I finally put on my sneakers and headed for the area on Prince Abdullah Road that has been designated by the Riyadh Municipality as the place for walkers and joggers.
The area is impressive and, one may say, even breathtaking. The walking paths are 15 meters wide; there are plenty of palm trees, garbage bins and lights. All of these make it the perfect place to burn off those extra calories.
When I got there I saw people of all ages walking. There were singles and families, Saudis and non-Saudis. It was 24 degrees at noon and it soon began to sprinkle. The feeling of the cool breeze blowing through my hair and the gentle drops of rain falling on me was delicious as I walked four kilometers around the four walls of Prince Sultan University for Girls. As I was walking alongside one of the walls, I saw something I never expected to see in a girls’ school in Saudi Arabia: Two courts, one for basketball and one for tennis. Both courts were empty and dusty and probably had not been used since they were built. Apparently the contractors who built the university had no idea that it would be for girls. And this, as we know, means no sports whatsoever.
For a moment, I wished I had not seen them. I began to ask myself: Will the day ever come when our female students will take physical education courses and play sports just as girls do in every other country in the world?
As I thought, it became very clear to me how social norms and traditions dictate our lifestyle. And how even a powerful decision maker, such as the Shoura Council which ruled two years ago to allow physical education in girls’ schools, has been unable to implement its decision. For some reason two years after the decision, the ruling has never reached the Council of Ministers for final approval.
And if asked for an explanation, officials who fear a backlash from ultraconservatives invariably try to shift the responsibility to some other government body.
For a split second, I put myself in the shoes of a Saudi woman in one of our schools. It was not a pleasant thought. Could it be that if I were a woman in my mid-20s I might never have kicked a football, thrown a basketball or even run a race? Some Saudi women today never have any of those experiences — though in the past they did. Those who travel or study abroad have probably participated in some kind of sports. If a Saudi woman is lucky and comes from a wealthy family, she may be able to take part in sports at home. Many rich families of course have their own swimming pools or tennis courts. If, on the other hand, she is from a normal middle-class family which does not regularly go abroad and which is conservative, she may find that sports for women are deemed “inappropriate.” And under those circumstances, she is unlikely to have the option of physical exercise or sports.
According to our religion, is it sinful for women to participate in sports? No it is not. Are we Muslims who follow Islam in our lives? Yes we do, but... Unfortunately, that “but” always seems to creep in. And it signifies that social norms and traditions are stronger than religious beliefs in our country. In fact, they are so deeply ingrained that it may take several generations of education and enlightenment to change them.
I made a bet with a colleague from our sister publication Asharq Al-Awsat a few months ago. We were talking about the status of women in the Kingdom and how much progress was being made. He said that he believed women in Saudi Arabia would drive by 2010. I said that I did not think so and could not see it happening. If it were to happen, there would have to be a change in how we perceive women and what their role is. The bet was made. And the clock is ticking.
There are a number of interesting points to be addressed: Sports in girls’ schools, women being allowed to vote and nominate themselves as candidates in future elections, women being appointed to major government posts or women driving?
I think that if we as a society want to move forward, we have to plant the proper seeds in the proper soil. To begin with, we should stop having scholars broadcast on our Islamic radio programs such ideas as “Women are the essence of all evil in the world.” and “Women should be subdued and guarded.”
I do not know where I will be in 2010. I could be here in Saudi Arabia alive and witnessing changes. Or I could be six feet under. With major social changes not having taken place in the Kingdom for the past 20 years, I am not too optimistic. But I do hope my dream of seeing my countrywomen enjoy the rights I do, as a human being in this country will become reality one day.
