Quite a few women welcomed the year 2006 as a year for change, a year in which recognition to the necessary role of the Saudi woman in her society outside her home was to be widely promoted.

The government took upon itself to do just that. King Abdullah, in his visits to the Near and Far East, included in his traveling entourage Saudi businesswomen and entrepreneurs.

This was a first and the message was clear. The country was moving in the direction of empowering all its citizens to share the responsibility for national growth and development. Women were going to be an integral part of our developing society.

Several ministries got on the bandwagon and announced increased employment opportunities for women. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was among the front-runners. The minister of labor was adamant on the pursuit of women in the marketplace running their own affairs and manning establishments primarily catering to females.

Women no longer needed permission of their male guardians to obtain a national identity card. They removed such shackles and applied in droves, some spurred by the desire to invest in the booming stock market at the beginning of the year.

Others simply wanted to be masters of their own business affairs. The chambers of commerce in several large cities were also exposed to women running for elections, and some were elected as members.

Saudi women were keynote speakers at international forums in the Kingdom. Others were selected as members of prestigious international organizations on their merit, such as the recent selection of Muna Abu Sulayman as a young global leader by the Geneva-based World Economic Forum.

Saudi women directed and acted in their own films. Hanadi Zakariya Hindi, a female pilot was given the license to fly an aircraft. Another was given a distinction in the United States for her contribution to scientific research. And there were many others.

All in all, an optimist would say, things were beginning to look good.

On the other hand, there are those who will conjecture that the changes that have taken place were either cosmetic or not enough. Women are still not members of the Shoura Council, the Kingdom’s legislative body. While some women are selected in consultative roles, they have no real power or voice in enforcing any law getting tabled for discussion by the council.

The issue of male guardians and their blanket authority over women still rankles many women who have been reportedly subjected to discrimination and abuse at the hands of unscrupulous male relatives. They cannot travel freely without their guardian’s permission, cannot escape an unhappy marriage unless their abusive husbands dictate so, or enter or process a business transaction through several ministries without the presence of the male guardian.

Our courts adopt a severe view on the rights of women, as demonstrated in the case of Fatima who was spuriously divorced from her husband by the judgment of a court and against her will and today languishes in prison.

Women were harassed by members of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice at the Riyadh International Book Fair for just being there. Then there was the recent incident in which female doctors and lecturers were ejected from a medical symposium being held in Riyadh on the basis of their gender. The Shoura Council, in an about face, declared that the issue of physical education for schoolgirls was not being considered. The Labor Ministry, giving in to opposition from some quarters, deferred the enforcement of female employment in dress and lingerie outlets until some time in the “future”.

While a woman was licensed to fly an aircraft, many other women have given up hope of steering a car, as opposition from fringe groups has reduced earlier and vociferous calls for full empowerment behind the wheel to a dribble. Not withstanding the difficulties facing women in getting to their workplace, those with orthodox views attempt to suppress any calls for such rights, fearing a breakdown in our so-called “special” society.

Undeniably, there has been incremental progress. Yet with each stride forward, there have been roadblocks and about face diversions. So was 2006 a good year for the emancipation of the Saudi woman? You decide for yourself.