Instant Alert: Women in Saudi Arabia will be allowed to drive for the first time — here's what they still can't do

MANAGE SUBSCRIPTIONS   |   UNSUBSCRIBE   |   VIEW ONLINE   Women in Saudi Arabia will be allowed to drive for the first time — here's what they still can't do by Michelle Mark on Sep 27, 2017, 3:55 PM Advertisement Saudi Arabia announced in a royal decree on Tuesday that the kingdom will end its longstanding ban on women driving. The news was met with jubilation from women's rights activists — the ultraconservative country is known for its repressive guardianship system that renders many aspects of women's lives under the control of their male relatives. Although Saudi Arabia has made some progress toward gender equality in recent years, it is still viewed as one of the world's worst countries for women. Even without the ban on driving, women face a variety of barriers — both formal and informal — to participating in public life. Here are some of the restrictions women in Saudi Arabia face: SEE ALSO: The mysterious life of Kim Jong Un's wife, Ri Sol-ju, who probably has 3 children and frequently disappears from the public eye Marriage and divorce Women need permission from a male guardian in order to marry or divorce a man. Typically a woman's guardian is her father until she marries, and then it falls to her husband — a potential obstacle when women seek divorces. In the absence of these two figures, another male relative must be entrusted to act as her guardian. Sometimes, the responsibility falls to a woman's son. Source: PRI Accessing healthcare Women in Saudi Arabia generally must obtain permission from their male guardian before receiving an elective surgery, but those requirements vary between hospitals. Some hospitals do not require guardian permission for any procedure, while others — particularly public hospitals — require guardian permission for women to receive any form of surgery, or even to be admitted. Source: Human Rights Watch Working for certain employers or opening certain businesses Formal restrictions on women's work have been removed from the labor code in recent years in an effort to boost women's participation in the workforce — nearly 16% of the labor force in Saudi Arabia is now female. Yet certain employers still demand that women obtain their guardians' permission to work, and they are not penalized for this requirement. And although women may open their own businesses, they are frequently required to supply character references from men before being granted loans or licenses. Sources: Haaretz, BBC, Bloomberg See the rest of the story at Business Insider   Share the latest business news with your network:    Email sent to:   |   Manage your email preferences   |   Unsubscribe Terms of Service   |   Privacy Policy Business Insider. 150 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10011