In Saudi Arabia, they always tell us we are queens. We are pistachios. You know the nut? Like something that is protected. So even if you have a very good education, restraints are put on women.
Manal Al-SharifRead
The bicycle freed 19th-century women from their homes and from their dependence on men. I hope that in Saudi Arabia, the car will do the same.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights how bicycles empowered women in the past, suggesting that cars may serve a similar role for women in Saudi Arabia today.
In this quote, Manal Al-Sharif emphasizes the transformative impact of transportation on women's freedom and independence. By referencing the historical significance of bicycles for women in the 19th century, she draws a parallel to contemporary society, expressing hope that the automobile can similarly liberate women in Saudi Arabia from societal restrictions and dependence on men, facilitating greater autonomy and mobility.
Themes
BicycleWomenFreedomIndependenceTransportationSaudi Arabia
In practice
Example use cases
During a women's rights conference, this quote can be used to illustrate the power of mobility for women's liberation.
More from Manal Al-Sharif
All quotes →In May 2011, I drove a car in the city of Khobar, Saudi Arabia, to protest the kingdom's ban on women driving.
Manal Al-SharifRead
I love my sons, I love my husband, and I love my country. But in kingdoms of men, there are few - if any - choices for women. Or the choices are such that there is no greater pain than having to choose.
Manal Al-SharifRead
Women's rights are nothing but a part of the bigger picture, which is human rights. Women are trusted with the lives of their kids, even serve as teachers and doctors, but they aren't trusted with their own lives.
Manal Al-SharifRead
In the Saudi system, women are considered inferior. No matter our age, we have male guardians. We must get permission from men to attend school, to work, to marry, to travel overseas - even to have basic medical procedures.
Manal Al-SharifRead
For me, driving - or the right to drive - is not only about moving from A to B; it's a way to emancipate women. It gives them so much liberty. It makes them independent.
Manal Al-SharifRead
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