I'm so aggravated about this I hardly know where to start. I made the mistake of watching the Friday night edition of 20/20. Why I thought I might learn something about Saudi Arabia from this, I don't know. Hope beats eternal, I guess.
So Barbara Walters interviews four Saudi women, in an attempt to increase mutual understanding. All four are middle-class working women, three of them mothers and middle-aged, the fourth a young writer. They are presented as representative.
But, if you list to the REST of the reporting, only 7% of Saudi women work outside the home. And the vast majority ~ I don't remember the exact percentage ~ of the population is under 29.
Naturally, the women resent the stereotypes of an Arabian princess who does nothing but sleep 'til noon and throw lavish parties (??) or the oppressed slave who is utterly subject to her husband. That's not them.
So they chat about how they wish the restrictions on women driving would be lifted (except for the youngest woman, who is afraid of the negative response she would get if she appeared behind the wheel). Of course they wouldn't dream of joining any kind of public protest, because, and I quote, "It's not part of our tradition." And about how great the abbaya (all-encompassing black veil) is because they don't have to worry about dressing up when they go out. (Never mind that the malls are clogged with skimpy underthings and fancy finery that they buy and wear at home.) They also say they'd say no if their husbands wanted to take a second wife for "fun" -- but maybe it would be okay if he wanted to have more children.
Okay, cultural differences. Fine.
But it's Baba Wawa that I'm infuriated with. Why oh why did she not ask them whether they would like TO VOTE? It's one thing (albeit a fairly bad thing) to have to get your husband's permission to go into a hospital or to travel, and quite another to have no say whatsoever in the governance of your society.
The program pointed out over and over that there's nothing in the Koran about women having to cover their faces or not drive cars. 20/20's explanation was essentially: "It's all the fault of the religious authorities. And the Saudi leadership, who are afraid to reform too quickly."
That may be, in part, because they have no women constituents that they must answer to. (Yes, I know Saudi Arabia is practically feudal. But they do have elections.)
Okay, end of rant.
Well, almost.
What kind of journalist doesn't even MENTION that women can't vote in Saudi Arabia. (Clothes, cars, and second wives. Yep, those are the most important things on my list of basic human concerns.)
Grrrrrr.
[lightly edited 4/2/02 for clarity in response to comments]
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