I remember a time not so long ago, when a friend of mine who happens to be a UK parliamentarian, advised me that it was of utmost importance that Saudi women take heed of a lesson learned by women in England. The lesson learned took place during the 1980s when former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was in office.
Many women at the time were very supportive of Thatcher’s position for they expected her to push forward the agenda for women’s social, political and economic empowerment in the region. However, and to their great disappointment, this expectation was short lived: Instead of advocating the advancement of women, the Iron Lady once elected into office (and throughout her three terms which lasted nearly 15 years), simply shut the iron door right behind her, leaving her female constituency out in the cold.
As Saudi Arabia embarks in building its capacity to compete in a globalized world, phenomenal breakthroughs in pre-defined traditional gender roles are being announced in the media on a near-daily basis. As women are getting more and more professionally competitive, and as they keep on accessing high-profile senior positions which were never occupied by women in the history of our young nation, we will continue to read and hear about pioneering Saudi women achievers who have (by default of our nation being in its developmental stage), been given the ever so famous title of “First Saudi woman to...”
This phenomenal trend is gaining momentum and will continue to do so as the Kingdom continues on its path of economic growth. In fact, the profiles of “first timers” published in most of our Saudi dailies during this month alone, do not only reflect pioneering cultural breakthroughs, but they also point towards a hidden danger that needs to be addressed lest we forget the lesson learned by English women during the era of the Iron Lady.
To all the “first timers” of our nation who are consistently making breaking news, my heartfelt congratulations go out to you, as well as to all “first timers” of the past and the near future.
Your achievements are the result of hard work, professionalism and dedication. You could not have gotten to where you are today without courage and commitment. It was through courage that you were able to defy all norms; and it was through courage that you were able to stick your neck out despite all controversy. For that we, your fellow women, are most grateful.
But we also know that your success today would not have been possible were it not for the full support, dedication and commitment our national leadership has shown towards the cause of women’s advancement and progress. You have been able to break traditional barriers that others before you could not; not because others before you did not work as hard as you did, or that they lacked the dedication and courage you are now illustrating, but simply because the political and social timing for them at the time was not right.
So long as the Kingdom is dedicated to its commitment to empower its citizens to share the responsibility of national economic growth and development, we will continue to witness many more Saudi women taking on positions that have been traditionally occupied by men. The true challenge facing you is not about being the first to occupy these positions; rather, it is about you making sure that you are not the last.
Being the first is truly an honor, yet it carries with it a heavy burden: The burden of responsibility and accountability towards your female constituents. As you embark on your trailblazing journey of nation building, you need never forget that a younger female generation is patiently waiting for you to secure its future. You are the only role model they have to emulate — and they are closely watching you.
You must bear it upon yourselves to reassure them that as first timers you will not get caught up in your own careers, but that you will work hard at devising policies within your work agenda to guarantee that they will have access to equal job opportunities as do their male counterparts. The shattering of the glass ceiling and the opening of the Iron Door lies in you hands.
— Fatin Bundagji is the director of Women Empowerment & Research at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce & Industry. She can be reached at: [email protected].
