Saudi Arabia: Lifting the driving ban is a pragmatic decision rather than a belief in gender equality

When Hana Al-Khamri worked as a journalist in Saudi Arabia, she had to request from her male relatives to drive her around. The fact that women are allowed to drive a car is an important step forward, but she reckons that the decision is based on economic reasons rather than a belief in gender equality.

Working as a female journalist in Saudi Arabia is a challenge against social norms in a country governed by ultraconservative views. - But in order to get around, Hana Al-Khamri had to pay for a driver or ask a male relative to drive her.

"There were so many obstacles to free mobility. I was dependent on males permission to move around and sometimes it was humiliating to constantly ask someone to drive me, "says Al-Khamri, Middle East analysts raised in Saudi Arabia but currently living in Sweden.

She described the decision of allowing women to drive a car from June, as an outcome of a diligent campaign effort from activists. Many have been imprisoned in their quest to defy the ban.

But Al-Khamri believes that the decision is primarily pragmatic, from a regime that has been severely affected by the fall of oil prices.

- The main motive is economy rather than a belief in gender equality. The fall in oil revenues has prompted the state to realise that women need to come out to the workforce to mitigate the burden. And the ban on women driving has been a hurdle against participating in the labour market.

About one-third of the Saudi women's salary goes to private chauffeurs.

Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world where women can not drive a car. The issue of driving has been symbolic - because the greatest problem is the male guardianship system, which means that women have to get permission from male relatives in order to get different things done, such as working, studying at the university or applying for a passport.

It is unclear whether women have to request for male guardian permission in order to apply for driving licenses in 2018.

"The decision is historical and important, but Saudi women are still legally minors. And this is the main reason that shackles women's progress in Saudi Arabia, "says Al-Khamri.

Source: National New Agency in Sweden - TT