All across the media, the portrayal of Saudi women is always one of two facets; victimized and brainwashed or surprisingly educated and powerful. Here’s a third never before seen aspect. A bunch of Saudi girls acting just plain old silly for a laugh. These are photos that have been making the rounds in Saudi inboxes and I thought I would share them here with you. I don’t know the girls in the photos are but they are typical and could be any young ladies that I do know.
28 Comments
October 28, 2008 at 3:04 am
heehee! utterly cute..they look like they’re having a blast goofing around. A far cry from the typical “stiff-upper-lip” fortress, if i may say so..
October 28, 2008 at 2:21 pm
But you’re not allowed to have fun. Haven’t you got the memo?
October 28, 2008 at 5:19 pm
You are correct in what you say about western stereotypes of Saudi women. It’s all about image, and what we associate with those images. When I move to the KSA, I will wear the Abaya when required. However, as a western woman, I will tell you…when I 1st started looking at them online…something about it made me feel like I was going to jail. And, I know it’s not like that, but that’s the feeling I got. Weird. I love seeing this…images that shatter stereotypes and the status quo.
October 29, 2008 at 10:17 pm
These photos are great. I love the first one with all their eyes crossed! I’m so glad to see that women and girls here can still have fun despite all the restrictions placed on them.
November 4, 2008 at 6:16 pm
Witty & subversive.
February 25, 2009 at 3:33 pm
It’s not funny. these women are abused by culture and dominated by men. We should get your support and help for libration of women in Saudi Arabia not you jokes. PLEASE HELP FREE US.
February 28, 2009 at 11:03 pm
Although I am no fan of the Gulf Arabs as they are stupid and selfish brats, the argument that Saudi Women are victims of Male dominated society is without merit.
The vast majority of men in Saudi Arabia are victims of this same society. Do we not see that Lebanon’s prosperity is fueled by sexually frustrated Saudi men
(Osama bin Laden might have been one of these men too) who go to Lebanon to have sex with women. This stems from the fact that Saudi Men can not form any kind of relationship with women at all.
Saudi Society stifles the very human need that many of us have, the need for companionship and intimacy from members of the other gender.
Saudi society ends up warping the views of men by restricting the companionship aspect of relationships and allowing only empty intimacy with foreign women (to those who are rich enough to go abroad, which is not within reach of all Saudi Men).
After years of denial of a basic human need the men in Saudi Arabia may be accepted into the Men’s circle of power and assigned a woman who both he and she have no history with or feelings for one another. Although in some of these relationships people may come together and form loving relationships, the present structure of Saudi Society is extremely unhealthy and is conductive of the 25% divorce rates we see.
Saudi Society needs to be rehabilitated.
July 6, 2009 at 7:25 am
Who the hell do u think u r 2 pass judgment on Saudi society?
Either make ur point with respect or shut-up. Nobody likes an ignorant stereotyping fool, fool.
u claim men r frustrated & have no where 2 “express” their human intimacy needs.. well, that’s y there’s something called MARRIAGE. u know.. that little vow that says u will love ur spouse & either stay together with compassion or beak-up with kindness. u can do it as soon as u get a job. I did it @ 24.
u talk about history with ur future spouse… u r right. they both need time to know each other and that is what ENGAGEMENT is for. which should last ~6mo.
.. so next time b more respectful & don’t make assumptions. otherwise u risk looking like a total FOOL.
August 30, 2009 at 6:52 pm
Brother,
You did this at 24!
That is much too old for most of us, I am younger than that and find it extremely stupid for myself to not be married.
Marriage should not be delayed, it should be done as soon as possible, preferably by age 17 or 18.
A man should be empowered to support himself at an early age as well, 15 or 16!
How many years did you have desire to find your bedside empty?
Will you subject your own son’s to this fate?
Insallah you will not!
March 29, 2009 at 12:42 pm
Hi I lived in Saudi Arabia some years back. I`m still facinated by the culture which forbids most things and yet everythings goes on….But people appears happy.
March 29, 2009 at 12:50 pm
Sorry a little mistake in my mail address.
And if I may add that I don`t think arabic women are stupid! Strong thing to say. Surcumstances is different in countries and in what ever part of the world you are from!! It seam that the women are doing fine as long as they are free from all the negative comments from the western`s!
April 14, 2009 at 11:07 am
I’m sorry but I don’t see the fun here! All women can do is shop? or look silly while shopping or waiting in a parking lot? Show me women that can do sport, run, hike,eat out with their friends, or enjoy a healthy environment like person should. If all they’re allowed to do is be consumers who shop and wear pretty clothes while hiding behind walls then where is the fun?
October 2, 2009 at 11:35 pm
totally agree… i really want to see more outdoor activities, i want to see saudi girls in the Olympics.. i want to see all that stuff, but im glad that most of them that studies abroad are taking advantage and living it to the full, just the other day i was watching a women volleyball game at my mates uni in london, saw someone that looked middle eastern i mean to be honest i might have been wrong but she was a good player had to go talk to her, and was surprised to find out that shes saudi, had a bit of a chat, and when i found out that she had a scholership from uni for playin for the unis volleyball team i was happy to a saudi girl take advantage of the freedom she has , made me so happy and proud to to see that,
a saudi athlete…
April 22, 2009 at 5:56 am
Wahhabi Backward Mullah:
What are you saying?
First off Lulu hit the nail on the head here. Women in our community and countries don’t even go out hiking, running, or bicycling as it is viewed as “immodest.”
Physical activity is perfectly wholesome and should be encouraged, nowhere does lulu say anything about las vegas.
And lol at your comment to me ….
I am not the one who thinks it is necessary to put a woman in a mobile tent as she may be too attractive for a man to control themselves.
Our communities are depraved, from Morocco to Malaysia, Mullahs are sodomizing boys, the internet is used almost exclusively for pornography, and Muftis are issuing fatwas supporting hymenoplasty.
Get your head out of the sand, people like you are own worse enemy.
June 26, 2009 at 9:14 pm
ok where is the fun in showing off your legs to the whole world? and why should you prove that you are like ‘everyone else’ behind this burka we are just as human as you, we can have a laugh to….blablabla….oh man why can’t you be proud of been Muslims and stop bending backward and forward for the kuffar? subhanaAllah we are embracing Islam in the west and we are so proud of been Muslims and everything that comes with it, when I go out I am looked at like a leperd, everysingle day is a fight for me, and look at you, your like born with a silver spoon in your mouth blessed with Islam from the beginning, AND WHAT DO YOU DO?????wallah makes me so angry, we are ajam and we understand Islam better than you! As ALLAH said in the Qu’ran if you don’t do the job (uphold your deen) he will replace you with better people, well wake up my dear sisters and brothers because you are been replaced right now and you are still slumbering over nonsense of this dunia….. and please sisters have some ‘aya don’t expose yourselves on the net that last picture is totally discusting you should be ashamed and think of your parents really, to see you like this would break their heart…….
July 5, 2009 at 11:50 pm
MAY ALLAH BLESS US ALL WITH THE STRENGTH YOU HAVE
July 5, 2009 at 11:28 pm
these girls are probibly not even saudi
August 30, 2009 at 3:00 am
I’ve spent around 4 months in Saudi Arabia .. and from those pictures I have admit that those Saudi girls look like … normal girls …
I was so curious as to what goes on inside their minds … but looks like they’re pretty normal. I mean this is probably the ONLY place i’m seeing Saudi women speak their minds …
(look I didn’t expect women on the roads to start telling me their thoughts, but i didn’t know they did speak their minds this way )
August 30, 2009 at 10:14 am
I think these pictures are wonderful–creative, funny, and very well composed and choregraphed. They show that people can have fun and a sense of humour in almost any situation, and remind us that in Vaillant’s well-researched hierarchy of defense mechanisms (coping strategies) humour is #1 of the most positive ones. Humour is profoundly human, humanizing, and liberating, both psychologically and socially. Humour was a coping strategy for the Jews in the Nazi concentration camps, and the political prisoners of the Soviet gulags. Despite its negatives, the obligatory abaya does not reach those levels of oppression, so it is even more understandable to have abaya/burka humour.
“All across the media, the portrayal of Saudi women is always one of two facets; victimized and brainwashed or surprisingly educated and powerful.”
So true. The media loves binary contrasts– so easy to make drama to keep viewer/reader ie ad watcher/revenue builder interest, and ideological norms in place.
What does it say about the media and its adherents that it is SURPRISING that Saudi women are educated and powerful, other than that the baseline image, the primary colour, is helpless brainwashed victim, and anything else is a splash of contrast colour? Ah, the white (wo)man’s burden of liberating oppressed brown women everywhere…
“Here’s a third never before seen aspect. A bunch of Saudi girls acting just plain old silly for a laugh.”
So true. MOST people are normal (by definition).
August 30, 2009 at 10:50 am
PS in the last photo the girls are wearing beige/flesh coloured pants, their thighs and knees are on the floor with their LOWER leg bent up, exposing the LOWER calf. All awrah is covered, hardly a scandal except where “a glimpse of stocking is rather shocking” and like the song says HEAVEN knows.
September 5, 2009 at 6:39 am
good pic hope to be involved with u
September 5, 2009 at 6:37 pm
بنات السعودية
بنات
السعوديات
المملكة العربية السعودية
سيدات
مراهقات
فتيات
September 15, 2009 at 1:01 am
I think the photos are a reality of what these girls feel. I am an American Muslim and I realize that my restrictions are my salvation. In the world there is always so much energy put into the lives and choices that others make, there are many other concerns to focused on rather than the life of women in other countries. We were blessed with much knowledge and apply it to our lives in a healthy manner. Although I may not agree with the lifestyle of those in America where it is acceptable to walk around half nude-it is also not my place to challenge their belief system. We all need to be more informed about world affairs and help ourselves be better people and inturn indirected influence those around us. remember the matter of free will has been granted to us and we ahould apply that blessing to our own minds. May Allah continue to bless and strenghten us all in our shortcomings.
October 25, 2009 at 7:58 am
thaankes
October 28, 2009 at 12:48 pm
Iam saudi i like abaea i hate to look to me men i proud i am asaudi girl
November 30, 2009 at 3:55 am
I agree with one of the commenters here! We’re not in a place to criticize others. Although I’ve met many non-Muslims out to “save” us, I realize that a person’s intentions for others may not be accepted or tolerated.
These girls are having fun, so what? I’m glad they do. An abaya isn’t really restricting, my sister wears it with a niqab and she went bungee jumping last summer, with her niqabi friends doing the same being intrigued with the whole thing.
Non-Muslims, we appreciate the concern, but please be reminded that we have a faith that’s considered as a way of life too. Please have the politeness not to lash out at our faith, as Muslims like me are polite enough not to question your beliefs.
December 4, 2009 at 5:44 pm
بنآت السعوديات
هن الافضل
لآنريد التحرر فنحنوو ملكآت
متمسكين بشريعة ديننا الحنيف
لالالالالالالالانريد التحرر
شكراً
December 16, 2009 at 11:51 pm
Such pictures just make me laugh.. how silly yet admirable!
That’s the spirit ” We’re gonna try to make a difference towards a changed future, meanwhile, we’re gonna adjust and have fun!”