Keeping a check on women

Unfortunately, the news story which incites the writing of this editorial warrants its chauvinistic headline. Saudi Arabia has begun notifying male guardians via text message if it is detected that any female under his custody leaves the country. Immigration authorities immediately send a text message to the guardian in what is an outrageous example of treating women as secondary citizens and without free wills.

The strict rules restricting women in several aspects of society is surely stunting progress. Women are forced to wear abayas and are not allowed to drive — perhaps, encouraging the high female unemployment rate. In addition, mixing of the sexes is strictly monitored. Essentially, the restrictions cause much talent to be wasted as women might become reluctant to go out in society and end up sitting in almost complete isolation in their homes. Instead of being positive contributors to society, they are made to limit themselves and, consequently, their productivity outside the home. A ruling body can run its country however it likes but placing trackers on female members of society is laughable. While putting trackers on pets makes sense, as they sometimes get lost, surely, most women know how to find their way back home — that is, if they want to now with the use of this latest technology.

Using technology to keep track of women in such a manner is questionable. The country’s women will only be voting for the first time in the 2015 municipal elections. A strong juxtaposition is provided by these two facts; one, on the one hand, advanced technology is being used to keep track of women while, on the other, women will be voting only for the first time in municipal elections soon. Another group of people on which border patrols frequently keep check about movement to and fro countries is criminals or wanted persons. Certainly, women are not automatically criminals. So, why are they being so closely watched?

Published in The Express Tribune, December 4^th, 2012.