It seems that the US Congress is very concerned about the rights and liberties of Saudi women. It has even conducted an investigation to collect information to enable them to pass resolutions in order to pressure our males to give Saudi women their freedom — or face sanctions if the men refuse.
As a Saudi woman I would like to thank the honorable men and women of Congress for their concern and their tireless quest to protect and liberate the women of the world. Wasn’t this one of the major concerns of Congress in the war on terrorism? Was that the reason they called for the end of the Talaban — who took power in 1996? For some reason, their abuse of Afghan women only came to the attention of Congress quite recently. Let us not be too particular; after all they are trying to do their best to help us. However, if Congress is so busy fighting to liberate the women of the world, do they have time for the concerns of the women of the United States of America who elected them?
After all, the median weekly earnings for full-time female workers are only 76 percent of their male counterparts in the United States. Lower salaries of course mean lower pensions; the Older Women’s League (OWL) says that by the year 2020 poverty among elderly Americans will be confined primarily to women who are alone. As for single-parent families, women are more likely to be the ones left to take care of children while the man leaves and rarely pays alimony. That is why 40 percent of all families headed by single mothers live in poverty. Now why isn’t Congress doing something about that? Oh, and while we’re at it, how many women are in Congress compared to the number of women in the population at large? And why haven’t we seen a woman president or vice president in the USA yet?
Out of all the top earners in the USA, women account for only 12 percent although they constitute 46.5 percent of the work force.
Corporate America of course never hesitates to use women’s bodies as gimmicks for selling everything from wood polish to cars.
Even in Hollywood actors still get starring roles despite wrinkled faces yet actresses have a hard time finding an "interesting" role if they are past 40. Women are asked by the American media to bare it all or force themselves into being eternally 18 or the latest, to inject themselves with a chemical — all in a quest to stay beautiful for whom? Men of course. Does Congress think it is not important to protect these women from grave dangers to their health and even possible deaths? This kind of medicine, by the way, is unregulated in the US.
Everyday four women die in the USA as a result of domestic violence — that is 1,400 a year. It is estimated that between 2 to 4 million women of all races and classes are battered each year in the USA. Every year approximately 132,000 women report that they have been victims of rape or attempted rape and more than half of them know their attackers. Women are 10 times more likely than men to be victimized by an intimate.
But don’t you worry, Congress. I’m sure US women can suppress their aspirations for a better life while you neglect the true responsibilities of your office, to solve the problems of the women of the world. Meanwhile I thank you for valuing my rights over those of your countrywomen. What altruism!
Reem Mohammed AlFaisal is a Saudi photographer. She is based in Jeddah.
