Saudi Arabia is a male dominated society. If you look closely at this night scene, you will notice that only men are in this photo taken of a restaurant. There are only male workers and only male customers. At night, women might go out to a mall or grocery store to shop, or to visit relatives or friends, or maybe to a wedding. Women must also be driven to wherever they want to go since women are not allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia. However men are free to go wherever and whenever they wish.
About This Blog, and About Me: Susie of Arabia
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, is KSA's 2nd largest city and is located on its west coast, right on the Red Sea. I moved here in 2007 with my Saudi hubby. This journal reflects the things that I see here, life through my eyes, my lens.
Please be sure to also visit my other blog, SUSIE OF ARABIA (formerly SUSIE'S BIG ADVENTURE), which relates my experiences, thoughts, and observations about living in Saudi Arabia.
Join our Facebook group:
Susie of Arabia/BlueAbaya.
EMAIL me at :
susieofarabia@gmail.com
JEDDAH DAILY PHOTO 
After living in Saudi Arabia for 17 years since birth, At 36, now living in US I decided to write about my times there. I needed some pictures for my blog, and while searching, I came across your blog. Would you be willing to let me use some of your pictures? Would appreciate it. Also, would appreciate if you visited my blog and told me what you think.
p.s. Impressive work!
Are you trying to find a comfort of totally different American culture in Muslim lands? That’s won’t happen unless Muslims loose their identity and moral values.
Muslims, men and women are indeed content with their such life style. People from western countries, especially non Muslim ones can not comprehend it.
See the definition of freedom differs substantially. To a westerner mind it means be able to do whatever men does, whereas to a practicing Muslim it means to be able to escape from being a slave to his/her inner desires and be obedient servant to God alone.
In Muslim cultures, one should understand that men and women have different roles in life. Men are in the position of hardship and supposed to prove with living hood. Women on the other hand, have duties from home up to a perfect educator of her children that in return uplifts the society in the next generation.
I am not trying to change anything here in KSA. I am not naive enough to think that I could possible do that in the first place. All I am doing is showing what I see. I haven’t really spoken about the wife’s duties here, but since you brought it up. From my observations, much of the child rearing/educating in Saudi homes is unfortunately pawned off onto the domestic help, so I’m not too sure about how much uplifting of the society the next generation will provide. I am NOT saying that this is the case in every Saudi home, however I have seen it in many homes and it saddens me. In theory, YES, the Saudi women should be the children’s guiding force in the society, but in actuality, many Saudi women are shirking their responsibilities in this department, based on what I have seen.
qrays–I think your definition of freedom for Western women derives from an outmoded feminism of the 70’s particularly as articulated by certain groups within US feminism.
We’ve all gone beyond that–well maybe except for a few diehards.
It is called second generation feminism, and we are at least in 3rd generation feminism, which includes going beyond the “I want to go braless and drive a transport truck too” type feminism.
It sounds like it would be incredibly boring to be a woman there.
Henrie:
most of the people here (in K.S.A) are in LOVE with western world =)
Can anyone help me with this enquiry please, preferrably someone living in and familiar with Jeddah. It is possible that my husband will be working in Jeddah, how are things there for a mixed race married couple he is white and I am black? Also, I am a highly skilled business specialist, would there be any chance of work for me there? How would we be viewed or received? What is life like for a married couple with no children living at home anymore?
This particular photo struck me not only because of the absence of females in it but also because of the Coca Cola sign. Here is a culture that is trying hard to neglect the Western world yet they are enjoying our Coca Cola!
Some years ago I saw a documentary about China and when they covered Muslim China the absence of women in public spaces was notable when compared to the rest of China. I don’t see how women can stand it.
I guess it’s just what they are raised with and used to here. The Saudi women that I know here actually are quite content with their lives.
I’m not surprised by your explanation. Do you think it is changing now, slowly? Do you think women will be able to drive cars soon?
There has been talk about allowing women to drive for many years now, but honestly I don’t see it happening any time soon. It always seems that when any progress is made, there are setbacks that occur. Sort of like one step forward and two steps back.
Obviously, a lop-sided culture!