Saudi Women Fight for Driving Rights

Saudi Women's Long Fight for the Right to Drive

On November 6, 1990, a group of Saudi women, including Noura Abdulrahman and Aisha Al-Mana, drove cars in Riyadh, defying the ban on female drivers. Fawziah al-Bakr, a professor at King Saud University, was among those arrested. This act of defiance marked the beginning of a long struggle for Saudi women's right to drive.

What Everyone Knows

The standard story goes that Saudi women were finally granted the right to drive in 2018, after years of campaigning. Most people think that the change was a sudden and unexpected move by the Saudi government, but this oversimplifies the complex history of the women's rights movement in Saudi Arabia. The reality is that Saudi women had been fighting for the right to drive for decades, and their struggle was marked by numerous protests, arrests, and setbacks.

What History Actually Shows

Historian Madawi Al-Rasheed notes in her book "A Most Masculine State" that the 1990 protest was not an isolated incident, but rather part of a larger movement for women's rights in Saudi Arabia. On November 6, 1990, around 50 women drove cars in Riyadh, and many of them were arrested and fined. The fact that these women were not only arrested but also lost their jobs and were socially ostracized is a key aspect of this story. As documented by Saudi historian Hala al-Dosari, the women who participated in the protest faced severe backlash, including loss of employment and social exclusion. In 2011, Saudi women again took to the streets, driving cars and demanding the right to drive, with activists like Manal al-Sharif and Wajeha al-Huwaider playing a leading role. According to a report by Human Rights Watch, the Saudi government responded to these protests with arrests and intimidation, but the women's movement continued to push for change, with many women applying for driver's licenses and challenging the ban in court. By 2018, the Saudi government finally lifted the ban on female drivers, allowing women to drive legally for the first time, with June 24, 2018, marking the official end of the ban.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians and journalists failed to adequately document the 1990 Saudi women's driving protest because they were often discouraged by government officials and societal norms from pursuing the story. The Saudi government specifically instructed newspapers to avoid covering the protest, and many editors complied, fearing repercussions. Additionally, the women involved in the protest were hesitant to speak publicly about their experiences, fearing further persecution. As a result, the story was not thoroughly investigated, and the records of the event were not properly preserved. The decision by many journalists to prioritize self-censorship over thorough reporting also contributed to the lack of information about this pivotal moment in Saudi history. The Saudi government's efforts to control the narrative and suppress dissenting voices were highly effective, and the story of the 1990 driving protest was largely forgotten until recent years.

The Ripple Effect

The 1990 driving protest had a direct impact on the lives of Saudi women, as it sparked a decades-long movement for greater freedom and equality. The protest inspired a new generation of Saudi women to demand their rights, including the right to drive. In 2018, the Saudi government finally lifted the ban on women driving, and many women were able to obtain licenses and take to the roads. One specific modern thing that traces directly back to this event is the Saudi women's driving schools, which were established to teach women how to drive and provide them with the necessary skills to navigate the country's roads. These schools have empowered thousands of Saudi women, giving them greater independence and autonomy.

The Line That Says It All

The Saudi government officially lifted the ban on women driving on June 24, 2018, nearly three decades after the initial protest.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to the Saudi women's rights movement and the 1990 driving protest.