Since I signify to the West the image of an
emancipated, modern, outspoken and Muslim Saudi woman, the questions people ask
wherever I go never cease to amaze me. And I feel the responsibility to act as a
self-appointed cultural diplomat to explain what being a Saudi woman means to me
- and many Saudi women, in the process bridging the gap between my country and
the world.
Most recently, a Saudi friend who wears a hijab,
or headscarf, visited me in Vienna and we were asked: why does one of you cover
your hair while the other doesn't?
It's an interesting question, and the answer is
not unique to Muslims; the followers of Christianity and Judaism also have
expectations about female (and male) attire that differ from one community to
another, and even from one family to another. I've also been asked what we wear under our abaya, the long cloak
Saudi women wear in public; what our workplace looks like; and how we interact
with our families and friends. -- Lulua
Asaad
Saudi Women - agents of change shattering common stereotypes
By Lulua Asaad
Wednesday, 23 June 2010
00:30
Vienna - When I made the
decision to move to Vienna, I was unprepared for the repercussions my attitude,
behaviour and opinions would have in forming and influencing European
perceptions of women from Saudi Arabia, a country that is at a crossroads
between modernity, globalisation, liberation, empowerment, heritage and
cherished traditions.
Since I signify to the West the
image of an emancipated, modern, outspoken and Muslim Saudi woman, the questions
people ask wherever I go never cease to amaze me. And I feel the responsibility
to act as a self-appointed cultural diplomat to explain what being a Saudi woman
means to me - and many Saudi women, in the process bridging the gap between my
country and the world.
Most recently, a Saudi friend
who wears a hijab, or headscarf, visited me in Vienna and we were asked: why
does one of you cover your hair while the other doesn't?
It's an interesting question,
and the answer is not unique to Muslims; the followers of Christianity and
Judaism also have expectations about female (and male) attire that differ from
one community to another, and even from one family to another.
I've also been asked what we
wear under our abaya, the long cloak Saudi women wear in public; what our
workplace looks like; and how we interact with our families and
friends.
Contrary to feeling frustrated
by these questions, I believe these social interactions are necessary and
essential in shattering common stereotypes about Saudi women.
Answering the many questions
from people who are genuinely curious about how we live, and what we do in our
daily lives is important in an age when any news related to Saudi women tops
headlines in The New York Times, CNN, BBC, Al Arabiya, you name it - and
influences international opinion of my country and its people.
Saudi women are mentioned in the
news on an almost weekly basis. From our right to drive, to participation on
reality television shows, to how we deal with men selling lingerie in Saudi
stores, the media is thirsty to publish our pictures, our opinions, our lives
and our experiences.
This kind of exposure upsets
some Saudis who feel insulted by comments from readers that are coloured by
hatred and negative stereotypes, while others view such exposure as a positive
trend.
But it is the generation of such
diverse reactions, and the solicitation of feedback - whether negative or
positive - that is essential to social debate and paves the road for future
acceptance that is so desperately needed in all our societies.
Even in Saudi Arabia some modern
and liberal Saudi thinkers reject the opinions of Saudi women in the media. For
example, some Saudi commentators argued that the presence of young Saudi women
on a recent MTV reality show reflected negative stereotypes about the country,
and others disagree with the degree of liberalism that allows Saudi women to
voice their opinions in the first place. But these are just some of the diverse
opinions that exist in Saudi Arabia.
Interestingly, in both Austrian
and Saudi society, the fact that there are forums to have these discussions is
actually a positive change, creating space for Saudi women who have the courage
to put their views out there and voice their opinions.
And change extends beyond these
forums: when I return home I see slow and heartwarming change. I find an
increasing number of women at work in hospitals as nurses and doctors, as
receptionists, as operators and, more than ever, as entrepreneurs. It reminds me
of the emancipation movement in Europe where women gradually started to join the
workforce and slowly became more involved in civil society
building.
I believe that this change is
happening because we women want it to happen. Quite a few Saudi women I talk to
feel that they need purpose in their lives, that raising children and being a
good housewife is no longer enough. Though they believe that the "job" of being
a mother should not be underappreciated, women also want to engage in the change
that is happening in the public sphere.
Positive change will only
prevail if we, as Saudi women, continue to voice our opinions and act as
ambassadors and agents of change, calling for a slow and steady progression that
reflects our traditions, our faith and our dedication to make meaningful
contributions to the world we live in.
Global Arab Network
Lulua Asaad is a Saudi national based in Austria
who has worked at the IAEA and the United Nations Industrial Development
Organization. This article was written for the Common Ground News Service
(CGNews).
11:27 PM
Sultan Shahin
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