Saudi women get the vote!

Aliantha · 09-25-2011, 09:29 PM

So says the Saudi King.

What a great step forward.

SamIam · 09-25-2011, 10:00 PM

Yeah, but since they still can't drive, how will they get to the polls?

classicman · 09-25-2011, 10:04 PM

Who are they gonna vote for, the king or the king?

ZenGum · 09-25-2011, 10:16 PM

Nope, the mayor.

They can only vote in municipal elections.

Aliantha · 09-25-2011, 10:16 PM

Throughout history, giving women the vote has opened the doors to many other previously denied rights.

I personally think it's a good thing.

classicman · 09-25-2011, 10:23 PM

Its a great thing.

I was joking. (guess I'll have to give that up)

Aliantha · 09-25-2011, 10:24 PM

I wouldn't if I were you Classic.

DanaC · 09-26-2011, 04:28 AM

Bearing in mind that adult male suffrage is only a few years old, the speed of this move is pretty impressive.

It would be difficult, I think, to overestimate the importance of women having a formal political voice.

Spexxvet · 09-26-2011, 10:06 AM

They can also run for office.

Rhianne · 09-26-2011, 01:58 PM

Oh wow, what a laugh. There have only been two elections since 1960 and these ones, for local council positions, were supposed to happen in 2009 and might now take place in 2015.

Women might be allowed to vote in these elections in theory but there are a whole range of practical obstacles, in particular the current requirement to have an identity card which most Saudi women do not carry.

Sundae · 09-26-2011, 02:02 PM

And they can only work with their husband's permission.
As Rhi says, technically they can only leave the house with their husband's (or relevant male relative's) permission. Although denial of such permission is slowly changing.

But it is still a step. Universal female suffrage was only granted in Switzerland in 1972. And as that was the year of my birth I can assure you it was very recent.

A step is a step is a step.
Now we need to wean them off of capital punishment.

Wait.
What?

Stormieweather · 09-26-2011, 02:06 PM

It's a hell of a lot more than the rights women had when I was there and married to a Saudi man (1979-1982).

Every little bit helps. Now, if only they could drive and choose the burqa (or not).

09-25-2011, 09:29 PM	#1
Aliantha trying hard to be a better person Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,493	Saudi women get the vote! So says the Saudi King. What a great step forward. __________________ Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber

09-25-2011, 10:04 PM	#3
classicman barely disguised asshole, keeper of all that is holy. Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 23,401	Who are they gonna vote for, the king or the king? __________________ "like strapping a pillow on a bull in a china shop" Bullitt

09-25-2011, 10:16 PM	#4
ZenGum Doctor Wtf Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Badelaide, Baustralia Posts: 12,861	Nope, the mayor. They can only vote in municipal elections. __________________ Shut up and hug. MoreThanPretty, Nov 5, 2008. Just because I'm nominally polite, does not make me a pussy. Sundae Girl.

09-25-2011, 10:16 PM	#5
Aliantha trying hard to be a better person Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,493	Throughout history, giving women the vote has opened the doors to many other previously denied rights. I personally think it's a good thing. __________________ Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber

09-25-2011, 10:23 PM	#6
classicman barely disguised asshole, keeper of all that is holy. Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 23,401	Its a great thing. I was joking. (guess I'll have to give that up) __________________ "like strapping a pillow on a bull in a china shop" Bullitt

09-25-2011, 10:00 PM	#2
SamIam Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Not here Posts: 2,655	Yeah, but since they still can't drive, how will they get to the polls?

09-25-2011, 10:24 PM	#7
Aliantha trying hard to be a better person Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,493	I wouldn't if I were you Classic. __________________ Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber

09-26-2011, 10:06 AM	#9
Spexxvet Makes some feel uncomfortable Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 10,346	They can also run for office. __________________ "I'm certainly free, nay compelled, to spread the gospel of Spex. " - xoxoxoBruce

09-26-2011, 01:58 PM	#10
Rhianne Nearly done. Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Teetering on the edge. Posts: 1,134	Oh wow, what a laugh. There have only been two elections since 1960 and these ones, for local council positions, were supposed to happen in 2009 and might now take place in 2015. Women might be allowed to vote in these elections in theory but there are a whole range of practical obstacles, in particular the current requirement to have an identity card which most Saudi women do not carry.

09-26-2011, 02:02 PM	#11
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	And they can only work with their husband's permission. As Rhi says, technically they can only leave the house with their husband's (or relevant male relative's) permission. Although denial of such permission is slowly changing. But it is still a step. Universal female suffrage was only granted in Switzerland in 1972. And as that was the year of my birth I can assure you it was very recent. A step is a step is a step. Now we need to wean them off of capital punishment. Wait. What? __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac

09-26-2011, 02:06 PM	#12
Stormieweather Wearing her bitch boots Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Floriduh Posts: 1,181	It's a hell of a lot more than the rights women had when I was there and married to a Saudi man (1979-1982). Every little bit helps. Now, if only they could drive and choose the burqa (or not). __________________ "First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win." - Mahatma Gandhi

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