Move Over, The Saudi Suffragettes Are Here
Tehelka|December 26 2015

The kingdom might still have a long way to go but the right to vote and elect women to office deserves recognition. After all, didn't all movements towards gender equality start similarly, asks Deepti Sreeram.

Deepti Sreeram
Move Over, The Saudi Suffragettes Are Here

It Is a common adage. Every time a woman’s rights group in India questions existing patriarchal standards, often there is an immediate response: ‘at least, this isn’t Saudi’ or, ‘did you know that women in Saudi have it worse?’ Drawing such parallels is not surprising, given that much of our own feudal society is quick to look the other way every time someone name drops ‘gender’. The burden of this ‘other way’ often rests on the shoulders of Islamic states such as Saudi Arabia. Not that the reference is entirely off the mark given that the country still continues to believe that women must be protected by a male guardian. however, with the kingdom striding into its ‘suffragette’ moment, perhaps, a new day has come.

On 14 December 2015, when the women of Saudi Arabia, clad in their traditional attire Abayah, exercised their voting rights and elected women for municipal council elections for the first very time. It seemed that history had got a makeover. “This is not the first time in a way because women have been elected to the Chamber of Commerce and the Shura Council. But, yes, at the level of municipal council elections, this is a first,” says Khaled Al Maeena, former editor-in-chief, Saudi Gazette. “I was impressed with the turn out and it was a pleasant surprise seeing women conduct election campaigns enthusiastically through social media. Not only did they elect 17 women, in some places, the number of votes that women candidates secured was higher than their male counterparts.”

Denne historien er fra December 26 2015-utgaven av Tehelka.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra December 26 2015-utgaven av Tehelka.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA TEHELKASe alt
Why Did Ratan Tata Feel Compelled To Take Charge Again?
Tehelka

Why Did Ratan Tata Feel Compelled To Take Charge Again?

Did Cyrus Mistry fall victim to an ossified corporate culture or did he violate Tata Sons’ ethos and culture? MG BanGa tells the story so far.

time-read
10+ mins  |
30 November 2016
Misguided Youths Or Trained Terrorists?
Tehelka

Misguided Youths Or Trained Terrorists?

As part of a dangerous trend emerging across the world, homegrown ISIL sympathisers are willing and attempting to carry out deadly terror attacks without any comprehensive support system.

time-read
5 mins  |
July 31 2016
Indian Railways: Living In Dreams
Tehelka

Indian Railways: Living In Dreams

Indian Railways is changing track, giving up its separate Budget and experimenting with surge pricing on three popular trains. That leaves the behemoth with no funds to replace ageing assets and encourage further investments.

time-read
10+ mins  |
31 October 2016
Priyanka Gandhi Agreed To Play Bigger Role In UP
Tehelka

Priyanka Gandhi Agreed To Play Bigger Role In UP

Further delay in decision making could be detrimental to the party’s goal to rejuvenate its prospects in the State Assembly elections.

time-read
4 mins  |
July 15 2016
Mission 2019: Banega Swachh India?
Tehelka

Mission 2019: Banega Swachh India?

Two years ago, Modi kicked off a cleanliness drive in a spectacular way. Showing the contrast between world cities and Gurgaon, MG BANGA suggests ways in which the mission can be accomplished by 2019.

time-read
7 mins  |
September 15 2016
The Goodwill Enjoyed By Mehabooba Mufti Has Been Erased!
Tehelka

The Goodwill Enjoyed By Mehabooba Mufti Has Been Erased!

Mehbooba Mufti risks losing her popularity and irking her party ranks by using New Delhi’s rulebook to deal with the unrest in Kashmir.

time-read
8 mins  |
August 31 2016
Is China's Support To Pakistan, Big Threat To India?
Tehelka

Is China's Support To Pakistan, Big Threat To India?

New Delhi needs to be cautious as in Pakistan’s scheme of things, strategic ties with China can serve as a powerful weapon to deal with adversaries like India.

time-read
4 mins  |
August 15 2016
Panama Papers: Nawaz Sharif'S Troubles Escalate
Tehelka

Panama Papers: Nawaz Sharif'S Troubles Escalate

After his name surfaced in the Panama paper leak following several other charges of money laundering filed against him, there is pressure on Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif to resign.

time-read
5 mins  |
30 November 2016
This Potus Will Make The World Go Bust
Tehelka

This Potus Will Make The World Go Bust

The man who believes global warming is a hoax and has a short attention span will now preside over the affairs not just of the United States but of the whole world. A daunting prospect.

time-read
9 mins  |
30 November 2016
Reel-Life Bohemians, Real-Life Hyprocrites
Tehelka

Reel-Life Bohemians, Real-Life Hyprocrites

ADHM vs Palm Grove Heights: In cinematic life, two strangers Ranbir and Anushka meet in a pub in London and go on a kissing spree while in actual life back in India, a woman from Barcelona was evicted from her male friend’s home in Gurugram. Is cinema really a mirror of society?

time-read
4 mins  |
30 November 2016