How鈥檚 this for a health warning?
鈥淚f a woman drives a car, not out of pure necessity, that could have negative physiological impacts as functional and physiological medical studies show that it automatically affects the ovaries and pushes the pelvis upward.鈥
That exhortation came from Saudi Arabian cleric, Sheikh Lohaidan, in 2013.
As if that wasn鈥檛 enough, he added, 鈥淭hat is why we find those who regularly drive have children with clinical problems to varying degrees.鈥
Since the Kingdom forbade women to operate vehicles, one wonders where Sheikh Lohaidan got his stats.
Something about it rings eerily familiar to misogynistic proclamations from that other bastion of fake news, Donald Trump, who would probably join the cleric in handcuffing women who dared to get in the driver鈥檚 seat if he could.
Fast forward to 2017, and things are rapidly changing, at least in Saudi. The dynamic Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, next in line for the throne, is determined to modernize the Muslim-dominated nation. In a surprising announcement celebrated worldwide, on Sept. 26, MBS (as he apparently likes to be called) gave women the car keys.
The decision is part of Vision 2030, an ambitious plan to transform the Saudi economy, including increasing the number of women in the workplace. The crown prince was appointed his position in June and seems set to swiftly implement his mandate for youth and women鈥檚 empowerment 鈥 a shocking turn for the country that follows a strict form of Wahhabi Islam.
When the news broke, I sent a link to one of my dearest friends. Being a journalist, she was already on it, but together we marveled because we know something about the Middle East. She journeyed with me for three of the five years I lived in Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates, bordering Saudi Arabia.
As with all great change, a price for this newfound freedom was previously paid. Nearly three decades ago, 47 Saudi women defied the ban, driving in circles around Riyadh, the county鈥檚 capital.
Denigrated for that decision, the women became social pariahs, harassed for years to come, losing everything from friends, to their jobs and passports.
The announcement is a win for women鈥檚 rights but as experts attest, the country has a long way to go and I would know. Because even in the UAE, where women were allowed to drive, the long-standing social and cultural decorum of that desert perpetuated the myth women were less skilled at a great many endeavors, including negotiating the road.
I taught journalism for two years at Abu Dhabi Women鈥檚 College. During that time, I wrote features for the Gulf News and one of my favorite activities involved scouring the nation鈥檚 newspaper for teaching material. One day, I came across a gem to share with my students: Special report: Are women inept behind the wheel?
If the title didn鈥檛 shock me, the lead was worthy of a journalism class onto itself: 鈥淢en have long accused women of sending out mixed signals, but in Dubai, traffic police of come up with the statistics to prove it.鈥
According to the article, women were obtaining drivers licenses in unprecedented numbers because more of them were working outside the home. Despite the fact many Emerati men were above the law (depending upon their Wasta, or how highly connected they were to the top) and regularly drove at suicidal speeds, the police had ascertained, a rise in traffic violations could be directly attributed to the increased number of women on the road.
Deputy Director of the General Traffic Department, Col. Mohammed Saif Al Zafeen, acknowledged changes in engineering had allowed women to drive since physical strength was no longer needed to operate a vehicle.
Unfortunately, however, women鈥檚 talkative nature led them to distraction as they chatted on mobile phones. And what about when they touched up there make-up in their rearview mirrors? Worst of all, those unfortunate hormonal influences were wreaking havoc with road safety.
According to the article, 鈥淲hen women are undergoing premenstrual syndrome, they are prone to lose their temper, drive more recklessly, and get into accidents.鈥
When I shared this preposterous piece with my students, I expected outrage, but what I got, was affirmation.
鈥淪ometimes it鈥檚 true, miss,鈥 they agreed, surprising me with their buy-in.
But then they spoke the truth: 鈥淎t least we get to drive.鈥
They were referring to their Saudi sisters, of course.
That all changes, next June, when Saudi鈥榮 women get a ticket to drive. While they remain a long way from free (the country鈥檚 archaic guardianship laws give Saudi men power over their female relatives on basic rights, like whether they can have an operation), Mohammed bin Salman is the driving force to a new-world Kingdom.
His eradication of extremism and a more moderate approach to Islam is welcome news, and while his sweeping reforms are currently rocking the region, at least the road is opening up for women.
Shannon Linden writes books, magazine articles, and grocery lists. Her health column runs every other Saturday in The Okanagan Weekend. Visit her and sign up for her blog at .