Comments on: Saudi Women and Their Drivers

By: reza

reza — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 17:29:05 +0000

im a Muslim guy who leave in Iran im so sorry for oppression which u Saudis ladies are suffering and i think that your rules is not Islamic but its the government who should be blamed for this discrimination

By: American Bedu

American Bedu — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 18:21:41 +0000

@Krys – I’m not in Saudi at the moment but I believe if you search my blog using the words “private taxi” you should find some recommendations I gave a while ago.

Regards, Carol

By: coolred38

coolred38 — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 09:52:27 +0000

So in other words…a non saudi will just drive the car to the destination ordered regardless of who his customers are and how they are acting…where as a saudi driver will be thinking whether his customers are up for a little “sport” depending on who they are and how they are acting?

So one minds his own business while the other minds YOUR business?

By: Medina

Medina — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 09:06:32 +0000

Good argument and this is actually one of that social problems that we should face and work against it. It is the essence of many problems in Saudi society.

The word “Rajal” DW, in saudi society means that He is the male who is very judgmental and stuck and adhered to the traditional social norms.

so, the question is why Saudi women say non Saudis are not Rejal, because non Saudis have no idea about the social norms to judge Saudi women against it. so she is safe when she breaks these social norms infront of non saudis and her reputation is in the safe side.
on the other hand, if a Saudi “Rejal” was the driver of a saudi woman, then she will not be comfortable because he is judgmental to her behaviors. and if she does something against the social norms, then, HE will think that she is not “Mazbutah” it means she open access to him to flirt her. hence, two things will happen, first, he may take advantage of this access and harass her sexually if he is not “Mazbuot” or he will tell her story to his friends, especially if she belong to a tribe. this will complicate the situation and then it will be a tribal talks. so Saudi women do not want to go into all these troubles, so they prefer the non “rejal” to be in the safe side.

so, as I always say, WE need to redefine the social norms to solve our social problems.

Salam.

By: Krys

Krys — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 08:20:11 +0000

I have only been here a few weeks and already going stir crazy sitting in the house with 2 kids. Can anyone suggest an agency for a limo driver?

By: American Bedu

American Bedu — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 09:34:58 +0000

With my husband it is 50/50 depending on the drivers appearance and how he talks.

By: Noor

Noor — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 06:08:53 +0000

Ah tell me about it if I a taxi is drove by a Saudi my husband will not allow us to get in.

By: zzz05

zzz05 — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 18:24:54 +0000

where can i get one of these jobs? sounds intriguing.

By: Chiara

Chiara — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 17:18:06 +0000

The slavery/racism theory would work especially since slavery is based on economics and power not race except in the US where it was racially based and known as the “peculiar insitution” for that reason.

By: Global Voices Online » Saudi: Saudi women and their drivers

Global Voices Online » Saudi: Saudi women and their drivers — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 15:02:24 +0000

[...] Bedu talks about one of the cultural contradictions in the Saudi society. She takes the relationship between Saudi women and their drivers as an example. Posted by Lasto Adri Print version Share [...]