“It is interesting that she notes the difference between cities & villages/rural areas regarding female drivers. I believe her regarding that point. But hadn’t heard of that, and wonder why that should be the case, specifically for female drivers in SA.”
I too believe her.
Several yrs ago, I watched a piece on tv about a woman dentist who practiced in Jeddah (I believe). The most modern dental office I’d ever seen - obviously cost a fortune. But what was surprising to me at the time, was that she was in western dress, no head covering and it showed her working on several men. Answering the reporter’s questions about her attire & practice, she said it depended on what part of Saudi you were in. (I assume it had to do with her clientele too)
Even in Iran, there are photos of women in more remote rural parts of the country, wearing their traditional regional dress, which doesn’t include the hijab enforced in the cities.
So, it doesn’t surprise me that in Saudi there are different ‘rules’ & exceptions or acceptable behaviors for different parts of the the country.
In a way you’re correct about different parts of the country, including rules and acceptable behaviour.
Here is my bit of info:
>>”But what was surprising to me at the time, was that she was in western dress, no head covering and it showed her working on several men.”<<
I *personally* never have lived in Saudi Arabia.
Based on all I have heard from those who are either Saudi or others who have lived there, I should say *western* attire is not the norm or the rule in SA - not even in villages or rural areas. It is more an exception to the rule.
Of course many Westerners, also, are often surprised to know, for example, that (Islamic) ‘hejab’ as we see & know it today in many moslem countries, like SA, didn’t so much exist prior to Islam. Certainly was not *enforced* on women as a dress code in most “Arab” countries prior to Islam.
>>”Even in Iran, there are photos of women in more remote rural parts of the country, wearing their traditional regional dress, which doesn’t include the hijab enforced in the cities.”<<
I know Iran pretty well. From personal experience & since I still have relatives living there - not only in Tehran, but also in other Iranian provinces. Though my relatives are Zoroastrians. But, they live among mostly (officially) moslem people in Iran.
So, firstly, should say Iran is not comparable to a place like Saudi Arabia - neither historically nor today.
Iran, for many, many centuries has consisted of different *ethnic* grps, as you know. Each grp has its own traditional dress or costume. In Iran these traditional costumes or dresses for women (and men) were not “religiously” dictated, certainly were not Islamic. They still are not.
A CORE issue with the mullahs’ regime (IRI), unlike the Saudis, is that mullahs forcefully are anti-Western attire, often advertised as anti-Islamic. In remote or rural areas of Iran, the IRI doesn’t really care, and traditional *Iranian* (ethnic dress) for women is seen not to negate IRI’s anti-Western (by extension anti-Islamic) stance.
The Saudis (including many members of the Saudi Royal family) are not primarily anti-Western under the guise of Islam. They are primarily Islamic.