Saudi women are embracing change, but clearly it's more than laws that need changing. | jackiefox_ reports | funded by SimonCumbersMF |
Sand whisks up a few feet as cars with men hanging out of them drift up and down the banks of the Thumamah desert.Young men dressed in dusty thawbs circle the camera, performing stunts with their vehicles and dancing to the music being played from their radios.
Saudi women are embracing change and gasping for more, but clearly it's more than laws that need working.The power of men in Saudi Arabia is a controversial topic that is no stranger to the global media.'There could be no finer tribute to Simon Cumbers' "Would I like it to change? Yes. Is it prohibiting me from achieving my goals and everything that I want in life? No," she said. Saudi teenager Rahaf al-Qunun was the latest high-profile case, turning to social media pleading for help and refuge.
Absher, a government-backed mobile app, has garnered international attention in recent weeks for facilitating the kingdom’s male guardianship law. At home though, those issues do not dominate the headlines. The royal family has made substantial efforts to bring Saudi Arabia into the future, erecting stunning skyscrapers across Riyadh, promoting the ancient Al Ula site, opening up tourist visas and hosting major golf and football events with global stars.
Women tell us about being harassed by family members on social media for posting pictures of themselves with their hair uncovered. Once upon a time in Saudi Arabia, she said, it was unsafe for women to travel from one place to another and the system was established to protect them. Saudi Arabia though prides itself as the "home of Islam", taking in the two major religious cities of Mecca and Medina.
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