Women In The Middle East

For a very long time women have been suffering in the middle east, with restrictive rules and laws women are forced to surrender to the men who control their lives. Could you imagine a world where women aren't allowed to do basic everyday tasks like drive a car, vote in political elections, or choose which outfit to wear that day. Life in the middle east is significantly easier for men, men get to make the decisions, they have authority over any females in their life. “In Saudi Arabia, every woman must have a male guardian — her father, brother, husband, uncle or even son — who has to give his approval before the woman can travel outside the country, get married or divorced and be released from prison. This does not change if her guardian …show more content…
The ability to drive a car, to marry the person you love, to pick out your outfit in the morning, open a bank account, or even receive medical treatment; these things all come with limitations or are nearly impossible without a male relative. The issue of driving has become so widespread it has acted as a catalyst for the movement of women's rights. People around the world are slowly beginning to see the oppression and pain the women of the middle east are living with everyday. Madawi al-Rasheed, a Saudi Arabian professor of social anthropology at the London School of Economics, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, “We talk about driving as if it is the most important thing - it is important for the women’s movement... but there are certain legal restrictions that are still in place [that are also a pressing issue],” she added. “It’s a long struggle and a long road to serious equality.” If you are a woman who falls in love and want to get married in the middle east, permission to marry must be granted by your wali, or guardian. Women who seek to marry foreigners have to obtain approval by the ministry of interior, and marriage to non-Muslims is very difficult, nearly impossible. There are a few jobs women can do without a men's permission, such as “working as shop assistants or at fairgrounds, they are not allowed to have their own bank account to control their finances without permission.” (McKernan) “Dressing for beauty” is also illegal, modest clothing and makeup encouraged. Abayas (a long coat worn over other clothes) must be worn by all women in public, although recently rules over the color, decoration and how headscarves are worn have been relaxed. When a woman needs serious medical attention, even life-saving operations and procedures require the written signature of a male