My name is Eman Al Nafjan and I’m a mother of three or at least I try to be. I also have a full time job as an English lecturer at a health sciences university in Riyadh. So many non Arabs and non Saudis out there giving “expert” opinions on life and culture here, hence my blog. Get it straight from the source: Saudi, genetically wahabi and a woman.
The banner or header of this blog is designed by Abdullah Sulaiman and the model is Fatten Al Nafjan.
If you need to, you can Email me at Saudiwomanblog at gmail dot com.
52 Comments
April 19, 2008 at 11:56 pm
I love your blog Eman, found it via Saudi Jeans. Keep up the nice work!
May 20, 2008 at 4:53 am
About time!
About time that you showed up and wrote.
About time that someone with your genetic and social and educational encodings wrote in this kind of straight-to-the point bluntness.
Thank you.
May 22, 2008 at 12:16 pm
I am glad that you are writing your blog. Many claim that they can reflect Saudi women thoughts, while in the same time they try to make sure that their real voices are not heard.
June 25, 2008 at 9:22 pm
Please check out http://www.linkexpats.com (social networking website for expatriates) It might be of some help to your readers.
July 9, 2008 at 8:37 am
do U know something! Yasheen alQusman LaTamddno!!
July 11, 2008 at 11:21 pm
I like your page, Eman.. And your name, the same as mine
Keep up the good work.
July 18, 2008 at 2:40 pm
love the way you put it lol…
August 14, 2008 at 9:33 am
Allah ewafgich..And keep it up,
Your Q8ti sister iLSul6ana
August 26, 2008 at 10:59 pm
Hi, I’ve been lurking on your blog for a few days. Interesting and insightful. Good work.
Btw, what is “genetically wahabi”?
August 27, 2008 at 8:14 pm
Hi Mummyjaan!
Thanks for visiting and I’ve been meaning to explain that in a post. So that’s what I’ll do in my next post
September 12, 2008 at 10:14 am
dear Eman I’m very proud of you
keep going =)
September 15, 2008 at 3:11 pm
when u say “genetically wahabi” which means that u r a descendent of Mohammad ibn Abdulwahab… which means that u are enjoy the status of a princess, am I right? If so, then your views do not reflect those of the average saudi woman, but of the elite few… even if your cause is philanthropic…
September 15, 2008 at 3:12 pm
if u can please change ” which means that u are enjoy the status of a princess, ” to say ” which means that u enjoy the status of a princess, ”
thanks
September 15, 2008 at 7:34 pm
dear Eman Ilike to say im so proud
but the most important thing is not Criticism our culture orCommunity as show them the great and good things that we have and how we improve
thank you eman & keep going
September 16, 2008 at 9:55 am
Hi Princejimi
I am not a descendent of Mohamed ibn Abdulwahab. We both belong to the same sub-tribe. That is very different. By no means is he related to me directly. And my family is very much middle-class Saudi.
September 18, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Salam Eman
Interesting blog – great job.
as you said “Get it straight from the source”
I like that since i live abroad and have an interest
good luck with it
September 19, 2008 at 4:49 am
I’m so glad I found your interesting blog!
I’m also a working mother of three, in Australia. I hope by reading your blog I can learn more about the lives of women in your culture
Warm wishes, Jo
September 22, 2008 at 4:19 am
this is a really good blog, cant stop reading it.Im hasnah from US by the way.
November 2, 2008 at 8:31 pm
I love it, me too “try to be” a mom to 3 boys masha-Allah. and have a life outside of them. Thanks for the blog.
D
November 7, 2008 at 10:54 pm
Fascinating and very original in voice.
November 24, 2008 at 11:14 am
All the power to you, Eman. I just ‘discovered’ your blog and I found out that we share so many opinions. To quote MLK, I have a dream… that one day women in SA will have enough courage to stand-up for themselves and demand their rights.
December 31, 2008 at 3:50 am
Salam ..
Gud effort & keep goin
February 10, 2009 at 12:03 am
Glad to discover your blog (via Aafke’s) and to know more about “Eman” of the comments on American Bedu’s blog.
Good explanation of Wahabi!
February 18, 2009 at 4:50 am
Thanks for a terrific blog! I’m going to be linking to you a lot because your information and comments are top-notch.
March 30, 2009 at 12:12 pm
Hello!
Writting, reading & listening (with a big interest) from Canary Islands; sorry if my english is not perfect.
I was woundering if there is any english, spanish or french transcrption of what Wajiha Al-Huweidar says while she’s driving, on the 8th of March.
Thank you,
I will be following and talking about you.
April 1, 2009 at 9:19 am
Hello!
It’s so much great to read a blog of a Saudi women who is outspoken and confident in terms of courage and showing the Real image of whats going around us here in KSA. I have many question to be asked and many answer which aren’t given to me because of my nationality i think so .. Why its thought forbidden if any other nationality wants to marry a Saudi Girl? Can you please shatter some light on this topic.I will be waiting for the article on this topic.
Thank you,
with best Regards
April 10, 2009 at 2:17 pm
Just found your blog today…….I think it is wonderful………….I am sooooooo fed up with all the expat./integrated “life in Saudi” blogs.
Its about time someone kept it “real”. Although I am not Saudi I do want to hear about Saudi problems, daily challenges and general life from a Saudi woman as that is who I meet on a daily basis. I do not mix with the expat. community exclusively or indeed frequently because I feel it is very much an “us” and “them” mentality. On the other hand I find it very difficult to make and develop a deep friendship with a Saudi female due to being European and sometimes judged accordingly.
Its good to be able to hear your voice, read your views and get to know a true, female, Saudi perspective. Keep up the good work.
April 14, 2009 at 1:20 pm
Hi Eman, My name is Moushumi Chakrabarty and I am a journalist with Digital Journal (www.digitaljournal.com) . I am interested in getting in touch with Wajeha al-Huwaider, who, I believe, now resides in Bahrain. Do you have her email address?
Thank you.
April 22, 2009 at 4:35 pm
I can’t remember how I stumbled upon your blog but I couldn’t stop reading once I started. I’m a stay-at-home-expat-mom living in Riyadh with my husband and son. And I’m so glad to see that there are Saudi women like you who are trying to help people understand the intricacies of your culture as well as give a voice for the women in your country.
May 1, 2009 at 12:00 pm
nice blog ! personally i like very much what u say, my only objection is the graphic above as it is not clear (i am designer) and could be fixed a little. I like the logo of Saudi Arabia (the 2 swords) and your graphic seems to be some form of extension of that.
I am planning to visit Arabia (from Hungary) and I can even get an invitation as I know someone there to see this ultra religious country and see ME as i have never been there. I think as you said Saudi more liberal women need to organize organize organize and the will see progress. I predict women in bikinis popping anti-baby pills and beer boozing openly on the street within next 50 years, the question is do you want a society like that ? Or to ask it in another way where will this liberalism of women stop ? lesbianism, gay weddings, piercing and display of private parts ??? How do u DRAW line where to stop liberizing and HOW ??? Also it would be nice to point out that the western liberal feminists somehow do not enough to point out the state of women in arabia
May 8, 2009 at 9:41 am
السلام عليكم …اولا مادري اذا كنتي تقرين عربي..لان انجليزيتي اقرا بس كتابه السبيلنغ يصير كله بدليات…وابي شي ثاني منج لو سمحتي …ابي ايميلج ..عندي استشاره بس ودي استفيد منج بجم شغله….بعدين اذا خربت السستم ولازم اعلق انجليزي …انا اسف بس لج الحق انج تحذفين مشاركتي…بس لازم ادزين ايميلج لو سمحتي…ومشكككككككككككككووووره…وانا توني اليوم بعد صلاه الجمعه دشيت مدونتج…وداشها عن طريق جووجل…وموضوع رانيا الباز بالذات ..
سوري على الهذره
May 9, 2009 at 6:43 am
Saudi businesswoman calls it quits!
Tariq A. Al-Maeena
Saturday, May 02, 2009
Alia Banaja is a local product. Born and raised in Jeddah, she graduated from a local university some years ago. Soon after, she established the first IT business run exclusively by women. At the time, the industry was dominated by males, but over the years Alia has validated her proficiency in the field and had signed up some long term clients.
Her company, 2 The Point, formed in 2002, is a medium-sized companies in the information technology sector and has worked on the successful implementation of several projects for government and private sector companies such as King Faisal Specialist Hospital and the Department of Home Economics at the University of King Abdul Aziz in Jeddah among others.
But Alia and thousands of other Saudi businesswomen in the Kingdom faced a dilemma. Saudi commercial law at the time required her to appoint a male legal agent to conduct her affairs with the various governmental organizations. Women were not expected to deal with our bureaucracies. And there was no way around it.
For Alia and others who often do not find a trusted male family member willing to commit themselves to carry on those chores on demand, the only option was to hire some male agent practically of the street and sign over the power of attorney, granting him full and absolute powers in company matters.
Over the years there have been various reported incidences of such abuse of power by these so-called legal agents. Many a businesswoman has found herself on the short end of the stick upon discovering that her appointed agent had hauled away the company goods, leaving her in great financial distress and liability. The legal recourse available was often time-consuming and discouraging.
And so Alia began a campaign to do away with the condition of appointing a male agent. In light of recent progress on the issue of women’s rights in the Kingdom, she and many others like her so no reason why they could not dispense with this requirement while running their businesses.
Working along with several businesswomen from the Eastern and Central Provinces, they formulated a movement to abrogate the requirements for a male legal representative that was issued back in 2004. Initially, the focus was on raising public awareness on the potential dangers of such a rule on female business owners.
The next step was to close down their businesses if their demands for the removal of this condition were not met. And finally, if that did not bear positive results from the concerned organs in the government, then they would appeal directly to King Abdullah, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for his favorable action.
After her last meeting with Hassan Aqeel, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Commerce and Trade who re-iterated the requirements for a male General Manager in businesses owned by women and which dealt with both sexes, Alia felt the time to act had finally dawned.
Last week, Alia closed down her local operations. She plans to relocate her enterprise to London. With a heavy heart, she had to inform her employees that she could simply not continue in the face of such a rule, especially when she had been recently victimized albeit on a small scale by one of her ‘appointed male agents’.
After a couple of long discussions with her, I came away convinced that this was not a self-aggrandizing act or one taken with the selfish interest of promoting herself or her business. Nor does she consider herself as a leading vanguard of women’s rights.
Instead said Alia, “I realize the anguish of the female workers in the company, but the constant pressure exerted by the appointed male agents in my business has disrupted many of my economic interests. I am no longer able to accomplish projects as quickly and efficiently as required, so the closure of my business activity is optimal for the moment. I understand that the closure does not help the economy, but the obstacles to come to work and appoint a male agent was becoming intolerable and burdensome, and causing me a great deal of anxiety.”
And what of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce that was so much in the news a couple of years ago for electing women on their board? Had she heard anything from them? “Nothing, absolutely nothing! I have waited long enough for them to act on behalf of us businesswomen, but the realities are otherwise.”
According to Basma Al-Omair, head of the Khadija bint Khuwailed Center at the Chamber of Commerce, when asked of her reaction to Alia’s move, “the decision of closure is a personal matter for the woman. So far I do not have sufficient information on the subject of closures”, she said, adding that the Chamber had sent a request to the concerned minister some times back to do away with this obstacle, but has yet to receive any reply.
Statistics by the Chamber of Commerce in Jeddah reveal about 20 thousand small and medium-run businesses with a capital of more than 60 billion riyals in operations, yet the same statistics reveal little in the number of female owners and staff working in these companies and small enterprises.
A simple question must be put forward to the Minister of Commerce and Trade. Why tout away WTO membership when the plain issue of doing away with this antiquated requirement that affects so many businesswomen negatively in this country cannot be boldly addressed and rectified? How many Alia Banajas have to suffer before action is taken? Who are we afraid of? Or should we simply confine our women to the home and the kitchen?
The writer is a Saudi socio/political commentator. He lives in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and can be reached at talmaeena@gmail.com
May 18, 2009 at 11:29 am
Proud of you
and i keep checking out your blog
love you
May 24, 2009 at 12:12 pm
Loved the topics you have covered. Go ahead and spread the Saudi women voice to the whole world.
Regards
June 8, 2009 at 4:59 pm
Let me get this straight, in the beginning when I passed by this blog I thought it might be something interesting ( Saudi Woman ).But what happened that I could not identify exactly what are you doing here?nagging and nagging.
It is not necessarily that I have to say WOW ….this blog is fantastic, actually no… I mean big NO.
Find exactly what you want and make sure that you are presenting your religion, culture and country.
I think you got my point..!!
Best Regards
June 19, 2009 at 1:38 am
Hi Miss. Eman,
I read your blog, it’s really nice!
Anyway, I have something that I would like to ask you but I would like to do it in private. I am really sorry but now I don’t feel confortable to share it in public, maybe in the future. I hope you can contact me by email because I really need an advice about my situation that concern Saudi people.
June 24, 2009 at 12:49 am
Coming from a European country where Islam and Arabs are more or less hated, I am so happy to be in Saudi Arabia.I hope this country will always put Islam as a priority in its policy, because it is the best thing that happened to mankind. This country is on the process of moving foreward with tremendous changes, and I really wish this nation the bests of luck. Thank you for being a voice of the people.
July 13, 2009 at 4:44 pm
Hello Eman,
I was surfing the net and I found your blog. Since I am new at this blogging thing, I find your blog really interesting, and I like the way you express your thoughts and speak your mind. Keep up the good work.
July 14, 2009 at 3:36 am
Hi,
…still me, really please contact me I really need some help from someone who knows better than me.
Thank you.
July 18, 2009 at 4:33 am
Really sorry still Emanuele, me, but I absolutly need help…can you contact me at emair@vip.airliners.net I will really appreciate if you can do it. Once you contact me I will telly you what is my problem. Thank you.
August 6, 2009 at 3:18 pm
Hi Miss. Eman,
I am coming from Indonesia…read your blog and find that it’s really interesting!
Anyway, I have something that I would like to ask you but I would like to do it by email. I hope you can contact me by email.
August 6, 2009 at 8:39 pm
Hi Eman, I hope life is going okay for you. Please have a good week.
August 22, 2009 at 3:30 pm
Asalam o Alekum,
Many thnaks for your good work and efforts. I thnik you would like to visit some Shia Islamic point of view. This is for your knowledge taste.
Thanks.
September 5, 2009 at 1:46 am
Hello Eman,
I’m another Eman, from Egypt.
I think we have a lot to share
I ask you to have a look here:
http://justurhead.blogspot.com/2009/08/iron-jawed-angels-hundred-years-is-all.html
and then you’ll know why I say so
cheers
September 8, 2009 at 11:05 am
Im a filipino blogger working in Riyadh. My blog tackles Overseas Filipino Workers Issues and Concerns. I embraced Islam last December 08 and my muslim name now is Aiman. I include your nice and informative blog as one of my blog links. God Bless!
September 8, 2009 at 8:51 pm
OFW
Interesting.
September 9, 2009 at 7:02 am
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October 13, 2009 at 1:06 pm
fascinating insights
October 28, 2009 at 9:46 am
Hey guys!
I am doing a project on Head and Shoulders in Saudi Arabia..please fill up the survey and you might with a 5000 riyals
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=EGnPlXhyhjgp0m8J8SrG5w_3d_3d
November 2, 2009 at 4:54 pm
Eman, thank you for letting me know about your blog! I’m really impressed with your writing and happy to get to know you better.
Rachel (from the Puddle Jumpers board!)