As I was looking for a topic to blog on this week I came across an article that made me really upset. The article, "Women US Senators Press Saudi King on Driving Ban"discusses how US women senators in a letter pressed Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah to lift the countries ban on women drivers. This is a great act on the part of US women to improve the rights of women in Saudi Arabia. This act came out of the recent election of a Saudi Arabia women to the board of UN Women and the King's establishment of a university that allows women to study with men and allows them to drive on campus. This article reminded me of how unfair women are still treated and how few rights they have.
Hillary Clinton supported the recent protest of Saudi women who got behind wheels of cars on June 17th in an act to get the nation's ban lifted.
This ban forces women to depend on males to drive them everyone. It causes a lot of problems, especially for low income women and during emergencies. Women often can't get a ride to work, due to the cost of hiring a driver, which embarrasses them and makes it hard to keep a job.
When searching for other news on this subject I came across an article that discusses what happens when a Saudi women tries to change this law. She started a Facebook campaign to protest this ban and was arrested for it. She was released, but the terms of her release were not publicized. This campaign aimed to teach girls how to drive, at least in times of emergency. The traditional Saudi argument is that driving exposes women to sinful temptations like allowing them to mingle with police and mechanics, but if they drove they could avoid harassment from their male drivers and have their dignity, including keep a job.
Do you think the courageous act of these brave US senators and Saudi women will help lift this ban?
Yes I do! Check out my facebook page G.E.Cooper/let my mommy drive. Very important topic, I'm glad you took the time to blog about it!
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