Holy fuck that sounds great so far.
Well, I am a dumb American slut. So let me check wikipedia and see what this Saudi Arabia place has to offer:
Saudi Arabia has long been criticized for its human rights record. Human rights issues that have attracted strong criticism include the extremely disadvantaged position of women (see Women in Saudi society below), capital punishment for homosexuality,[155] religious discrimination, the lack of religious freedom and the activities of the religious police (see Religion below).[144] Between 1996 and 2000, Saudi Arabia acceded to four UN human rights conventions and, in 2004, the government approved the establishment of the National Society for Human Rights (NSHR), staffed by government employees, to monitor their implementation. To date, the activities of the NSHR have been limited and doubts remain over its neutrality and independence.[156] Saudi Arabia remains one of the very few countries in the world not to accept the UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Seems great so far. But, I am a slut. So lets see what that means:
The U.S. State department considers Saudi government's "discrimination against women a significant problem" in Saudi Arabia and notes that women have few political rights due to the government's discriminatory policies.[288] A UN special report on domestic abuse in 2008 noted the absence of laws criminalizing violence against women.[288][needs update] The World Economic Forum 2010 Global Gender Gap Report ranked Saudi Arabia 129th out of 134 countries for gender parity.[289]
Under Saudi law, every adult female must have a male relative as her "guardian".[288] As a result, Human Rights Watch has described the legal position of Saudi women as like that of a minor, with little legal authority over their own lives. Government authorities can force women to obtain the legal permission of a male guardian in order to travel, study, or work.[290] The guardian is legally entitled to make a number of critical decisions on a woman's behalf.[288][290][291]
Women face discrimination in the courts, where the testimony of one man equals that of two women in family and inheritance law.[288] Polygamy is permitted for men,[292] and men have a unilateral right to divorce their wives (talaq) without needing any legal justification.[293] A woman can only obtain a divorce with the consent of her husband or judicially if her husband has harmed her.[294] In practice, it is very difficult for a Saudi woman to obtain a judicial divorce.[294] With regard to the law of inheritance, the Quran specifies that fixed portions of the deceased's estate must be left to the Qu'ranic heirs.[295] Generally, female heirs receive half the portion of male heirs.[295] A Sunni Muslim can bequeath a maximum of a third of his property to non-Qu'ranic heirs. The residue is divided between agnatic heirs.[295]
The religious police, known as the mutawa, impose many restrictions on women in public in Saudi Arabia.[288][303] The restrictions include forcing women to sit in separate specially designated family sections in restaurants, to wear an abaya and to cover their hair.[288] There is also effectively a ban on women driving.[304]
OK, so lets see. I need a male guardian to travel, study, or work (and one will be forced on me by the government if I refuse). I'm worth less in the courts and cannot get a divorce if my husband doesn't wish it. I can't drive in public, and I'm constantly under threat of a religious police force.
Yeah, fuck being able to vote, or drive, or go out in public on my own. Saudi Arabia, here I come!
