Saudi Arabia to allow women to drive

[GreyhoundFan]

I was quite shocked to read this. I know that one of the princes has been pushing for it, but the atmosphere there just doesn't seem conducive to change, especially for women. "Saudi Arabia Agrees to Let Women Drive"

Spoiler

Saudi Arabia announced on Tuesday that it would allow women to drive, ending a longstanding policy that has become a global symbol of the repression of women in the ultraconservative kingdom.

The change, which will take effect in June of next year, was announced on state television and in a simultaneous media event in Washington. The decision highlights the damage that the no-driving policy has done to the kingdom’s international reputation and its hopes for a public relations benefit from the reform.

Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam, is a Muslim monarchy ruled according to Shariah law. Saudi officials and clerics have provided numerous explanations for the ban over the years.

Some said that it was inappropriate in Saudi culture for women to drive, or that male drivers would not know how to handle women in cars next to them. Others argued that allowing women to drive would lead to promiscuity and the collapse of the Saudi family. One cleric claimed — with no evidence — that driving harmed women’s ovaries.

Rights groups have long campaigned for the ban to be overturned, and some women have been arrested and jailed for defying the prohibition and taking the wheel.

But the momentum to change the policy has picked up in recent years with the rise of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, a 32-year-old son of the king who has laid out a far-reaching plan to overhaul the kingdom’s economy and society.

Beyond the effects it could have on Saudi Arabia’s image abroad, letting women drive could help the Saudi economy.

Low oil prices have limited the government jobs that many Saudis have long relied on, and the kingdom is trying to push more citizens, including women, into gainful employment. But some working Saudi women say hiring private drivers to get them to and from work eats up much of their pay, diminishing the incentive to work.

In recent years, many women have come to rely on ride-sharing apps like Uber and Careem to gain some freedom of movement.

Despite the announcement, women will not be able to drive immediately. The kingdom has no infrastructure for women to learn to drive or to obtain drivers licenses. The police will need to be trained to interact with women in a way that they rarely do in a society where men and women who are not related rarely interact.

But many of the kingdom’s professionals and young people will welcome the change, viewing it as a step to making life in the country a bit more like life elsewhere.

 

[Maggie Mae]

I believe that the change came out of economic reasons more than altruistic ones, but at least it changed. Too bad that they have to have classes in "how to talk to women you aren't related to" before they can set up the infrastructure for women to get licensed.  

[onekidanddone]

2 hours ago, Maggie Mae said:

Too bad that they have to have classes in "how to talk to women you aren't related to" before they can set up the infrastructure for women to get licensed.  

Pence needs this training for when Mother can't be there to protected him from his urges.

[GreyhoundFan]

16 minutes ago, onekidanddone said:

Pence needs this training for when Mother can't be there to protected him from his urges.

Pence would be happy if all women wore burquas.

[Ozlsn]

On 27/09/2017 at 9:39 AM, GreyhoundFan said:

Pence would be happy if all women wore burquas.

Surely it would be easier for him to wear blinkers?

[GreyhoundFan]

5 hours ago, Ozlsn said:

Surely it would be easier for him to wear blinkers?

Yes, but those ebil wimmenfolk would still be out there, tempting "good Christian men" with their eyetraps. One of my friends, who despises Agent Orange as much as I do, said he is anxious for Agent Orange to be ousted and to have Pency as president. I told him that if he was a woman, he'd not be likely to think that. I shudder for how uber-conservative everything in government will become. And, since he's not a trainwreck like AO, he would likely get congress (at least the Repugs in congress) to do his bidding. He'll take us back to the dark ages. I want AO out, but I want Pency and the rest of the folks high up in the line of succession out at the same time.

[onekidanddone]

1 hour ago, GreyhoundFan said:

I shudder for how uber-conservative everything in government will become. And, since he's not a trainwreck like AO, he would likely get congress (at least the Repugs in congress) to do his bidding.

What exactly is the line of succession? I think I at least know the Speaker of the House is number three.  So it goes like this. Trump out just after midterms where the Dems take back the house and we have a new speaker.  Then Trump and Pence go down together then.. yada yada yada.. Dem in the White House.

[GreyhoundFan]

@onekidanddone -- here you go. Sadly, not too many in the line are anyone I would want in charge.

 

[onekidanddone]

11 minutes ago, GreyhoundFan said:

@onekidanddone -- here you go. Sadly, not too many in the line are anyone I would want in charge.

 

So we need to have a new Speaker like oh lets dream about Maxine Waters, Jamie Raskin or Keith Ellison. Trump and Pence go down together, but not before all the cabinet heads  have to step down.

Can you imagine it? Every single Republican falling on their fainting couches when The President Of the United States Maxine Waters is announced.