Feminism in Saudi
Did you hear about the Saudi woman who was gang-raped, and when she reported it to the police, she herself was sentenced by the judge to a few lashes and some time in jail? This was because, right before she was raped, she had been alone with a man who wasn’t her relative. Apparently, Saudi women aren’t allowed to be in an enclosed space with men who aren’t their relatives. So, she got punished too. The latest report is, because the rape victim spoke to the press, who made an international hullabaloo about it, the judge sentenced her to even more lashes and even more time in jail. Talk about abuse of judicial discretion.
I wonder if that woman’s going to survive. I hear the effects of lashing are particularly severe. That’s probably why I was never attracted to S and M – I’m not really into pain. Although my ex-students in law school would probably disagree, since they think I’ve been sent directly by God to punish their miserable lives on earth. (Which is why I should probably never accompany my ex-students to
In any case, it’s a good thing a friend of mine didn’t leave for Saudi. He was all set, having been accepted at the Four Seasons Hotel as Assistant Director of Rooms. That’s a grand title to get, especially if you’re a fresh graduate of Ecole Hoteliere de Lausanne with relatively no experience. (My theory is, the application lines weren’t exactly burning for Four Seasons Saudi).
Anyway, he had to undergo that mandatory POEA seminar, this government introduction to life as an expat worker. (I’m being nice, it’s actually a seminar for overseas contract workers like maids and construction workers. But no matter how high his position – he still needed to go through it.)
So there he was, eager as a beaver, and guess what our labor attaches tell the audience? That there was a big probability they were going to get raped by their employers, and if they do get raped, and they weren’t ready to lose their jobs, they should not, repeat, should not, bother the Philippine Embassy. If and only if they were ready to give up their dreams and trudge on home should they approach the embassy for repatriation.
Now, I will let that speak for itself. You draw your own interpretation of that message – but let me give a hint as to where my thoughts lie: the availability of redress from the local courts? (Note to self: when negotiating contracts, never agree to the jurisdiction of Saudi courts over the dispute).
You’re probably wondering about my friend. Well, he never left after getting all these negative vibes, the last of which was when he picked up his visa at the local embassy. Four Seasons had called him to say his visa was ready at the embassy, and he duly presented his passport. The consul took one look at his clear white skin, hairless arms, and boyish features, and denied that his visa was waiting for him. The Filipino secretary ushered him out and explained to him that he looked too feminine, and the consul had probably thought he would just be raped there. Ergo, no visa.
You bet he got the message. After his horrified parents and worried friends had failed to prevail upon him, he’s finally listened to other portents of life in the kingdom. What a relief!
Unfortunately, it’s not the same for women living in Saudi. This is where you will encounter legitimized state discrimination of the fairer sex, and that rape victim was only one of the more celebrated examples. Our government knows exactly what’s going on there, and yet they let our less fortunate sisters into the lair, arming them with only a few phone numbers and a ticket home (if they get out alive, that is.)
Now that the economy’s getting better (or so they say), shouldn’t government start re-directing the flow of human capital, and maybe point them towards less dangerous climates? Give them diction classes, let them acquire American accents, and let them all enter call centers or something. (Ok, facetious suggestion, but you get my drift.)
President Arroyo has sent a clear message about human rights in
- Latest
- Trending
