In her book, “Saudi Women Towards a New Era,” Samar Fatany, the well-known Saudi broadcaster, tells us that at last doors are beginning to open for Saudi women as they struggle to find their place in Saudi society. The book is a bold initiative on the part of the author to highlight the hopes and aspirations of Saudi women, the progress they have made and the challenges that still remain. It is particularly useful for the West where the media often ignores news about women’s progress or presents a distorted picture.
A typical example of this was a statement made by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah when he chastised the local press for publishing photographs of women in inappropriate dress. “One needs to consider if he would want his daughter, sister or wife to appear like that,” the king said. This statement, which conveyed a noble intention, was distorted by the Western media. The story grew that the kind had called for a ban on all pictures of women in the Saudi media. Fatany points out that such distortions are not confined to off-the-cuff remarks by members of the royal family. Even hijab is the subject of critical comment by the Western media, which projects it as a form of women’s suppression in Saudi society.
She suggests that Saudi fashion designers could produce smart and elegant fashions for Saudi women, fashions blending modernity with modesty. She commends the Fashion Design Institute in Riyadh which could help women launch their own business dealing with Islamic fashions.
It may not be out of place to mention here that The Centennial Fund (TCF) in Riyadh has underlined its commitment to provide training and financial assistance to Saudi women in towns and cities away from Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam. Munira A. Alghamdi, assistant general manager for Female Operations at TCF, said some of the fund’s beneficiaries have set up tailoring shops, libraries for women, sporting facilities for children, lingerie shops, women’s clothing shops and gift wrapping centers, daycare centers, Internet cafes, confectioneries, etc. In addition to financial assistance, mentors give them technical and emotional support.
The book also deals with the challenges facing Saudi women in terms of employment and business opportunities. Since 66 percent of Saudi university students are women, their integration into the work force is vital for progress and development.
Fatany notes that despite the government’s good intentions, extremist elements in society impose restrictions in the name of Islam and cultural traditions. The greatest impediments to Saudi women today, she says, are religious extremists who have had an intolerant stranglehold on the social and educational environment for a very long time. They continue to resist the implementation of reforms and accuse government reformists of adopting policies that fall beyond the narrow bounds of their so-called “Muslim” way of life.
Fatany observes that restrictions are imposed not only by Saudi men but also by women themselves. “It is unfortunate but women often oppose their Saudi sisters who call for change and development. For Saudi policy-makers and government officials this creates a major problem. An example of this would be the move to issue separate identity cards to women, which was met with rejection and obstruction of work at government offices and banks as a form of protest. Because of the importance of this change for progress in the Kingdom, the government had to impose the change upon them.”
Fatany stresses the role of the media in highlighting cases of abuse and injustice against women. She also emphasizes the need for stories that could inspire them to excel. While no competent journalist would dispute her argument, the main problem is a lack of cooperation from government officials in charge of public relations. Their attitude toward the press is unfriendly and indifferent, to say the least. The problem could be overcome by appointing women graduates in mass communications, especially in the Ministries of Education, Health, Commerce and Industry and then highlighting instances of human rights abuse in these areas where they are employed. There is also a need for a specialized news agency reporting on women’s affairs in the Kingdom, Gulf and specifically in Malaysia, a Muslim country, where women have made great strides forward.
Nevertheless, the economic power of women in the Kingdom cannot be understated, according to Fatany, who says that 21 percent of the 2,400 members of the Saudi Management Association in Jeddah are professional women. They own some 40 percent of family-run companies, very often as silent partners. Saudi women as a whole have estimated cash funds of SR45 billion, of which 75 percent of that is sitting idle in bank deposits.