Keys to the Kingdom: The slow rise of Saudi women

http://www.test.bbc.com/capital/story/20150408-slow-gains-for-saudi-women



This BBC article discusses the issue of Gender Equality in Saudi Arabia.  But, it examines a rare glimmer of light in the often criticised Middle Eastern nation.  According to the Saudi Ministry of Labour, the number of Saudi women working in the private sector grew from just 55,000 in 2010 to 454,000 by the end of 2013.  This level of growth is remarkable in this conservative nation, where for decades strict laws kept women out of the workforce.  These laws have been gradually scaled back in recent years by a series of reforms instituted by the recently deceased King Abdullah.  The late King instituted a policy of "Saudization" about a decade ago.  This plan was an attempt to lower high domestic unemployment rates and to decrease the Kingdom's heavy reliance on foreign contractors. It essentially required businesses to hire Saudi employees, in a manner similar to the Affirmative Action programs institued in the United States.  The easing of rules regarding women in the workplace, in addition to this quota sysetm has had an obvious impact.

Obviously, this equates to a "good start" by our standards.  But there is oviously a long way to go. While 60% of college graduates in Saudi Arabia are women, only around 15% of women in the Kingdom hold jobs.  There remain significant obstacles preventing the levelling of the playing field. Women in the Kingdom still must be granted permission to work by their male guardian.  And women are still not permitted to drive in Saudi, which creates transportation problems for those who cannot afford a driver.  As an expatriate currently working in the Kingdom, and who previously worked in Saudi about 8 years ago, I have noticed a large increase in the number of women in the workplace.  I must admit, it has been fascinating to watch this incredibly conservative culture make an actually perceptible change.  Hopefully, in time, stories of progress like this will begin to outnumber the many that highlight the Kingdom's many social shortcomings.  But cultural changes time.  Most especially here in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.  

Afghan Woman Lynched By a Mob

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-32014077


This article discusses the violent death of an Afghan woman named Farkhunda.  The woman, a religious scholar, was arguing with a mullah about his selling charms to women at a shrine.  As their argument escalated, the mullah accused Farkhunda of burning the Koran.  This statement was overheard by others nearby, who then took it upon themselves to beat her, strike her with bats, stomp her, run her over with a car, drag her now lifeless body behind a car, and then burn her body in a ditch.  18 people have been arrested for the murder, and 13 police officers have been suspended for failing to control the situation (earlier reports claimed that the police did nothing to dissuade the mob from their attack.)  The incident has received international attention, and has sparked protests across Afghanistan.  At her funeral, Farkhunda's body was carried by noted Afghani Women's Rights activists.

This story demonstrates just how tenuous the idea of Women's Rights remains in Afghanistan. American forces may have liberated the country from the Taliban, but the cultural beliefs that allowed and indeed welcomed the Taliban and their strict interpretation of Islam to previously rule the nation obviously still thrive.  Similar to the United States "implementing" democracy in foreign nations whose governments we topple, spreading Western ideas about Women's Rights (while noble) is also fraught with disaster for the individuals left to live with these new ideas.  I fear we may have started yet another fire, and that this time, an innocent woman was literally burned by it.


Farakhunda's ashes...


Angry Protests.