She is a wife, a mother, and a grandmother — three labels she is happy with. She is also a writer, a social worker and a defender of women’s rights; three other labels she is proud to possess. Nabila Hosni Mahjoob is an example of a generation of Saudi women who are socially active, vocal about the difficulties Saudi women face in society and yet never neglects her duties as housewife and mother.
Mahjoob is a role model for the younger generation who owe much to what they have gained from her generation’s achievements. She has a weekly column in Al-Madinah newspaper. “I listen to people; their stories and complaints inspire my column,” said Mahjoob. “I get ideas for my column from current issues and topics that affect me.” She also voluntarily edits the first magazine in Saudi Arabia devoted to charity work.
Three years ago, Mahjoob founded Montada Al-Shabat Society for young Saudi women; the society meets every week and discusses various issues. “I found that young Saudi women get most of their ideas from the West and I wanted to give them the place and the opportunity to discuss the issues that interest and concern them,” she said in an interview with Arab News. “Neither our education system nor the way we bring up our children encourages them to express themselves intelligently and respectfully of outsiders,” she said. “We don’t know how to have a dialogue and disagree.” At the weekly meeting, a guest speaker is invited to open the discussion on a chosen topic; there are also seminars and workshops. “We also try to channel and activate the young ladies’ energy by involving them in charity work and letting them organize an event from beginning to end,” said Mahjoob.
Recently she was in Washington, one of two Saudi women chosen by the US Consulate in Jeddah as part of the group of 50 Arab women from 14 Arab countries participating in the International Visitor Program. The program was organized by Elizabeth Cheney, the deputy assistant to the US secretary of state, and Vice President Dick Cheney’s daughter. “The program was about women as political leaders,” said Mahjoob. “I was excited and enthusiastic even though there were objections from some people. I spoke to the consulate and told them that I had convictions and beliefs that would not be influenced and they assured me that I would be under no pressure or obligations.”
The women had a full three-week program during which they traveled to different states and met different people. The program also afforded them the opportunity to meet people in Washington they would normally have met. “We had a wonderful conversation with Colin Powell and we expressed our concerns about Iraq, the double standard toward Israel, and the US media’s insistence on associating Islam with terrorism.” He was eloquent and convincing in his reply, saying that it’s not in the US interest to make enemies of other countries because it is itself a country of immigrants from many countries.
The women also met National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice at the White House. “She was tough in her words on Iraq and spoke adamantly against the suicide bombers in Palestine,” said Mahjoob. At the same time, when one of the Palestinian women spoke about their suffering under Israeli occupation and began to cry, Rice was so moved that she hugged the woman. “I admired her as a woman in her cleverness and strength,” said Mahjoob, “and despite her presence in such a sensitive and political place, she didn’t forget her humanity and was affected by the woman’s tears.”
Mahjoob gained many things from her trip to the United States. “First, I had the chance to meet many Arab women and learn from their experiences in political participation, something we should be involved in because everything that happens in the country and in our community affects us too. I also learned a lot from the seminars we attended, such as how to attract volunteers, how to finance a campaign, how to use the media — things I can use in my work in charity organizations.”
“I did not have any problems as a Saudi woman there,” she pointed out. “I was well received by the American public and when I was asked about the status of Saudi women, I tried to present the positive side even though I know there are some problems,” said Mahjoob. The surprised reaction to her presence there was mostly from the Arab women with her. They wondered why Saudi women did not participate more in conferences and world events. “This saddened me because there are many Saudi women who are qualified to participate in international conferences, particularly those concerning Arab women.”
Mahjoob says she is proud of what Saudi women have achieved. “We have succeeded in every area we have entered but the media is very dismissive of us.” She hopes Saudi women will be given greater opportunities and chances for leadership roles.
Arab News Features 29 November 2002
