Movement To End Male Guardianship Of Women In Saudi Arabia Picks Pace Through Artist's Murals
Artist's work featuring women wearing the shemagh has become a symbol for the campaign.
The movement of Saudi women to end male guardianship has been slowly gaining momentum. In Saudi Arabia, women live under strict draconian laws that severely restrict their life. It¡¯s hard to fathom that well into the 21st century, women in the gulf country cannot drive, need a man to travel, own property and even require permission to work.
Saffaa
A Saudi artist living in Australia has once again brought the campaign to end male guardianship to global light with her street murals depicting powerful and empowered women. Her images, mainly featuring women wearing the shemagh (male headscarf), have also become the symbol for this movement. The artist, Saffaa tackles gender politics and female activism through her work. Speaking to The Worldpost, she said she chose the male headdress as a cultural icon and symbol of empowerment because society clearly tells you what to wear and what not to wear, and confronting that is an act of rebellion.
She told PBS, ¡°I think my work has instigated a lot of conversation around what is feminine and what is power.¡±
In September thousands of women signed an online petition urging the Saudi government to end male guardianship. After the Human Rights Watch published a report on the abusive treatment of women, the movement picked up the pace and the hashtag #IAmMyOwnGuardian began to disseminate on social media. The hashtag gained support from women of all backgrounds and ages because that¡¯s how pervasive and penetrating male guardianship is.
On days leading up to the petition, it is estimated that 2,500 women sent On the two days leading up to the petition, an estimated 2,500 women sent direct telegrams to the Saudi King¡¯s office pressuring him to end male guardianship laws. And the petition also gained 14,682 signatures.
The Saudi government has twice agreed to abolish the guardianship system, once in 2009 and then in 2013 because the status quo remains albeit with a few reforms that, for example, make it easier for women to work. Last year in 2015, Salma bint Hizab al-Oteibi was the first elected female politician in Saudi Arabia after a ban on women participating in elections was lifted.
Saffaa hopes that the campaign will pressurise the government to end male guardianship laws. And not only as laws but also as cultural practices.
¡°I wish Saudi men and women would realise that these are not Islamic laws: these are man-made laws."
