Women, Religion, Voting, Saudi Arabia & America

“Saudi Arabia is traditionally a Muslim country with Islamic law guiding it”(psu.edu, 2017). Women of Saudi Arabia for thousands of years were not allowed to vote or hold the same political standings as men. The late King of Abdallah of Saudi Arabia granted women the right to vote and run for public office in 2011. The decision to allow women to vote broke with tradition and sent a profound message to the people of Saudi Arabia. In December of 2015 Saudi Arabia women voted in municipal elections marking the first time they have been allowed to cast ballots in the conservative nation (Pearson, 2015).

Although women were allowed to vote the conservative traditions of Saudi Arabia were still displayed during the voting process. “Female candidates also were barred from speaking to male voters and required to segregate campaign offices, the organization said” (Pearson, 2015). I believe it is hard to break away from any tradition because it is something that has been practiced for a lengthy amount of time. The separation of male voters from women voters during the 2015 election was minor considering the historical moment that was taking place, allowing women to vote. Change is inevitable and has been happening in Saudi Arabia for the past few years; the country has been breaking away from traditions opening the door for change and equality amongst women in the male dominate kingdom (Pearson, 2015).

It is easy to past judgment on another countries traditions, religious values and laws but it is not wise to do so. It takes a well-rounded person to view the topic of religion and traditions open-mindedly without judgment. Women within the US once were not allowed to vote like women in Saudi Arabia but like the women of Saudi Arabia, American women fought publically and silently for the same equal rights as men. In 2015 it was recorded that women in America “made only 80 cents for every dollar earned by men, a gender wage gap of 20 percent” (iwpr.org, 2015). Women all around the world no matter religion or nationality still face some form of inequality in comparison to men. I raise the question are women in America all that different from women of Saudi Arabia and other countries? If so how, what are the similarities and differences?

Reference:

Pay Equity & Discrimination. (n.d.). Retrieved February 23, 2017, from https://iwpr.org/issue/employment-education-economic-change/pay-equity-discrimination/

Pearson, M. (2015, December 12). Women in Saudi Arabia vote for the first time. Retrieved February 23, 2017, from http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/12/world/saudia-arabia-women-vote/index.html

Pennsylvania State University, World Wide Campus. (2017) OLEAD 410. Lesson 7: The Middle East focus on Saudi Arabia. Pg. 1-5.