Women rights

A Saudi woman was asked by her little son Aboody if they were bad people. She, shocked, ask to him why he says that, and he response that other boys from school said that he and his mom should be in jail. All started when this woman, Manal Al-Sharif, took borrowed her brother’s car keys and drove a few miles in 2011. She was detained, in one of the two countries of the world where women aren’t allowed to drive. Even when it’s just a cultural imposition and not an actual law, she went to jail for that act. This was news all around the world, with a lot of support from mostly occidental countries, but, in Saudi Arabia, she was harassed by her own society, social media and the government. Her brother had to leave the country with his wife and his 2-years-old son, and her father had to hear how the imam (Islamic leader) did the Friday sermon about how women who drives are prostitutes. Rumors came from the streets, media and schools.

She started a fight for women’s rights, challenging the society and custom. She posted a video driving on Youtube, and the threats about killing and rape appeared.  After nine days on jail, she was supported by many women, that on June 17, how she ask to do on the campaign she started, went out to drive that day, they broke the ban and no one was arrested. After this and more acts, now women can drive in Saudi Arabia.

I think that this is an example for everyone. We all don’t have the same problems as societies, but we need the same strength that she has to change the way we live, especially nowadays, where women and men aren’t eaqually even on the occidental society.