Comments on: Feeling like a Saudi Woman…

By: Saudi Arabia: A New Day of Reckoning « American Bedu

Saudi Arabia: A New Day of Reckoning « American Bedu — Wed, 18 May 2011 00:11:10 +0000

[...] a car with tinted windows impaired his ability to learn his own way around. I’ll never forget his own admission of frustration and then his own realization of what it must feel like day after day for the Saudi [...]

By: K

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 14:02:37 +0000

This is a great posting – love the comments. WIll link to you from my blog on Saudi women driving. Wonderful blog!

By: American Bedu

American Bedu — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:41:30 +0000

@munaqabah – I will respectfully disagree as the CEO, movie star and other rich and priviledged people can at least choose to drive themselves. Even in special circumstances Presidents and other Royalty can drive themselves.

By: munaqabah

munaqabah — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:34:53 +0000

The passenger who has a driver could also be compared to a corporate executive, a movie star, a U.S. president, a king or queen, or other rich and privileged people.

By: coolred38

coolred38 — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 10:08:42 +0000

“Why can’t pork be in same fridge as poulty?…”

allergic to the feathers?

By: Wanda Jordan

Wanda Jordan — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 02:09:27 +0000

Why can’t pork be in same fridge as poulty?

By: Chiara

Chiara — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 19:13:11 +0000

As a happy pedestrian and cyclist, I was forced to get my licence the summer I turned 17, by my mother who had hers at 22 (unusual for her circle), and thought all women should be able to drive–for independence, shared family driving, and emergencies. My sister was a less reluctant 16 year old the summer she got hers (only fools and the desperate take their driving test in the winter in Canada). Both of them love driving, and couldn’t function well without a car (3 adults living together 3 cars).

I enjoy the freedom of being able to drive when I want to, for emergencies, and even occasionally just enjoy “heading down the highway”, but I have lived happily without a car (but not in the suburbs–impossible!). I don’t drive in Morocco but would if I lived there, especially if we didn’t have to borrow someone else’s car.

In Saudi, it sounds like women and their family members should take advantage of whatever opportunity they have to learn and maintain driving skills, even if only for emergencies. Seems there are enought wide open spaces to practice in.

Bassem–nice comment and blog. Good luck on your finals!

Susie–Glad you are enjoying yourself, and I hope you are wearing shorts and sandals while you drive!

هيا–I’m not sure I understand the relevence here of a comment on nuclear energy.

By: American Bedu

American Bedu — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 18:57:06 +0000

@Jerry – I do know of a number of cases where the woman has taken the wheel in cases of emergency.

And in those cases where the male mahrem is not around, this is indeed one of those exceptions where it is okay for an unrelated driver or taxi to transport a woman to where she needs to go. I know..contradictory but I always tell folks, Saudi Arabia is continual contrasts and contradictions.

By: American Bedu

American Bedu — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 18:52:19 +0000

It gives me great pleasure to share that CNN Arabic chose to reference this post:

http://arabic.cnn.com/2009/entertainment/6/28/blogs.28jan/index.html

By: gugu

gugu — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 18:50:51 +0000

Thank goodness women drives in my compound and that is in Riyadh LOL.