Saudi Women's Rights - A Sonic Boom

 
 Now some of you, if you have not already been able to figure it out yet, might be confused by my sudden tangent-like detour from my experience in Saudi Arabia. Here is why. I cannot help but feel that there is an uncanny similarity between the process of breaking the sound barrier and the progression that these women are undergoing in order to gain more women’s rights. Think about it. These women are literally breaking barriers. With every small gain that they achieve, whether it be the six remarkable women who ran for and were elected into office or the fight for the right to drive instigated by Manal al-Shari, they come closer to traveling at the “speed of sound.”

Six Saudi Arabian women elected to office 

Let’s say, for comparison's sake, that this speed (the speed of sound) is the speed of accepted cultural norms and traditional values. Equality will only be reached as these women travel faster than the speed of traditional cultural norms and break through these oppressive cultural stigmas. The speed of the role and influence of women is undeniably speeding up, however, it still has acceleration to achieve before it will be traveling fast enough to be faster than the speed of their highly religiously influenced country. Just as fighter pilots in World War II experienced extreme and dangerous turbulence as they approached speeds close to the speed of sound, these women are also experiencing turbulence. And just like fighter pilots, it is necessary that they develop new technology (or techniques) to even make that extreme a safe possibility. What makes this speed so difficult to reach for women in Saudi Arabia, however, is that turbulence is extremely multi-faceted, meaning that it comes from a vast variety of sources.

Turbulence increases as women become nearer to breaking "the barrier"

Since Saudi Arabia prides itself in being the “only Pure Islamic State” left in the world, it has a unique reference frame that sets religious morals and values above all else. Religion and state are so integrated in this culture, that instigating these changes is not only a political issue, but also a religious controversy. This makes the turbulence that much more dangerous, because the equality that many women seek seems threatening to the religious validity of the country. Islamic practices are marked by cultural traditions that are not easy to change. This is extremely obvious because the turbulence comes not just from men, but  from women. Just try walking through a busy street without your necessary black burqa, or use the “single male” line at the fast food restaurant, and the women, not just men, around you will give you glares impossible to forget.

Segregated lines between men and women

        Creating change that is so contrary to traditional Islamic practices is not easy. Turbulence comes from traditions and from the culturally and religiously set men and women. It would not be difficult for the women who are instigating change to be seen as “radicals” that are a threat to traditional society. This is why it is so important that safe and realistic goals and techniques are developed so that these women can be successful in figuratively “speeding up” and overcoming turbulence. Women could be their own most difficult obstacle, as they learn how to unify themselves towards a common goal. As the fighters develop new techniques and strategies, however, they will be able to overcome the adverse effects of this turbulence, and they will develop the technology to safely travel faster than the speed of the cultural norms, and will reach that speed at which equality travels.

The finished product

         The sonic boom that comes from breaking that sound barrier will manifest itself very soon in Saudi Arabia. The impressive aspect is that the acceleration at which these women are traveling towards this sound barrier is much faster than has ever been seen before in other cultures, despite the many complex adversities. Some however, such as Nailah Attar, fear that a sonic boom accruing too soon might have adverse effects. If the movement gains too much speed, change could come too quickly and not give the country enough time to adjust to its implications. Nailah, the co-founder of “Baladi,” an initiative fighting for women's equality states, “What we did in ten years is faster than what women in the United States did in a hundred years. We are running very fast to change very fast. I think we should slow down a little bit—so people accept it.” If this sound barrier is broken too soon, the sonic boom might shake and kill the small airplane of women that are moving so fast. If they start moving the issue too fast, the sound waves from that movement, or the effects of rapid change, will not be heard until it is too late and the airplane swerves and speeds out of control resulting in total danger.

       If there is anything that I have learned from my stay here in Saudi Arabia, it is that these women are strong. They are capable. They are smart, intelligent, and a myriad of other things. My list of inspirational women has increased dramatically over the past few days, and its no surprise why. I have no doubt that some time soon, the sound barrier will be broken and women will overcome the oppressive situation in which they find themselves. To these women and to future times, I wish good luck. And to Saudi Arabia, I say, "rihlah muwaffaqah,"  or, "good journey."
- Tanya