VOA标准英语2012--Saudi Women Slowly Advance Cultural Change

Saudi Women Slowly Advance Cultural Change

 

This year something new has appeared on the streets of Saudi cities, female shop assistants.

For now, they're only found in lingerie stores. King Abdullah signed a decree to change the law after years of protest by Saudi women, over awkward encounters with male salesmen.

"The decision makes it more comfortable for women to have privacy, and women can speak to the saleswoman and explain their needs better. At the same time the female staff connect with women clients better than men. It avoids embarrassment," a lingerie shop assistant noted¹.

It may seem like a big step, but the vast majority of Saudi women are still forbidden from working. The strict guardian² system requires all women to seek the permission of a close male relative to travel, to work, even to have some types of surgery.

Professor Madawi al-Rasheed, of Kings College London, says the place of women in Saudi society is rooted in the strictly³ religious nature of the state. 

"Religious nationalism tries to create the kingdom of God on earth," said al-Rasheed. "And by doing that they use women because they are the visible sign of this nationalism, for two reasons: women are responsible for reproducing the nation physically⁴ and also reproducing it socially and culturally."

On the surface, those cultural norms appear to be shifting. In recent months increasing numbers of women in cities like Riyadh are defying decades of tradition by getting behind the wheel. So far, authorities have reacted cautiously. Police generally turn a blind eye unless the act is being filmed.

So are these the first rumblings of a revolution in women's rights? 

"Absolutely not," noted al-Rasheed. "What we have seen is minor⁵ protests that are co-opted by the state such as the lingerie incident or the driving incident. They are used in order to show that 'we have mobilization,' in order to show how reformist it is against the background of a conservative tribal⁶ society. So these kind of minor gains that women have unfortunately are being used for purposes beyond women." 

In September of last year, King Abdullah signed a decree allowing women to run and vote in municipal elections. Al-Rasheed says the reforms are an attempted distraction⁷ by the government at a time when other parts of the Arab world are witnessing uprisings. 

"What we are seeing at this stage is minor protest and separate battles raging in Saudi Arabia," added al-Rasheed.

While some of those battles are being won by women, analysts⁸ say the lack of civil society in Saudi Arabia means these are not the first stirrings of a revolution. 

1 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

2 guardian   

n.监护人；守卫者，保护者

参考例句：

• The form must be signed by the child's parents or guardian. 这张表格须由孩子的家长或监护人签字。
• The press is a guardian of the public weal. 报刊是公共福利的卫护者。

3 strictly   

adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地

参考例句：

• His doctor is dieting him strictly.他的医生严格规定他的饮食。
• The guests were seated strictly in order of precedence.客人严格按照地位高低就座。

4 physically   

adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。

5 minor   

adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修

参考例句：

• The young actor was given a minor part in the new play.年轻的男演员在这出新戏里被分派担任一个小角色。
• I gave him a minor share of my wealth.我把小部分财产给了他。

6 tribal   

adj.部族的，种族的

参考例句：

• He became skilled in several tribal lingoes.他精通几种部族的语言。
• The country was torn apart by fierce tribal hostilities.那个国家被部落间的激烈冲突弄得四分五裂。

7 distraction   

n.精神涣散，精神不集中，消遣，娱乐

参考例句：

• Total concentration is required with no distractions.要全神贯注，不能有丝毫分神。
• Their national distraction is going to the disco.他们的全民消遣就是去蹦迪。

8 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。