Women in Saudi Arabia Today
CNBC reported this, and I saw it at Suris
Interesting video, but… did they really have to show women on treadmills and stationary bikes in their full cover? to me, it was a big LOL… but that’s just me 
They also inteviewed an interesting writer, Isobel Coleman, who wrote a book called “Paradise Beneath Her Feet: How Women Are Transforming the Middle East”
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May 17, 2010 @ 11:08:03
well, that did not irritate me as much as foreigners discussing my culture usually do… which is a good thing, i guess?
May 17, 2010 @ 11:11:23
I know exactly what u mean, which is one of the reasons I would like to see (and maybe read) that book.
May 17, 2010 @ 12:54:43
Hmmm DPhil Oxford…yes, I would imagine Isobel Coleman is more capable of nuance than most.
Of course they had to show women in full cover on the treadmill! That way the viewers had disconnect at the horror, and worry about the abaya getting caught, and injuries, and…oops what was the topic again? Oh, yes progress for women in Saudi! BUT did you see those women on the treadmill?
So, yes necessary to show, and necessary to repeat just as Coleman was getting more substantial!
May 20, 2010 @ 13:03:34
excellent observation, thanks for that
May 18, 2010 @ 11:25:01
Interesting clip, thanks for posting… I think we all tend to see right and wrong from our own perspective, why things like driving cars, unemployment rates are not yet a major issue for Saudi women is simply because education and careers are yet viewed as complementary issues for women were their male guardians are responsible for monetary & transportation issues, the missing piece is that control of money entails control of decision making and limited options, a perspective that didn’t fully reach a lot of Saudi women yet…
May 20, 2010 @ 13:11:30
Thanks for your valuable input Hala, a great insight, thanks again.
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May 18, 2010 @ 22:04:13
I found the host’s comment about the US supporting Saudi’s oppression (??) of women because we buy its oil interesting. At least she tried to imply this somehow, I thought. Nice piece and good to see the Saudi women who started their own magazine. I liked seeing them enjoy the exercise equipment even while fully covered.
May 19, 2010 @ 04:56:46
why do they always go for stories of successful women or those who have been in the west and back and are more of an elite.
they think the ban of driving and the abaya is a superfical issues. But there are no issues that are superfical. Most of these issues are connected in a way that these women can not understand. They don’t represent the Saudi women in my opinion. Yes we have seen some changes in the last years in the kingdom but we have seen some steps back also.
They are successful and i am glad for them, but they are not talking in any one’s voice.
Thanks for sharing Qusay
May 20, 2010 @ 13:16:12
Wafa’, I think because they are the ones willing to participate, and because they know the movers and shakers, who in turn know or are the elite.
I agree, they should’ve interviewed the working everyday women.
Thanks for your comment
Jun 26, 2010 @ 00:57:00
Wait, didn’t we achieve most of that already ? women arising in the business field ?
and what’s with the women who are fully covered on a treadmill lol that’s a first ! ..
Plus they always choose the shots that we don’t see everyday ! they didn’t capture our real life style ..
Why does it bother them so much
Aug 25, 2010 @ 05:54:59
1) the scene with the women on the treadmills was definitely staged. there are women’s gyms all over the plalce. they do not wear abeyas!
2) there are immunologists working in the kingdom, saudi and non-saudi, men and women
ahmad