a woman appearing in public in a press conference, talking to the media and making official announcements. I see a woman becoming a part of Saudi politics, thus paving the way for more female participation at all levels, including other political sectors. I see a woman who stands in the face of many obstacles, yet tackles them all one by one, head on, and rises above them all. I see a woman showing Saudis and the rest of the world that Saudi women are educated, dignified, and determined. I see a woman who has made history.
Unfortunately, however, my hypothetical situation was never put to the test either. No Saudi woman got the chance to run or even vote. Why? Because we are not ready to let anyone “make history”; because we dwell too much on what can and cannot be done “practically”. Something everyone keeps forgetting is this: If you keep doing what you’re doing, you will always be what you are. If we keep saying “society will not allow women to do such and such”, we will always be the frozen society we are.
— Mody Al-Khalaf is a Saudi writer. She is based in Riyadh.
