Skip to content
  • Image
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Podcasts
  • Email
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Opinion
  • News
  • Features
  • Comment
  • Store
The Arab Daily News

The Arab Daily News

Original news, features, opinions from Chicago to Jerusalem

  • About
    • About
    • Our Writers
    • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
    • Book Store
    • Contact
    • Submit Book Reviews, Press Releases
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Corrections Policy
    • Profile on Ray Hanania
  • Features
    • Food
    • Book Review
    • Humor
    • Movies
    • Travel
  • Arab Community Network Page
    • Arab Community Network Page
    • Arab Heritage America resources
    • Directory
      • Groups & Organizations
      • Mosques, Churches
      • Restaurants
      • 2008 & 2014 Arab Media Directories
    • National Arab Heritage Month
    • Video: Chicago Arab History
    • Video: Photo Array of Chicago Arabs
    • Overview of Arabs in America
    • Hanania standup comedy
    • Arabs on the Titanic
    • Obituaries
  • Podcasts
    • Arab News Ray Hanania Radio
    • Ray Hanania on Politics Podcast
    • Podcast Info
    • Hanania Podcast intro
    • Live Arab Radio
  • Your Views
  • Submit Press Release
  • Toggle search form
  • Imad Hamad Director American Human Rights Council
    AHRC Calls for Moral Consistency on Human Rights, Urges President Biden to Pause His Trip to Israel: American Arabs
  • The U.S.S. Liberty photo courtesy of the USS Liberty Veterans.
    Survivors of Israel’s strike on USS Liberty commemorate 55th year June 6 – 8 American Arabs
  • AHRC Logo new Feb 2021
    AHRC hosts an open meeting with TSA & community Activism
  • Former City Hall reporter Ray Hanania, ShawnTe Raines-Welch and Nick Kantas, candidates for Judge in the 4th SubCircuit, and Cook County Commissioner Frank Aguilar.
    Nearly 100 candidates, officials address Arab Democratic Club forum Sunday American Arabs
  • Citgo Gas Station and Quik Mart at 3759 W. Chicago Ave in Chicago ordered closed by Mayor Lori Lightfoot because a street gang member with an AK-47 killed someone in front of the store. Only Arab and Muslim stores are being closed by the Mayor
    Arabs and Muslim blast Mayor lightfoot for racist store closings American Arabs
  • Closure notice posted on the doors and windows of Arab American businesses during Mayor Lori Lightfoot's closure of Arab owned stores in June - Sept. 2021. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
    Chicago aldermen to host “forum” to explore Mayor Lightfoot’s racist crackdown on Arab stores Activism
  • Imam Jamal Saad leads the more than 1,000 muslim attendees in payer at SeatGeek Stadium's open grounds at the Eid al-Fitr celebration May 2, 2022 in Bridgeview
    Local Illinois officials join Chicagoland Muslims for Eid Celebration at SeatGeek stadium American Arabs
  • DCEO Panel discussion on business support opportunities for all businesses including Arab American businesses, April 26, 2022
    DCEO Access to Capital: Arab American Heritage Month business workshop American Arabs
  • DCEO Celebrates Arab American Heritage Month (AAHM) American Arabs
  • Alderman Raymond Lopez addresses the gathering at an Iftar hosted by Radi Abuhashish Thursday April 21, 2022 joined by Dr. Willie Wilson and other candidates for Chicago Mayor.
    Political candidates join local Arab leaders for Iftar Activism
  • U.S. Congressional Candidate Rob Cruz in the 6th District GOP Primary election June 28, 2022
    Republican Candidate for U.S. Congress, Rob Cruz, Opens a Dialogue with the Palestinian Community American Arabs
  • Peak Rock Capital affiliate completes acquisition of Ziyad Brothers, a leading provider of brander Middle Eastern and Mediterranean foods American Arabs
  • Closure notice posted on the doors and windows of Arab American businesses during Mayor Lori Lightfoot's closure of Arab owned stores in June - Sept. 2021. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
    Chicago aldermen to host forum on Arab businesses closed by Mayor Lightfoot American Arabs
  • April 24, 2022 Illinois DCEO American ArabChamber event
    American Arab Chamber and DCEO host online panel to help Arab Businesses secure funding Activism
  • Oussama Jammal presents Congresswoman Marie Newman with the Courage Award during the USCMO Annual Ramadan Iftar Dinner. Photo courtesy of Marie Newman Facebook Page
    Newman endorsed by major Arab and Muslim leaders Activism

Setting the record straight: Saudi women’s oppression

Posted on February 1, 2015September 24, 2018 By Managing Writer 7 Comments on Setting the record straight: Saudi women’s oppression
SHARE ...
          
 
  

  • Tweet

By Sheikha Al Dosary

Nothing makes me sicker to my stomach than reading false accusations of any nation that aren’t based on facts, especially when it’s done by a so-called “fair and balanced” media.
For the past week, I have been investigating the coverage of President Obama’s visit to Saudi Arabia, which was dominated by the defiance of the First Lady. For me, it was fun to watch the American media try to make her out as some sort of a rebel for not wearing the headscarf in Saudi Arabia.

MO in SA

Click to view article on Michelle Obama

Click to read column on Obama not wearing headscarf

It’s the same tired narrative: the West is going to liberate the women of the Middle East, and her choice of attire is clearly meant to send a strong message about her rejection of the treatment of women there. Seriously!  Don’t you feel embarrassed about the shallowness of this news?

Click to read article on outrage against Michelle Obama

It is important to understand that she is far from the first woman to do this, so it doesn’t really qualify as a newsworthy event. Since the 2000s, all foreign women visiting Saudi Arabia in official delegations are not required to wear the head scarf. The media decide to pay attention now?

Fortunately, social media did an excellent job exposing this shallowness, for which I am grateful.

Women working for diplomatic missions are also not required to wear a hijab. If you ever visit Saudi Arabia you will find that there are a lot of women who do not cover their hair, including Saudi women themselves.
Here is a picture of Saudi Businesswomen Luban Al-Olayan during an international form in SA to confirms this, so can we please move on?

Lubna Suliman Olayan speaks at the International Energy Agency (IEA) conference in Riyadh.

I also wonder if we are still using the Orientalist’s narrative that not wearing the hijab is a sign of liberation. The media still tell their audience that the more hair and skin a woman expose; the more liberated she is, and the more she covers the more oppressed she becomes. Is it that black or white?  Shouldn’t her education and profession be the standard bearer here?
Let’s take a moment and consider this to be true. That would mean that women in the deepest parts of the African Sahara and elsewhere, who are almost naked, are the most liberated! And all nuns are oppressed? All women wearing hats, not showing hair are oppressed too?

 

hijab oppression
a picture circulated in twitter to show that hijab is supported by many religious groups.

If the claim is that we’re all for freedom of choice and individualism, then I believe we should support Saudi women’s rights to wear whatever they want.  If they want to cover up, let them do so.  If they decide not to wear one then they should be free to speak about that themselves. Fortunately, many Saudi women are using social media to express how they feel. So far have not seen any Saudi women campaigning against the covering up, at the same time we saw some women who choose not to cover their hair.

Most importantly, I find it very disturbing that many in the media keep repeating the same mistakes without any fact checking, which is the number one thing any journalist should mindful of.  Nearly every story contains the following passage:

“In addition to not being able to drive, Saudi women must always have a male chaperone when going out in public, they can’t try on clothes while shopping or open a bank account without their husband’s permission.”

Give me a break.  I am a Saudi woman and having lived there for many years, the only true statement there is that Saudi women aren’t able to drive. If we don’t consider women driving in the outskirts of big cities, since cars are brought to Saudi Arabia, these facts are proven by images from National Geographic and numerous books, travel guides and personal accounts.

The rest of the passage is completely inaccurate. Who said Saudi women must always have a male chaperone when going out in public? If one were to visit Saudi Arabia, they’d quickly see women walking around on their own all over the place. Go into any shopping mall and you’ll find groups of women from all ages, race and social class shopping and enjoying their time as you would expect to see in any other shopping mall in the world.
Many foreign female journalists have worked in Saudi Arabia unaccompanied, how could that happen?

Many foreign female workers lived in Saudi Arabia without a male guardian, how is this allowed?

Many Saudi women live in other cities inside Saudi Arabia without their families. How is that possible?

Western females working and enjoying living in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Western females working and enjoying living in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Another claim is that women “can’t try on clothes while shopping.” I am wondering, where did that come from? Visit any mall and you’ll find women’s fitting rooms.  The only place that you won’t would be the old markets, so can we please stop using this false information?

The next claim is one of my favorites, as it shows that fact-checking is basically non-existent when it comes to covering Saudi women’s rights.

I’m really disturbed by the claim that women cannot open a bank account without their husband’s permission, because it implies that only married women can open bank accounts. What about unmarried or widowed women? Do they qualify for an account? Or should it be assumed that all Saudi women are married? If books written about Saudi Arabia made the claim that all women are put through an arranged marriage, then perhaps this could make sense!

I needed some answers, so I called each and every Saudi bank to figure this out, and you know what? Every single one of them denied that they require permission from a male guardian for any female client interested in opening a bank account. I checked their websites for extra accuracy and the result was negative: no Saudi bank requires the permission. The procedure for opening a bank account in Saudi Arabia is so simple for women.  Some banks only require that you are at least 18 years of age and can provide an ID.

rajhi bank form
AlRajhi bank requirements to open a bank account.
samba account opn
Samba bank requirements to open a bank account.

Finally, have we ever heard about Saudi women’s education, employment, achievements, or any positive developments for that matter? Media, please take these issues into consideration for future articles about Saudi women so the audience can have a broader and in-depth perspective.

Saudi business women in jeddah
a group of Saudi businesswomen in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. 

Sheikha Al Dosary is an Arab-American journalist and media researcher specialized in social issues and women’s rights in the Gulf region.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Managing Writer
Managing Writer
Managing Writer at The Arab Daily News online
The Arab Daily News is the newspaper of record for the Arab American Community, and publishes and writes original articles on news, features, commentary, business, politics, sports, entertainment and more. Managing Writer of the Arab Daily News, reviews and posts articles for the journalists and bloggers who submit their writings for this popular online newspaper newspaper.
Managing Writer
Latest posts by Managing Writer (see all)
  • Chicago aldermen to host forum on Arab businesses closed by Mayor Lightfoot - April 15, 2022
  • AHRC observes United Nations World Refugee Day (June 20) - June 20, 2021
  • Arab News, FII Institute partner to shed light on the future of regional media industry - April 19, 2021

  • Tweet

SHARE ...
          
 
  
 
          
 
 Tweet 
Arab World, Bloggers, Commentary, Gulf States, Spotlight Tags:Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, Barack Obama, Headscarf, Michelle Obama, Publicity stunt, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Senior Advisor, Twitter, Valerie Jarrett

Post navigation

Previous Post: Arab governments investing heavily in Satellite TV News
Next Post: Edjteehad in the West: fighting Islamic extremism

Related Posts

  • On December 20, the United States Navy 5th Fleet seized upwards of 1,400 AK-47 assault rifles and 226,600 rounds of ammunition from a vessel originating from Iran.  This ship was on a route historically used to illegally smuggle weapons to the Houthis in Yemen. Photo By Petty Officer 3rd Class Elisha Smith | NORTH ARABIAN SEA (Dec. 21, 2021) Illicit weapons seized from a stateless fishing..
    U.S. seizes illegal Iranian flow of weapons to Yemen Arab World
  • Census and (lack of) Sensibility in the way nation’s manipulate population data Arab News
  • Obamas at the annual White House Easter Egg roll, photo courtesy of the White House
    Farewell to a brilliant First Lady Commentary
  • Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir, the president of Sudan, listens to a speech during the opening of the 20th session of The New Partnership for Africa's Development in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Jan. 31, 2009. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
    Sudan’s Defining Moment: the Uneasy Transition to Democracy Arab World
  • Mordechai Vanunu’s 2019 Supreme Court Petition for full freedom from Israel: DISMISSED! Arab World
  • Dome of the Rock view from Jerusalem street. Photo courtesy Ray Hanania
    Arabs should support J Street Bloggers

More Related Articles

Jacky Chamoun on the Lebanon topless pictures controversy Arab World
HaaretzQ Conference Addresses US Israel Special Relationship American Arabs
Gaza-Palestine Photojournalist Focuses on the Children Bloggers
Remember the USS Liberty’s MD in honor of National Dr. Day 2014 American Arabs
Arabs of Chicagoland to celebrate Arab Heritage Month in November American Arabs
Breeding intolerance: Turkish soccer fans disrespect ISIS victims Arab World

Comments (7) on “Setting the record straight: Saudi women’s oppression”

  1. Farrokh Bulsara says:
    February 4, 2015 at 3:50 pm

    Look, everyone wants to be politically correct and say that saudi arabia can advance as much as other countries if they did not have a repressive government, but they also know the truth which is that this is all a lie. Evolution has made one race of people different from another, all the resources and all the wealth in the world wont be able to help the arab population compete with the world in the same level, its just not possible.

    Yes some arab individuals can achieve greatness but most wont, this is quiet visible when you look at the people of UAE, they have innumerable amount of resources and wealth, their society is a lot freer than saudi arabia but their people are still mostly illiterate (atleast compared to world standards) despite having free education and access to unlimited wealth the arabs of UAE havent contributed anything to the world. I know my comment with offend many people, not just arabs but also people who like to see arabs succeed, but this is the truth. If you dont believe anything i’ve said just do a little research on this matter and you too will come to the same conclusion.

    Log in to Reply
    1. culti-vate says:
      February 4, 2015 at 5:42 pm

      Fa

      Log in to Reply
      1. Shocked says:
        February 8, 2015 at 9:24 pm

        24 years I have lived as a woman in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. This article tries to trivalize some of the issues that make life in Saudi Arabia, less then comfortable. Not all clothing stores let you try on clothes even in the newest of malls, and even when you do most times you are forces to buy them and go to a bathroom area that has dressing rooms to try them on. Most stores even force you to buy the clothes with an exchange only policy with no cash back. Furthermore, if you don’t have your hair covered in Saudi Arabia and a religious police officer sees you, you will be forced to cover your hair whether you are Saudi or a foreigner. I don’t know which part of Saudi Arabia this author is living, but I would like to know.

        Log in to Reply
        1. Mazy says:
          February 9, 2015 at 11:36 am

          Totally agree, with everything, you said, I lived in Khober, for almost 15 years, it was the most repressive and women controlling, constantly putting the women under the microscope of what she is doing wrong. I remember I spent most of my time on anti depressents just to be able to live there. Terribly backward thinking and over powered by men and their sick Motawi lead government. Hated it.

          Log in to Reply
    2. culti-vate says:
      February 4, 2015 at 5:49 pm

      Farrokh you clearly have issues with Arabs…I worked in Saudi for 2.5 years and have lived in the UAE and Oman. There are so many benefits of living in the gulf compared to these countries you speak of which have “contributed to the world”. Maybe instead of your ” research” you should visit the place.I think a contribution to the world is offering people jobs when their own countries and governments have failed them.
      Sheikhs is spot on I agree about women in Saudi, great piece!every country has their faults and I’m sick to death of sensationalism.

      Log in to Reply
      1. Farrokh Bulsara says:
        February 6, 2015 at 2:25 am

        17 years of living in saudi arabia and 5.5 years of living in abu dhabi, you were just a tourist compared to how long I’ve lived in the ME. The only benefit is that these countries dont have any taxes, thats because they are getting free money from the western countries in exchange for the dinosaur fossils the westeners have found.

        Log in to Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

  • OPINION COLUMNS
  • Palestinian refugees forced to flee their homes at gunpoint by Jewish terrorist groups operating in Palestine in the 1930s, 1940s and after Israel was created on May 14, 1948. Photo courtesy of the United Nations
    Unresolved status of Palestinian rights makes UNRWA essential
    May 7, 2022
  • The Ray Hanania Radio Show Live Wed 5 PM EST in Detroit, Washington DC, Ontario and on Thursday in Chicago. Watch the program live at Facebook.com/ArabNews
    Second Season of “The Ray Hanania Show” Arab American radio launches April 6
    April 4, 2022
  • Hollywood Sign
    Will Smith violence takes Oscar protests to dangerous level
    March 31, 2022
  • Chicago's racist Mayor Lori Lightfoot ordered more than 150 Arab owned stores closed in 2021 in a racist effort o fight street gang crimes
    Arab Daily News launches Arab American Network to fight racism
    March 12, 2022
  • NEWS
  • Imad Hamad Director American Human Rights Council
    AHRC Calls for Moral Consistency on Human Rights, Urges President Biden to Pause His Trip to Israel:
    May 24, 2022
  • The U.S.S. Liberty photo courtesy of the USS Liberty Veterans.
    Survivors of Israel’s strike on USS Liberty commemorate 55th year June 6 – 8
    May 23, 2022
  • AHRC Logo new Feb 2021
    AHRC hosts an open meeting with TSA & community
    May 19, 2022
  • Former City Hall reporter Ray Hanania, ShawnTe Raines-Welch and Nick Kantas, candidates for Judge in the 4th SubCircuit, and Cook County Commissioner Frank Aguilar.
    Nearly 100 candidates, officials address Arab Democratic Club forum Sunday
    May 15, 2022
  • NEWSWIRE
  • Imad Hamad Director American Human Rights Council
    AHRC Calls for Moral Consistency on Human Rights, Urges President Biden to Pause His Trip to Israel:
    May 24, 2022
  • The U.S.S. Liberty photo courtesy of the USS Liberty Veterans.
    Survivors of Israel’s strike on USS Liberty commemorate 55th year June 6 – 8
    May 23, 2022
  • AHRC Logo new Feb 2021
    AHRC hosts an open meeting with TSA & community
    May 19, 2022
  • Closure notice posted on the doors and windows of Arab American businesses during Mayor Lori Lightfoot's closure of Arab owned stores in June - Sept. 2021. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
    Chicago aldermen to host forum on Arab businesses closed by Mayor Lightfoot
    April 15, 2022

The Tabboun Column

The Political Grapevine Political Tabboun. Original photo by tim-mossholder-KX1BBNY69Ao-unsplash
  • Tabboun
  • The Political Grapevine Political Tabboun. Original photo by tim-mossholder-KX1BBNY69Ao-unsplash
    The Political Grapevine/The Tabboun, Friday Dec. 16, 2021
    December 16, 2021
  • The Political Grapevine Political Tabboun. Original photo by tim-mossholder-KX1BBNY69Ao-unsplash
    Tabboun: Chicago remains strongest Palestine voice
    September 7, 2016
  • The Tabboun: Israeli human rights violations hit
    June 30, 2016
  • The Political Grapevine Political Tabboun. Original photo by tim-mossholder-KX1BBNY69Ao-unsplash
    Tabboun: Himes questions troop deployment to Syria
    November 3, 2015
  • The Political Grapevine Political Tabboun. Original photo by tim-mossholder-KX1BBNY69Ao-unsplash
    The Tabboun: Dearborn removes statue of racist former mayor
    September 29, 2015

Creative Commons License
All work on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Do not edit original work. Give credit to the original source.

  • 08-09-21-Ziyad-Ad-Pantry-essentials.jpg
  • 08-09-21-Ziyad-Sices-Ad.jpg
  • ZiyadBrandLogo-2016BlackRedBackgrnd.jpg
  • HANANIA Arab News Op-Eds
  • Ukraine conflict gives Palestinians chance to redefine their conflict
    March 9, 2022
  • Mishmeshan PHC medical center destroyed in Syrian Government assaults. Photo courtesy of UOSSM Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations
    President Biden’s dyslexic policy in Syria is a mess
    October 20, 2021
  • Annissa Essaibi George and family
    Annissa Essaibi George faces “race hypocrisy” in campaign to be Boston Mayor
    October 20, 2021
  • Jerusalem image of Jews and Arabs walking together. Shutterstock. Courtesy of Arab News Newspaper
    Jewish Michigan lawmaker leads push for Two State Solution
    October 7, 2021
  • BOOK REVIEWS
  • Stories My Father Told Me by author and artist Helen Zughaib, book cover. Photo courtesy of Cune Press
    Stories My Father Told Me by author and artist Helen Zughaib
    November 1, 2021
  • Girl Fighters, new book on Yemen Book Cune Press
    New Book: Girl Fighters: Break Tradition in Yemen 
    October 25, 2021
  • ENTERTAINMENT
  • The Ray Hanania Radio Show Live Wed 5 PM EST in Detroit, Washington DC, Ontario and on Thursday in Chicago. Watch the program live at Facebook.com/ArabNews
    Second Season of “The Ray Hanania Show” Arab American radio launches April 6
    April 4, 2022
  • American Arab CHamber President HassanNijem accepts the Proclamation from Chicago Ald. Roderick Sawyer at the Chamber dinner March 30, 2022
    Chicagoland celebrates Arab American Heritage Month
    March 31, 2022
  • Hollywood Sign
    Will Smith violence takes Oscar protests to dangerous level
    March 31, 2022
  • 03-30-22 Arab Chamber Heritage Month Flyer
    Arab Chamber to host Arab Heritage Month dinner March 30
    March 14, 2022
  • “Rupture”, the psychological thriller produced by MBC STUDIOS, has won Best Saudi Film at the 2021 Red Sea International Film Festival (RSIFF).
    MBC GROUP’s Rupture wins Best Saudi Film at the inaugural Red Sea International Film Festival
    December 15, 2021
  • New-iTunes-1400-x-1400-The-Ray-Hanania-Show-Podcast-Icon-300-x-300.jpg
  • Podcast-iTunes-Logo-Chi-City-Hall-1985.jpg
  • terroristbookcover-300-x-300.jpg
  • powerpr300x300ad.jpg
  • The-Kings-Pawn-Book-300-x-300.png
Arab News Newspaper Logo
Read the Arab News, the leading English language newspaper in the MIddle East

Follow Ray Hanania at Gab.com, MeWe.com and IDobbinate.com, the alternatives to Facebook and Twitter Censorship.

Click here to get information on The Ray Hanania Radio Show and its podcasts

Copyright © 2022 The Arab Daily News.

Powered by PressBook Premium theme