SAUDI National Day marks the 73rd anniversary of the unification of the Kingdom. Saudi Arabia has come a long way in seventy odd years, and the cities here have been built up from sand to high rises. Every year is a milestone of progress, for life is changing in Saudi Arabia, slowly but surely.
As such, it is tiresome to hear women referred to as living with “highly circumscribed rights” every time Saudi Arabia appears in the world media. Nobody’s existence is so two-dimensional. The young women of today will play an ever-greater role in the shaping of the future of this country, and they have their own views and opinions. The nation stands on the brink of change- what remains is for its citizens to discern what needs to be furthered, and what to hold onto from the past.
Four voices of the next generation of Saudi women spoke about the Saudi national day, and what the future holds for the Kingdom. A national holiday has been declared to mark this day, and when I asked them what national day meant to them, their responses were enthusiastic.
“It’s a day to relax,” says Bayan Shaheen, an MIS student at Dar Al Hekma, “and appreciate our country’s achievement in the past 73 years.”
Hanan Mal, a medical technology student at the KAAU, agrees. “It makes me feel proud of how far the country has come in such a short time,” she says. “There are many things yet to happen, but we are still a very young country and it takes time.:
“It is a time to remember our great traditions,” declares M, a psychology student at Effat College.
In terms of the improvement of everyday life in Jeddah, though, they feel there is a way to go yet. “It has only improved in developing, for example entertainment,” says Ibn Sina dentistry student, Nadia B. “Like dining. But there aren’t any centers for teenagers or women to hang out in.” Concurring, Bayan points out that “five to six years ago, shopping, dining, and entertainment activities were very limited. Nowadays, we have more choices. But all we do is go to malls and eat at restaurants.”
When you get four Saudi girls together though it’s pretty easy to pre-empt the direction the conversation will turn in. “What changes do you see occurring in the next 15 years?” I asked. “How do you visualize Saudi Arabia in the year 2020?”
The response was unanimous: “Women’s rights,” says Nadia, adding “The acknowledgement of women will have improved.” Bayan’s answer was more specific: “Hopefully women will be able to drive, or public transportation for women will be provided. More entertainment areas, such as movie theaters, water theme parks, and sports in general would be good.”
“It’s easy to say that there will be changes in leisure,” starts Hanan, eager to deepen the conversation. “But we hope for more changes with regards to the country’s wellbeing — human rights, environment care. An awareness of how Jeddah and Saudi are really beautiful is needed. We have to take care of it a little more.”
The environment here certainly needs consideration, but there are more and more projects being launched in the Kingdom by the Saudi Environmental Society, Hanan says, mainly to raise awareness about the care of the environment — like the Leave No Trace Campaign launched recently to clean the Red Sea reefs.
The changes hoped for are clear. Employment opportunities for women were discussed, university courses pondered (forensic sciences, marine biology and engineering were among the lamented lacking), and even the social structure of the country mused upon.
They spoke of women-only firms, the like of “which would allow women to get an opportunity to mix in the business world and gain experience.” M discussed how last year in London, Princess Nouf, wife of the former ambassador to the UK Prince Turki Al-Faisal, opened a women’s section in the Saudi Embassy, which “proved its need and helped employ many Saudi women living there.”
When the talk turned to universities, Hanan pointed out that although the majors available in women’s universities are considered limited, in terms of minor degrees progress has certainly been made. “Where, for example, in the medical technology department in the King Abdul Aziz University, previously only laboratory research was available as a subject, this year the department has branched out to include nutrition, physiotherapy and radiology.”
What was generally agreed is that in moving forward Saudi must hold onto Shariah. “Islam is right at everyplace and every time,” Bayan stated. “But women need to increase their education about their Islamic rights so they can make sure that they are being met.” Everyone expressed satisfaction at the opening of the Al-Mamlakah mall in Riyadh, which has a women-only floor. If only there were one in Jeddah, they said.
The last few weeks have showed some doors, or at least windows, opening here in Saudi. There are to be women ambassadors, as well as female electorate for the Chamber of Commerce. Did they think it would set a precedent for the future, I asked? Or would the posts be merely symbolic?
Hanan thinks it is “opening possibilities. It will show men and Saudi Arabia as a whole that we are no longer going to stay at home and cook and clean.” M was slightly less enthusiastic: “It will set a precedent, but it will take a few years before it is done properly and is more than just a ‘hey look we give rights to women too.’”
There is a lot changing for the country. Saudi Arabia may, for example, have joined the WTO by the end of this year. Seen by most it is a positive step. Hopefully, says Bayan, meaning that there will be more job opportunities for men and women. But there are two sides to every debate, and much discussed locally is the ban on trade with Israel that must be lifted in order for Saudi to join.
Exhibiting a fine example of good old English diplomacy (never cross a fence if you can sit on it), Hanan is in favor of the trading possibilities but unsure whether compromising the Kingdom’s political stance is worth it.
“Furthermore,” she adds “seeing as though the WTO’s power usually eclipses that of the national government we will have to compromise.”
Questions raised over the services in women’s banking locally also made for interesting conversation. Apparently, nearly all have had experiences vaguely unpleasant in women’s branches here. “Most employers care about the degrees of women applying to banking - they really don’t look into their interpersonal skills” sighs Bayan. “Although some of them are really committed to their work — my friend is currently working at the NCB bank and she is constantly getting promoted, it really depends on the character not on the gender.”
Nadia suggests the panacea would be more activities in school, and courses that would help them react to the world and their surroundings better. “And urge them to think analytically,” Bayan added.
I asked what role the each feel they have to play in the future of the Kingdom. “If the future is to be shaped it has to be shaped with solid foundations. I have to improve my own skills and capabilities so that I can leave a path for others to follow,” says Bayan, whilst M says her role is to “raise and teach (her) children — the Saudis of tomorrow.”
“We need to establish proper role models,” asserts Hanan.
“I hate seeing people idolizing pop stars when there are truly admirable people in society.” An ideal example here would be Dr. Hayat Sindi, a Saudi biotechnologist unique in the fact that she is not only the only Arab, but the only woman of her field. Lubna Olayan got the general thumbs up from the group too.
“The best thing of living in Saudi Arabia,” started Bayan, “Is being near to Makkah and Medina. What is a pity is many people follow the traditions more than Islam itself.”
“What I love about Saudi Arabia,” Hanan followed on, “is the diversity of the nationalities here — and the shopping.” Nadia smiled at this but said that “the laws that are enforced here” are advantageous.
The determining question though, is whether after finishing university they will stay in Saudi Arabia. “It depends,” says Nadia, “on the chances and opportunities available. If I can make a difference then yes, but if things are looking negative my only chance is to prove myself abroad and come back acknowledged.”
“I hope so,” say Hanan and M, “God willing.”
Listening to these students talking, it is frustrating to see that they, like scores of others, have in their hands the power to better this country. For so many, however, life here is discouraging, and change isn’t happening fast enough. Why do so many of us feel we need to travel to get a ‘real’ education? When we can’t see life getting easier, it’s tempting to resign ourselves to the world and move on.
It is ironic, perhaps, that despite my insistence that they are more than just their rights, it was talk of them that occupied the bulk of the discussion. The point, however, is that their rights do not define them. They are standing up for who they are — they are proud to be Saudi. They only wait for the world to recognize their voices — which are, after all, going to speak out and change the world.
— Published in Arab News Saudi National Supplement (Sept. 23, 2005).
