The number exceeded the expected. Thirty Saudi women, upon a royal decree, are pushed to participate in the Saudi Shoura Council (Parliament). So, 2013 starts with a new challenge and wider expectations.
The call to get women involved took place a few years ago. Media was massively used to dedicate the importance of having women as representatives of local recommendations. The general claim was: the better knowledge of women issues.
Now, such a decree is going to uplift the expectations of many Saudi women and the whole society in return. Think of thousands of jobless, divorced and widowed women in the Kingdom. This is a serious task that is deeper underneath the surface of floating concerns. Concerns of equality, independency and similar issues are of fancy tendency if compared to issues associated with poverty, legal questioning and fair judgment.
The load is great, we know. But all the verbal solutions that many of the assigned ladies have spoken loud in media are now put to test. Can they make a difference? Can they draw the line? There is such a long mile in front of them, and they need to prepare a ‘proper step’.
n The writer is Chairman,
Saudi Cartoon & Animation Society
Twitter: @abdullahsayel
