http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle-east/saudi-king-women-given-right-to-vote-for-first-time-in-2015-nationwide-local-elections/2011/09/25/gIQAt4wwvK_story.html
In a nation that historically is deeply rooted in ultra-conservatism, Saudi Arabia is becoming a little more liberal. For the first time in history, women are being allowed to vote and will be able to run in the next local elections which will be held in 2015. The women of Saudi Arabia have long been the sufferers of the conservatism that King Abdullah and his predecessors have enforced. And while the women still will not be able to drive, serve as Cabinet ministers, or travel abroad without the consent of a male guardian, women gained a tiny victory in this ruling. Women have been fighting for equal rights for quite some time in Saudi Arabia and gained a little headway against their male counterparts. The United States supported the move by King Abdullah, praising his efforts to become a more balanced nation. The worries of an uprising like in near-by Egypt and Libya have put fear into King Abdullah. He brought forth a $93 billion package of incentives, jobs, and services for the suffering Saudis in hopes to quell the idea of any possible uprising.
It is a shame that the Saudi society is still an oppressor of feminine rights. Granted, America isn’t that far ahead of them with the 19th Amendment only being ratified in 1920. It seems as though the life of Saudi women is a constant struggle; carefully being watched by every one of society’s males in some way to make sure that the laws are being followed to the letter. With the recent change of events, it makes for wanting to keep a careful eye on the country as a whole to see if this new revelation leads to more liberal wants from its citizens, and not just the women.
Erica Carlson
Pols 184
Friday 9AM Discussion
One has grounds to say that allowing women to be a larger part of society is a progressive movement. What does that say about the Saudi Prince? He made concessions, perhaps to ensure that no funny Arab Spring business gets inside his country. However, one can also argue that if he made this concession, it gives people a general idea that the Saudi prince can make even more concessions. It may not stop there. I interpret this as a sign of weakness of the Saudi prince, who is in essence admitting that he has no other means of stopping the Arab Spring from happening in his country. As the professor mentioned in lecture today, "the Saudi people are happy," and for the sake of the prince, I sure hope so. Nevertheless, this is welcoming news.
ReplyDeleteDamian Jez
TA Maness
Friday, 9AM
Abdullah made an adaptive decision, giving women the right to vote. He assessed the risk of losing power based on recent uprisings and decided he would rather appease the public to a small extent. It's a vile act because his motive was to cover his own rear-end, rather than to give the female population some sense of belonging to their home country. The fact that women still can't drive is comical in the sense that, who is going to be driving them to the voting center? A hubby who probably doesn't agree that his wife should be getting more rights ( as I would assume the rational would be since their lifestyle is so deeply engulfed by their cultural traditions and beliefs)? Are women supposed to ask for permission for who to vote, or are they just meant to back the opinions of their husbands? Are the Saudi women supposed to order taxi's to take them to the voting centers? Are they even allowed to do that?
ReplyDeleteErvin Velic
Friday, 9am
I think it is great that Saudi women now have the right to vote. It is definitely a step in the right direction, but it is a very tiny one since it won't really mean anything. Saudi Arabia only hold municipal elections, and they have only done so twice, once in 1939 and the second time in 2005. I believe King Abdullah is only trying to give the allusion that he is making real changes in order to avoid the Arab Spring (year now?) from spreading to Saudi Arabia, when in reality it will make only a slight difference on how politics are handled in there.
ReplyDeleteBrad Herrmann
TA: Maness
Friday, 10am
Overall, I find giving the women in this country the right to vote as an ecstatic moment in their history! For whatever reason, whether it be because he was trying to provide some sort of concession to the masses or trying to become more progressive, women STILL earn that right. I can see this as a step forward in the right direction because the people are happy. I don't think it will necessarily keep them held back for much longer though. I think earning the right to vote is sort of like a meth addiction. The people will keep wanting more and more. Eventually, if the price does not meet the demands of the people, a revolution could possibly erupt.
ReplyDeleteOverall, I find giving the women in this country the right to vote as an ecstatic moment in their history! For whatever reason, whether it be because he was trying to provide some sort of concession to the masses or trying to become more progressive, women STILL earn that right. I can see this as a step forward in the right direction because the people are happy. I don't think it will necessarily keep them held back for much longer though. I think earning the right to vote is sort of like a meth addiction. The people will keep wanting more and more. Eventually, if the price does not meet the demands of the people, a revolution could possibly erupt.
ReplyDeleteEmmanuel Cordova
Professor Valeriano
POLS 184-AD5
13200 Class
11:00 am-11:50 am
2EPASW 2219
Although I am pleased that women have won this small victory, I am waiting for more progressive change in Saudi Arabia. Women can vote, but how are they supposed to get to the elections if they cannot drive? When will they run for office? I understand that a small step is better than no step, but this event makes me think that the king has only given women the right to vote to avoid the quells of the Arab Spring occurring over the past year. I do not believe his intentions were to progress human rights, but to keep his power.
ReplyDeleteErika Kissick
Prof. Valeriano
2-3pm
John Van Betherhuysen
The fact of the matter is that women are now able to vote. Although there is much reform necessary in S.A. concerning women's rights this is an initiative that will hopefully lead the way for more reform. I am aware that these actions taken were probably in light of the Arab spring, but nonetheless they show S.A. is heading in the right direction. I just hope that this will not be the first and last time we hear about positive actions going on in S.A. concerning women's rights.
ReplyDeleteChahinda
Ryan 9am
I agree with Erika. Though they are granted the right to vote, Saudi women are still not permitted to drive or participate in many other aspects of society. Their world is very restricted, and through this may seem like a step in the right direction for women's rights, it also seems like a small change used for the purpose of silencing women's rights advocates. Many more changes need to be made before women can gain equality.
ReplyDeleteMarisa Gilna
Ryan 10-1050
I agree that giving the women the right to vote is a small victory but a victory none the less. It is apparent that a decision was made so that this country is not tossed into the turmoil that other countries were experiencing. King Abdullah obviously realized that he had to take some action to keep his people content and he took the best course of action that was available to him.
ReplyDeleterocio clara
ryan friday 10am