Saudi women behind the wheel

The following is an excerpt from an editorial in the New York Times:

It’s difficult not to be a bit sardonic about women in Saudi Arabia getting the right to drive. It is the 21st century in most of the world, after all, and there’s not a single other country with so nonsensical a restriction.

But precisely because the ban was so out of step with the world, the royal decree overturning it carries major symbolic importance.

The ban on driving has hardly been the most onerous of restrictions on the public life of women under the ultraconservative Wahhabi form of Sunni Islam enforced in Saudi Arabia.

“Guardianship” laws still require a male to approve many basic actions by a woman, from marrying to travelling abroad, opening a bank account or even undergoing some forms of elective surgery.

Lifting the ban on driving follows several other steps in recent years expanding women’s roles in Saudi society, especially with the rise of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, King Salman’s 32-year-old son, who is said to view greater participation of Saudi women in the workforce as a key to needed economic reform.

Women have been allowed to vote and run for office in municipal elections since 2015 and more Saudi women than men study in universities. Last week, women were allowed into a sports stadium for the first time.

In an absolute monarchy where gay people can be stoned, critics are flogged and powerful religious leaders help to spread Islamic extremism throughout the world, this may be a small step.

But the women’s rights advocates are correct to celebrate. Social change is all about breaking through symbolic barriers and seeing women literally behind the wheel is bound to accelerate the transformation of Saudi society.

Next, the guardianship laws.