As I drove in to meet my host family, it felt as if I had been transported to an entirely different world. Everything around me seemed to be upside-down to what I was accustomed to. I have been traveling for years, so you wouldn’t think that new cultures would still shock me, but in moments like this I am reminded how singular my own American culture is. Whenever I go to a new shoot, I do all that I can to immerse myself within the new culture because I feel it is the only way to truly capture my surroundings as unapologetically as possible. I am not here to be an American tourist giving her American views on Saudi issues, I am here to show what life is really like for an everyday citizen here. Therefore, I will be doing everything that the average Saudi does.
I have been informed that I must not be out in public without a male guardian. My male guardian, or “mahmar” will accompany me on any errands or outings I decide to go on, and he will also be with me to be my driver.
Although there is no law set in stone that says that women are not allowed to drive, it is extremely instilled in their religious culture. It is even said that women driving “undermines social values”. Having a driver will be especially helpful if I decide to go to the Starbucks branch in the capital, Riyadh, that clearly has a sign posted that states, “Please no entry for ladies only send your driver to order, thank you".
Out of the long list of things I can and cannot do in public that I have been given, I think the one I am most disappointed to learn about is that I cannot purchase a Barbie while here.
As I write this post wearing my burqa, as to not show off too much of my skin or beauty, it is hard not to feel overwhelmed by the sense that women are treated like nothing more than second class citizens here. Men hold all the power and women have no choice but to be submissive. It breaks my heart to know of all the women here that do not have the same opportunities I have been given. At the end of the day though, we cannot judge the citizens that abide by the societal norms and religious practices that have been put in place generations before, they are merely trying to purify their own culture.
That's all for now!
-Tanya
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