Misconception the Root of Our Problems, Says Saudi Businesswoman

http://www.arabnews.com/?page=6&section=0&article=60072&d=7&m=3&y=2005

            Monday, 7, March, 2005 (26, Muharram, 1426)  
     
     
     

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      Misconception the Root of Our Problems, Says Saudi Businesswoman
      Raid Qusti, Arab News 
        
            

            Nadia Bakhurji    
            
      RIYADH, 7 March 2005 - Nadia Bakhurji is a Saudi businesswoman who was 
also the first of her sex to nominate herself as a candidate in this year's 
elections to municipal councils. The nomination was later withdrawn after women 
were officially banned from running for office and voting. Last month at the 
Jeddah Economic Forum, she made some recommendations concerning social progress 
as well as the expanded and more effective participation of woman in Saudi 
society. Her presentation at the forum, "A Vision of Growth: Building People, 
Building Society" emphasized the importance of creating a parallel strategy in 
which education and home culture provide positive role models for both males 
and females and also promote gender equality from an early age. 

      "Basically what I am saying is that the root of our problems is the 
misconception about one other. Men here tend to look at women in a certain way 
and women tend to look at men in a certain way. This is the source of many of 
our problems. Some people ask: Why is there so much distance between the sexes? 
Why so many barriers? It is all because of this misconception." 

      She pointed out that Saudi Arabia needs to develop a mechanism in both 
governmental and non-governmental organizations which will represent woman and 
children and allow them real participation. At present, she calls what women 
and children have "virtual" representation and she explains, "Women and 
children are represented virtually in this country. It doesn't mean through the 
Internet; it means they are represented by a man. A man represents them. We 
have to get rid of that. Women should represent themselves."

      The role of NGOs (non-government organizations) is that they represent 
and advise people with similar problems. NGOs also are instrumental in making 
known the concerns of a section of society and bringing those concerns to the 
attention of policy makers. She cited many examples of NGOs in the UK and the 
functions they perform in society. "NGOs provide the means for a normal person 
- who may have nothing to do with politics - to make his voice heard and most 
importantly, listened to. NGOs can make sure that changes do in fact occur." 
She spoke specifically about NGO's using their legal powers to investigate 
violence and discrimination against women. "For example, if we in the Kingdom 
had an NGO that dealt with violence against women, Rania's case (the Saudi TV 
broadcaster who was tortured by her husband) would have gone to that NGO and 
the NGO would have supported her. It would have
  made sure she had proper legal representation in court and it would have made 
sure she received a just settlement. And that her husband would not get away 
with what he did." She continued to point out the advantages of NGOs. "If we 
had this entity that people could go to, it could also advise government 
bodies. An NGO could bring up the issue of women experiencing negative 
reactions in government offices. NGOs could get input from people and then meet 
officials and work out a solution. They could say, "We have looked at the 
school curriculum and feel it is promoting bias against women or that it is 
restricting women." For example I totally disagree with the ban on sports for 
women. There is no Islamic law that says women should not be healthy and 
physically fit.

      On the other hand, female students are told that practicing sports is 
sinful. These are matters we need to address in an educated, scientific, and 
religious way. And they need to be addressed with the people's welfare in mind. 
Until we can experience that kind of cross-communication in the community, we 
will never move forward. If people lack the chance to talk about what their 
children being taught, it is a serious problem. At the same time, the 
government should develop ways of involving unrepresented groups in the 
community - women, children and young people."

      Bakhurji listed five common women's issues: 

      1- Employment

      2- Childcare: caring and personal assistance

      3- Poverty and exclusion

      4- Violence and safety

      5- Influence and decision-making

      She also mentioned ten steps which she feels Saudi Arabia should take in 
order to move forward. 

      1 - Educate

      "Enlighten society and make sure that the curriculum meets the demands 
and requirements of the younger generation. Also make sure that the curriculum 
is not biased and that it does not promote hatred or intolerance."

      2 - Cultivate

      "Here I am talking about cultivating leaders and role models. Encourge 
schools and all educational trainers to identify exceptional students. There 
has to be more awareness on the part of teachers thinking about children's 
futures: The children must be encouraged and supported in doing things which 
they are good at." 

      3 - Communicate

      "I believe there is too little communication between the sexes and even 
between government departments. There is too little official awareness of what 
women think, what they need, and how they, along with men, could be productive 
in building society and the economy." 

      4 - Demonstrate

      Demonstrate by action and lead by example. "When we talk, we talk a lot. 
That is part of our culture but do we ever actually do anything? A lot of Saudi 
women talk about equality and rights but how many of them are willing to get 
together and do what I've done? What I've done by coming forward as a Saudi 
female candidate for the elections is demonstrating my words and putting them 
into action. I am setting an example. Look at me now after that experience. I'm 
still alive. Sometimes you have to make sacrifices."

      5 - Mediate

      Mediating between polarized groups. "I mean between the 
ultra-conservative and the ultra-liberal. Everyone is in a different place and 
these people cannot see eye-to-eye. For example, you say women should not drive 
because of "x", "y", and "z." I say that women should drive because of "a", 
"b", and "c." Let's sit around a table and mediate. We need groups that will 
mediate between the polarized elements." She went on, "There are also other 
polarized groups in our society. We are very complex - Hejazis, Najdis, Asiris, 
and others and all of them with different ways of thinking and looking at 
life." 

      6 - Collaborate

      "Let's learn from people who have already gone down this path. First of 
all let's look at examples in the Middle East who are closer to our culture, 
such as Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan and others in terms of their progress in civil 
society and education."

      7- Negotiate

      "Let's face it. We do not know how to negotiate. We get heated and 
emotional and we lose the point. I believe that negotiation should be taught in 
school; we should learn how to debate. How can we defend our values and beliefs 
without knowing the basics of negotiating? We must have an educated point of 
view."

      8 - Cooperate

      "There has to be cooperation between the different groups and sectors of 
society, between different ministries so they can produce helpful mechanisms."

      9 - Legislate

      To create laws and legislation that support society on all levels. 
"Currently we say that we implement Shariah law. That is fine. But are we 
really implementing it?" She cited the example of meeting Iranian women 
professors and women members of the Iranian Parliament. When she asked them if 
it was true that Iranian women were stifled, the members of parliament were 
surprised. "The women told me that a woman in Iran has a chance in any 
profession. She said: "Look, I ran for Parliament as a woman and I won." At the 
same time, the women noted, that Iran is a very religious society; they said, 
"We follow the Shariah down to its smallest detail. If your women followed 
Shariah, you would get more respect and be more productive. It does not hamper 
women."

      She returned then to one of her favorite points. "Did you know that 
Iranian women went to the Olympics? With their hijabs they competed. The 
Iranian women told me that women practice sports - riding and basketball for 
example - wearing hijab and loose clothes. I thought to myself, if they can do 
it, why can't we? Why are we restricted? Islam does not handicap a society, and 
definitely does not handicap women. I think we need to look at our Islamic 
interpretations more closely and clarify certain areas."

      10 - Tolerate

      "It is not in our culture to tolerate. We are very judgmental. This is 
wrong. We need to educate people to be tolerant rather than judgmental. Who do 
we think we are? Very early, we teach children that if this person is Hejazi it 
means one thing, if Najdi something else. Or that black means this, and white 
means that. Or for example, she's a woman. Let's judge her. It does not matter 
what she says; she's just a woman. All these judgments make you guilty instead 
of innocent. This kind of narrow-mindedness which is programmed into us 
socially from an early age needs to be changed. The only way we can move 
forward is to get rid of this ignorance.

      We are no better than anyone else. And God says in the Qur'an that the 
best of us is the most righteous."

      Her recommendations:

      1- Establish a national council for women

      2- Establish mechanism within civil society for dialogue with decision 
makers

      3- Establish local community centers for advice and counseling related to 
social and family affairs

      4- Provide training and guidance for young people

      5- Encourage investment in community projects

      6- Allocate seats to women in order to ensure their participation in 
local municipality politics

      7- Education, education, education.
     


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