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.
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.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote expresses love while highlighting the difficult choices women face in patriarchal societies.
Manal Al-Sharif's quote reflects a deep personal love for her family and homeland while simultaneously acknowledging the oppressive reality that women often encounter in societal structures. It suggests that despite her affection, the limitations placed on women create profound emotional turmoil, emphasizing the lack of true agency and the painful decisions they must make in a male-dominated world.
Themes
LoveWomenChoicesPainSociety
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about gender equality, one could use this quote to illustrate the struggles women face.
More from Manal Al-Sharif
All quotes →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.
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In May 2011, I drove a car in the city of Khobar, Saudi Arabia, to protest the kingdom's ban on women driving.
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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.
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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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