Admittedly, I hardly watch television. Neither do I have the time, nor the inclination. Even when I do have a spare moment, the struggle to vanquish the likes of The Power Puff Girls or Scooby Doo from the screen always proves too insurmountable an endeavor. A good book is more often than not my solace. As very few of my friends and family share this literary passion, I am quite often a silent spectator when it comes to discussions involving the box.
During the middle of last week I received an e-mail inquiring of me my thoughts pertaining to an American chat show that had aired a couple of days previously. Characteristically, as I had not seen the show, I declined to comment. Subsequent to this my inbox became deluged with requests asking me to sign a petition in opposition to the same program. I was curious to ascertain what it was that had caused such a tremendous kerfuffle among the ranks of normally placid Saudi women.
Seated at dinner adjacent to an American friend I casually asked, “Did you hear about this new Oprah Winfrey program on Saudi Arabia?”
She shook her head and said that perhaps it was a repeat of a similar episode that had aired a few years ago. I assumed that it must have been and left it at that. Ironically a Saudi lady at our table brought up the very same subject.
“Did you see Oprah?” she asked.
“What was it all about?” I piped up eager to establish what it was that had galvanized so many into action.
“Well,” she continued conspiratorially, “she did profiles on all the wonderful women of the world and every country was represented by someone successful, beautiful and famous. Like Aishwarya Rai from India. You know, that kind of thing.”
“Who did they pick from here?” I stupidly inquired.
“Rania Al-Baz,” she declared defeatedly.
“Rania Al Baz? Isn’t she that announcer who had been beaten up by her husband?” I commented with great astonishment. “But why would they pick her?”
“This is my point,” she added shaking her head. “And do you know what? After they showed pictures of her bruised and distorted face, Oprah said, ‘Thank God we live in America!’”
I looked at my American friend who shrugged her shoulders and then a Saudi writer who was sitting across the table joined in the discussion. “I thought it was really good,” he volunteered excitedly. “At least Oprah told it as it is.”
Even though I was not properly qualified to speak I was rather outraged by his response and encouragement of such a spurious message being delivered to a nation of people who would probably never have the experience of meeting a Saudi woman firsthand and who would be allowed to nurture this image of our status as victims and second class citizens.
“Hang on a minute,” I interjected. “Do you honestly think that Rania Al-Baz is representative of women here?”
“Well,” he ventured unperturbed by the tone of the question, “I think that the program showed how Saudis treat women. Oprah did say at the beginning that Saudi women were the only ones in the world who aren’t allowed to drive and they are forced to wear the veil. Besides, just because you may have a sentimental perspective it doesn’t mean that you can deny the facts.”
“You’re right insofar as these being facts. That is indisputable. What worries me is the reinforcement of these negative counter productive and dangerous stereotypes. I don’t think that any country can accurately be defined by a victim of domestic abuse. This phenomenon is one that is not exclusive to Saudi Arabia. After all, if you view the statistics, such violent acts are far more rampant in the States then they are here.”
“Yes,” said the Saudi lady, “this is how I feel exactly. We too have high achievers in this country. Why couldn’t Oprah have chosen one of them instead? Are you trying to say that other countries don’t have problems? No one denies that in Saudi we have our problems but at least we are working toward solving them.”
I left that dinner table and the discussion rather disillusioned. It made me sad to think that instead of highlighting the tremendous achievements of many women in previously uncharted fields, this popular American presenter had buckled under the shackles of ignorance and misperception and portrayed the entire female population of this country as the minions of their abusive male counterparts.
It was this newspaper that dared to pursue the case of Rania Al-Baz last summer and brought it to public attention. Such reportage is utterly important and absolutely necessary for a society such as ours that is experiencing a period of transformation. I am a firm believer in speaking the truth no matter how hard it may be to swallow or come to terms with. We have come an awfully long way in a relatively short period of time. Subjects that were considered taboo and issues that smacked of social stigma are being addressed openly and publicly. This shows our determination and willingness to confront our shortcomings and failings.
Yes, we have domestic abuse. Yes, there are unsavory elements that live in our society too. Yes, there are women and children who have been subjected to mental and physical torture. But no, this does not define us as a society. What concerns me is the manner in which the outside world looks upon the evolutionary process that we are experiencing. It is as if we are damned if we do and damned if we don’t.
Throughout the years when crime and corruption were totally absent from the headlines we were considered as being unrealistic and hiding under false pretenses. Now that we finally have the courage to become more realistic and deal with the brute realities that we have concealed for so long, we are being classified by such revelations. If this be the case, then why was it not the corpse of someone who had been burned to death by her in-laws as a failure to pay her dowry who was chosen to embody the quintessential Indian woman? Statistically there must be more of these wretched souls inhabiting the shores of the Subcontinent than glamour pusses who have won international beauty pageants.
If you look at the figures, then rape victims are far more common than Hollywood movie stars and yet who would dare to nominate one of these ladies as being the icon symbolic of the United States? Or would a snapshot of a high school student from a Columbine yearbook gunned down in cold blood by a fellow pupil be more cognizant of The American Dream?
What worries me is just how irresponsible, discriminatory and ill-informed a seasoned and influential broadcaster can be and get away with it. This is blatant hypocrisy of the highest order that can only serve to create misunderstanding and distrust between people of different cultures and religions. In a world where we are sitting on a Balkan powder keg, how can such rabid sensationalism and distorted journalism be justified?
However, in spite of all this, as a society we do have very real flaws that don’t need further rationalization but instant correction. Our talented women need to be supported in their respected fields. In light of the fact that 55 percent of all Saudi graduates are women the government and the private sector need to rethink their recruitment strategies to get the best out of this potential goldmine of employees. Women need to be given their rights according to those clearly stated in Islamic law. Not those subject to interpretation and manipulation through the designs of male domination and control. Women are the driving force of any society (no pun intended!) and if we are determined to move forward then it is incumbent upon us to accept their invaluable contribution to progress and reform.
I don’t believe that it is the image of Rania Al-Baz, the battered announcer or Capt. Hanadi Hindy, the first Saudi female pilot, that defines the Saudi woman. But rather the growing contingent of educated emancipated and sophisticated women like those who supported the petition against such convenient typecasting.
According to your stereotypical estimation, Ms. Winfrey, we may not have a face, but we do have a voice!
(Lubna Hussain is a Saudi writer. She is based in Riyadh.)