[gallery size="medium" td_select_gallery_slide="slide" td_gallery_title_input="Activists call for society's support to remove obstacles ahead" ids="79941,79940,79939,79938,79937"] A NUMBER of social activists have reiterated their calls for society to stand by and support Saudi women and help them overcome the social obstacles they face. Many of the obstacles in the path of women empowerment are rooted in Saudi traditions and culture, they say. There are many Saudi women who have shown extraordinary capabilities and excelled in various fields inside and outside the country but more support is needed, the activists argue, for others to come forward and showcase their capabilities, Al-Riyadh daily reports. Fuad Al-Hamad, an education adviser, was critical of members of Saudi society who continue to do whatever they can to marginalize women. Such people, Al-Hamad argued, are making a big mistake because they have appointed themselves as full guardians of women. "The social traditions prevalent today shackle women and do not allow them to move forward. We should do everything possible to ensure that women play an active and efficient role in developing the country and its economy. Women should be viewed as equal partners of men and should be empowered. Guardianship in Islam has its limits," Al-Hamad said. Masooma Al-Abdulreda, a member of the Municipal Council of Al-Ahsa, who is also a social activist, says the power of women is tremendous and this power should not be restricted and properly tapped. "If supported, women are capable of facing and overcoming any struggle or conflict and resolve it at the same time due to their superb multitasking capabilities. Unfortunately, women in Al-Ahsa society still face marginalization and many of them have not been able to show their capabilities and talents because of social shackles. In fact, they are viewed as incompetent and need a guardian to take care of them. I hope people will change the way they view women soon," she said. Social disparity Raja Al-Boali, a social activist, blamed the absence of civil institutions that focus on women's issues and conduct studies to enhance the role of women in economic development. "We do have some centers that work to empower Saudi women but we still need to see more centers in order to allow for more women participation in social development at all levels. It is important also to help women accept leadership roles in various fields, including the judiciary," she said. "The prevalent social and cultural traditions that suppress women's abilities need reconsideration," she added while calling for conducting an extensive study on the role of women over the past several decades in order to understand how women's roles have changed over time. Deep-rooted Thana Al-Hassan, a social activist, believes that it is difficult to break away from the deep-rooted social traditions that have become prevalent in society. "Although many people have tried to change these traditions by writing about the issue extensively, they failed for the simple reason that many segments of society still believe in these traditions and social shackles," she explained. "It is not going to be an easy road for women. The challenges are plenty and women need to prove themselves and show that they are capable of changing the status quo. Detractors always underestimate women's abilities and undermine their achievements because they do not want women to go places. If empowered, women, alongside men, can make great accomplishments to society and the country."
