At a recent event I had the chance to speak with a woman who works for Dutch television. As a film director, she had recently made a documentary about working Saudi women. She didn’t have any direct or indirect relationship with the Middle East and spent two weeks in the Kingdom filming the movie. However, she spoke about Saudi society as if she was an expert and was fully aware of all details. She came across like she knew the answers to all questions.
Her documentary focused on such Saudi women that the director believes are strong in character. When I asked her what her criteria for a strong Saudi woman was, she replied a woman who is modern, advanced, educated and has a sophisticated high position. I wondered about all those hard working women who are burdened with economic stress and social pressures? Does she believe that these women are weak and therefore do not deserve her attention?
This woman hosted various opulent Saudi women who have had the added luxury of having supportive and encouraging families who have facilitated their choices. As you would expect, this example is just a minor one in neglecting the social facts in the country. Upper class women from privileged backgrounds have always had the best chances and opportunities to take advantage of a good education. We simply cannot measure the success of women in a certain country by selecting groups from only one level in society, especially when the country in question is a conservative and traditional one like Saudi Arabia.
We all have to work together to portray a positive image of our beloved country. We must feel proud and praise the achievements of Saudi women. This means that each woman must practice how to deal and handle humanitarian issues and matters like this one.
At the end of the event, I was left concerned when I heard the woman’s motives to make the film. I seriously do not have something against her but she mentioned how she was trying to project a totally different image of Saudi women to Westerners, who were now sick and tired of hearing about problems affecting Saudi women.
Just because the West is bored with hearing our problems, they don’t have the right to use the television as a media outlet to distort the facts in a misleading way. We seriously don’t need them drawing a rosy fake image of our society to the rest of the world just to pamper their exhausted feelings. I also believe that Saudi woman deserves praise despite all the obstacles she is facing; she has achieved and succeeded so far because of her dedication and commitment.
