Why Can't Women Drive In Saudi?

[ToraToraTora]

Can someone explain to be what is so threatening about women being allowed to drive? Beyond the normal reasons that is!

[ummmm]

Because men (not all) don't want them to have the freedom to.

[FredPuli43]

Islam, in its stricter forms, does not allow women to go out without a chaperone, normally their husband, brother or other close male relative. The Saudis are Wahabi Sunni Muslims. They are even stricter about women's liberties than most. You might think they'd let a woman learn to drive and drive, if the required male was always present, but they fear that a woman who can drive will be out and about without such presence. You don't see women camel riders there either!

[glasman]

If they're not allowed on camels, do they get the hump?

[mikey4444]

Because Saudi Arabia is a very wealthy but also very backward country, where men have the upper hand in everything. There are lost of things that the men don't allow women to do, and driving is just one of them. In common with most Muslim countries, they do this to maintain their superiority over women. It will change in time but not when the rest of the world wants and needs their oil.

[Sqad]

Well, that is not what i was lead to believe when i was in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia..

The explanation that I got was that it showed respect and gave protection to their women as highlighted by not allowing them to drive and by walking ahead of their woman.
Very little to do with Islam but custom developed over centuries.

That is how the Saudi men see it.

[VHG]

I went to Saudi on business for a week about 10 years ago.

This is a country that does not allow "normal" tourists and I only got in by applying for a business visa.

Upon arrival I was met by the most rude and surly customs staff I have ever seen.

Because I had some computer CDs with me I was ushered into a room with no explanation and a man behind a desk looked thought CDs (I suppose to check I was not importing pornography).

If I could have turned round and gone home at that point I would have done.

All the women are "covered up" and if a couple are walking down the street and the woman is showing too much flesh then the local police use a small stick to "whip" the back of the man's leg for allowing his female to show too much flesh.

The bring in lots of immigrants from places like Pakistan to do all the menial jobs, and at the time even the immigrants were not allowed to drive either.

All the men have a superior feeling about them, looking down at everyone, even the few of use from the west who were there to try to sell them computer equipment.

Right in the middle of my presentation all the Arab men stood up and walked out the room with no explanation. It turns out it was time for prayers. They then all walked back in again with no apology and we carried on.

All the restaurants are split into two (even McDonalds), one side for the "evil" men, the other side for families or women and children. There is a large barrier down the middle so you cant see over.

It is the only country I have felt frightened in, a feeling that the government was watching me and making a note of what I said and did. When it was time to leave I ran for the plane and I was so glad when it too off.

The only good point about the country is that alcohol is banned and drugs are not available, so you felt very safe walking round at night. When you see the state of some of our young drunk or drugged people in our city centres we could certainly learn something from that.

But overall Saudi is a horrible country and NOTHING would ever get me back there.

[Sqad]

VHG......all very true.

I liked the Saudi's and got on well with them and got to know a few very well.

Yes......I drank whisky with them and believe me, the Saudi women know the score and are adept at meeting their lover.......although it is not as easy as in the West.

[mikey4444]

VHG...I have heard similar tales as yours from other people that have had to work there. Someone told me that North Korea was preferable to visiting Saudi again.

[humbersloop]

apparently there are sound medical reasons behind it

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-24323934

though some of the shameless hussies are fighting back

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/oct/26/saudi-arabia-woman-driving-car-ban

[mikey4444]

Someone should take Sheikh Lohaidan (see humbersloops post) and say the word b0ll0x very quietly, but very firmly in his shell-like.

[pixie373]

Slightly different, but my parents sold their apartment in Dubai, as if my stepdad died, my mum couldn't own it, as women can't own property there.

[boxtops]

As sqad says, it's a cultural issue, nothing to do with Islam.

[boxtops]

My sister was able to drive when she was in Adu Dhabi - but no doubt different Trucial States have their own rules. One part of the test was reversing up a ramp - I don't think that's part of our own driving test!

[mikey4444]

boxy...making women walk around with black sheets over them isn't about Islam ?

[Sqad]

mikey....boxy was talking about women drivers in Saudi Arabia.
Not black bags.

[mikey4444]

Then I may owe boxy an apology...I interpreted her wrongly it would seem.
But I don't know anywhere else in the world that women are banned from doing such a very ordinary thinks like driving a car. Perhaps its just a coincidence that Saudi is also a Muslim country ?

[boxtops]

Thank you sqad :-) and mikey, yes, the level of covered-uppedness in Saudi is cultural too. Islam exhorts women to be modest and it's interpreted differently in different countries. Turbaned women in Africa are often Muslim - I witnessed a heated discussion between an African lady and a hijabi lady a few years back, as to whether it was immodest to show the back of your neck if you are wearing a turban.

[Sqad]

mikey....Saudi Arabia is Saudi Arabia and doesn't need other countries to tell it how to treat it's women.

A touch of "mind your own business" may well be the answer, although, the West is entitled to it's opinion.

[mikey4444]

Thanks Sqad and boxy. There is light at the end of the tunnel in this issue though, as Saudi women were allowed to compete at last years Olympics. And it would seem that Saudi men will not be allowed to treat women like this for too much longer....history will move on sooner or later.

[Sqad]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2428993/Staggering-fighting-vomiting-passed-drunk--police-say-scenes-control-town-centre-QUIETER-Friday-night-usual.html

mikey....you may well be right, but i wouldn't hold your breath.