http://www.arabnews.com/?page=7§ion=0&article=78018&d=19&m=2&y=2006
Sunday, 19, February, 2006 (20, Muharram, 1427)
Saudi Women, Opportunities and the Road Ahead
Dr. Khaled Batarfi, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
The 20-member group of intellectuals who went before the
visit of King Abdullah to China consisted mostly of women. One of them,
Aljohrah Alsodairy (23), spoke fluent Chinese. They made waves and charmed the
Chinese with their excellent quality and positive attitude.
Reem Al-Faisal, world-class photographer, was in China three
months ago, hobbling from one town to another, six in all, in the Yunnan
Province, south of China to show her Haj photo collection. In the last decade,
she showed her talent in at least ten cities in Europe, Asia and the Arab
world. Her work was published and praised in prominent journals like Le Monde,
Le Figaro, The Guardian, Liberation, Canvas and Marie Claire.
...
The Seventh Jeddah Economic Forum has just ended. More than
2,700 delegates attended. About a fourth were women, mostly Saudi. Most
organizers and welcoming committees were college girls. The presence of women
in business, media and academia was very much felt and appreciated. Effat
College for girls alone provided tens of young organizers.
Etimad Abdulaziz Al-Noaim is a young Saudi journalist. This
was her first assignment. She did extraordinarily well. In a matter of three
days she was transformed from a shy girl to a confident professional woman. Her
writing and communication talents shined all of a sudden. Her enthusiasm was
contagious. She will never forget this opportunity.
Ranya Bajsair is the coordinator of the Foreign Relations
Committee at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), the forum
organizer. Trained in Swiss schools for eleven years, fluent in three
languages, and a holder of a Master's degree in business administration, Ranya
was responsible for the VIP stage room. Ranya prepared note speakers before
they faced the audience and made a great impression.
...
Rajaa Alsanae, the young girl who wrote the controversial,
best-seller novel, "The Girls of Riyadh," was in town discussing her book with
readers, men and women, old and young. She was treated like the respected
intellectual she is, not a scandalous novelist, as some critics depicted her
for describing the secret lives of four high-class young girls. All characters,
of both sexes, were shown as victims of the known but adamantly denied ills of
our society.
These ills include the way we regard and treat our better
halves as dependents, not equal partners. Because of such an attitude, too many
of us have not cared much to let our girls independently develop their
character, education, skills and careers.
Our social, educational, legal, political and civil systems
were designed in a way that made it harder for talented, aspiring and
independent women to make their presence, contribution and partnership in the
development of their nation. How could a woman make it to the top, if her
education and training options are so limited, work environment so restricted,
and job opportunities so few?
Rajaa visited the Khadija bint Khuwailed Women Center at the
JCCI. She was warmly greeted and encouraged by three elected and appointed
female board members: Madawi Alhasoon, Lama Al-Suleiman and Olfat Al-Kabbani.
Dr. Nadia Baeshen, the center's founder and manger, explained to us how
education and training figured in their pioneering project. In the job market
of today, only the better skilled and well prepared can compete. Computer,
foreign languages, communication skills are among the highest in demand. It was
not by chance that the center provides intensive, updated and advanced training
courses in these areas.
What do these events have in common? They are all about women
empowerment. I am more optimistic today than any time in our recent history
about women's place in our society. We made surprisingly smooth and successful
steps down this road. King Abdullah made it a mark of his reign to give women
their voice, space and opportunities. They seem to get the message and move
ahead in sure, if not fast, steps to claim their rights. We have been waiting
for the opening of this window for a long, long time. Wasting it is not an
option.
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