Six women consultants to the Shoura Council. Great news and a step forward and all is well but maybe we should stop and ask who are these women, how they have been chosen and why.
The council in the past has sought the advice of a few select women in order to help it in decision-making in areas of concern to women. There have always been calls to give women a larger role in the process, since the ultimate objective is to empower women in Saudi Arabia. And every woman in Saudi Arabia is happy with the way King Abdullah regards women’s contribution to society. They are happy that more and more opportunities are being given to them to represent their country abroad either as civil servants or individuals.
The Shoura Council is only one of the institutions where women hope to be included as citizens, not merely as women. As women, they do have a lot to talk about and to suggest and to demand and are happy with the idea of appointing women as advisors to the council, but the problem is that this is just one step in what should be a long process and we should not consider it as an end in itself. We still have a long way to go to realize the ideal of a society where men and women work together to ensure the welfare of this country of which we are all citizens.
Some people suggest that these women were chosen because they are related to Shoura members, which, if true, lessens the effectiveness of the measure.
There is also another point to note: All these women happen to be doctorate holders. Why? Is it a qualification? Someone who can advise the council can be an ordinary woman, she does not have to be an academic. After all, most of the issues deal with women’s lives and affairs and those affected must have a say in such issues even if they do not have Ph.D.s. Obviously we are so much in love with titles that we do not see beyond them and assume that people who do not have those titles know less or are less equipped or qualified to advise or venture an opinion.
If the council is discussing matters that need academic knowledge and expertise then it is fine to choose academics but if the issues deal with women’s lives which are part of the larger social life then the advice should come from those directly affected.
One more thing: I assume that if you are aiming at a true representation, then all shades of society — all occupations and backgrounds — should find a place. Then only people would take it seriously.
The most intriguing point is: Those women, we are told, will be consulted on matters that are related to women. Fine. How about other issues? Don’t women live in the same country as men and don’t they have a right to express their views on all issues concerning their country? What are the issues that women are affected by? Is it education, water, economy, culture or social issues? To restrict women’s advisory or consultancy role to issues affecting only women would indicate women in this country are a minority and that they need to be represented only as a minority.
As reports say, the consultants have only a limited role. They are supposed to “advise” the council and give opinions only when they are asked and the interesting thing is that the news item about their appointment said that these six women “have the right to make suggestions if asked by the chairman.” Suppose they have an opinion about certain matters concerning women and family but are not asked to give it. Are they supposed to keep their views to themselves?
What is even more disappointing is that even when these women give their opinions there is no guarantee that any of it will be binding on the Shoura Council, which makes their advice redundant. I also understand that the council will only accept the women members’ advice if the other (presumably male) members agreed. So what is the difference if these women stayed at home and sent regular suggestions to the council?
Maybe it is about time to think about including women as full members of the Shoura Council for if we want actual involvement of women in the affairs of society we should think around the Islamic concept that men and women have the same rights and same obligations. Otherwise anything we do will always be regarded as window dressing.
