06-17-2011 Saudi Women Defy Driving Ban
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| Audience/Grade: | College Freshman-Continuing Education |
| Discipline(s): |
Computer Engineering Computer Science Computing Diversity Engineering Diversity Engineering Ethics Information Systems Information Technology Software Engineering |
| Special Topic(s): | |
| Learning Resource Type: |
Community - Blog |
| Media Type: |
Unknown |
| Author(s): |
Alice Agogino |
| Description: | Engineering Pathway's "Today in History" blog for June 17. Today in History - June 17, 2011 - women of Saudi Arabia launch a civil disobedience campaign to fight for the right to drive automobiles. The pressure to launch a campaign for the right to drive began when 32-year-old Mana al-Shariff was imprisoned in May 2011 after she drove in Riyadh. Activists compare her to Rosa Parks and the analogy is apt in that she inspired similar action by others through her "women2drive" internet campaign when she first posted a video of her driving. Six members of the U.S. Congress were inspired to author an open letter in support of the campaign. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) joined the twitter campaign with: "Beep beep and solidarity to the Saudi women & supporters challenging the driving ban!" Philip Luther, Amnesty International's Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa, issued a statement: "Not allowing women behind the wheel in Saudi Arabia is an immense barrier to their freedom of movement, and severely limits their ability to carry out everyday activities as they see fit, such as going to work or the supermarket, or picking up their children from school". |
| Rating: |
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| Related Resources | |
| Keywords: | gender equity Saudi Arabia |
| Is Component of: |
"Today in History" Blog of the Engineering Pathway Digital Library |
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| Use of Resource: |
I love this story as it illustrates how technology (mobility and social media) can be a vehicle of social change (pun intended). I am interested in how far this civil disobedience goes if women are not give more freedom in general. I found the women of Saudi Arabia to be smart and motivated to make the world a better place. Will they still need to bring a male guardian with them as a passenger if they can drive? Will they have a wider range of jobs they can drive to? |
| Difficulty: |
Easy |
| Interactivity Level: |
Low |
| Version Info | |
| Publication Date: | June 2011 |
| Platform/Format: |
WWW |
| Cost: |
Free |
| Download URL: | http://www.k-grayengineeringeducation.com/blog/index.php/2012/06/ |
| Metadata: |
IEEE LOM Record |
| Collection: |
NEEDS
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