US Vogue, February 1976, photographed Bob Richardson. Courtesy of CNI Archives
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has issued a historic royal decree that will allow women to drive, ending the country’s decades-long policy of prohibiting women behind the wheel. The change is set to take effect in June 2018. The Saudi Foreign Ministry announced the news live on state television on Tuesday. Vogue.me lists the vital details in digest.
The Man Behind the Policy Change
The new policy is just one of many changes rippling through the Kingdom, since 32-year-old Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, the youngest minister of defense in the world, was appointed Crown Prince in June 2017. His Highness has ambitious plans to reform the Saudi economy.
Women In the Saudi Workplace
The policy change aims to increase women’s participation in the workplace as many rely on drivers and male family members to get to work. “We refer to the negative consequences of not allowing women to drive vehicles and the positive aspects of allowing it to do so,” the royal decree read.
US Vogue, November 1964, photographed by Gene Laurents. Courtesy of CNI Archives
The No Permission-Required Policy
Additionally, women would not need to get permission from a legal guardian to get a license and would not need a male guardian in the car when they drive. This is being regarded as a step in the right direction for women’s rights and a victory for Saudi women, especially the activists who have been campaigning since the 1990s to overturn the ban – often getting arrested in the process.
What the World Thinks
While some conservatives opposed women’s right to drive in the Kingdom, the groundbreaking decision has been praised by women and men across the globe on Twitter and Instagram, with hashtag #SaudiWomenCanDrive being used in a flood of tweets. Here are some of the reactions on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/manal_alsharif/status/912769533911240704
https://twitter.com/TamadorAlyami/status/912778322278526977
Great news for all the women in Saudi Arabia. An achievement that will help their society. Drive to happiness ladies #MakeAChange
— Elissa (@elissakh) September 26, 2017
https://twitter.com/aa_j81/status/912762917887660032
This was the work of brave women who challenged the status quo and changed public opinion @manal_alsharif @LoujainHathloul @maysaaX
— Mohammad F. Almutawa (@mfmutawa) September 26, 2017
https://twitter.com/Juhaina_AlAli/status/912771521730564101
The best thing about this news is, the whole world is happy for us !CONGRATZZZ ladies ❤🙏🏼🌹#SaudiWomenCanDrive #الملك_ينتصر_لقياده_المراه pic.twitter.com/IAxTepr49u
— Dr. Eman Saad (@AlSaad_1) September 26, 2017
Congratulations to all women in Saudi Arabia! The ban on driving will be lifted next year & all women will have the right to drive #Progress pic.twitter.com/Zsc7gbMR8n
— Kris Jenner (@KrisJenner) September 27, 2017
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