A long road ahead

The world’s only ban on women driving was lifted on Sunday.

The sky did not fall and ovaries were not damaged as Saudi Arabia’s hard-line clerics had warned would happen if women were allowed to get behind the wheel in the ultraconservative kingdom.

As one of the most visible signs of its repression of women, it’s good to see an end to the driving ban. But this is no feminist leap to a place where men and women are suddenly treated as equals.

Even now, as many celebrate this historic change there are women’s rights activists being held in prison on unknown charges in unknown conditions. They were arrested just last month as Saudi officials were promoting the impending end of the driving ban.

And, under the male-guardianship system, almost every aspect of a woman’s life — from education and employment to marriage and travel — are conducted at the whim of her male family members. There’s been some softening around the edges of late but the life most Saudi women get to lead is based on what their male guardians think it should be.

Still, driving may prove to be an important piece of broader change. Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salma is pushing an agenda to modernize society and diversify the oil-based economy. Women play a key role in that.

More women attend Saudi universities than men but only a fraction of them join the workforce. The need to rely on male relatives or have the financial ability to hire drivers and taxis is part of what has held women back from greater participation in the workforce.

And as a symbol — women driving around town independently — may be even more valuable in challenging, and ultimately changing other repressive policies.