Daring to Drive: A Saudi Woman's Awakening by Manal Al-Sharif
Published by Simon Schuster Audio
Publication date: June 13, 2017
Genres: Book Clubs, Cultural, Debut, Memoir, Non-fiction
Bookshop
If I had to sum up Manal al-Sharif’s memoir Daring to Drive in one sentence it would be: Saudi Arabia is a country that despises women. I didn’t know this. Somehow, I thought it was one of the more enlightened Middle Eastern countries but after listening to Manal’s story of lifelong oppression for no other reason than being female, I realize how wrong I was. Ostensibly, the book follows her attempt to get the cultural ban against women driving lifted in Saudi Arabia, but it goes far deeper than that. It’s a harrowing story that needs to be heard.
Manal was born and raised in Mecca, which is like living in Vatican City—it follows the strictest tenets of the country’s religion. However, all of Saudi Arabia adheres to a version of Islam, Salafism, that is considered extremist by most other Muslims. It is one of only two countries in the world to officially embrace this sect. For Manal, this means her childhood was comprised of genital mutilation when she was 8-years-old, not being allowed to go outside to play, and limited access to school (a rundown building with sealed, papered over windows, and locked access doors). All to protect her from the evil thoughts and deeds she would stir in men with any hint of her femininity. Forget men being responsible for their own actions—the concept doesn’t exist in the Saudi kingdom.
As a teenager Manal bought into the doctrines and was a radical herself. It’s only when she got to college (her mother believed in educating her daughters even though it was not customary) that she became aware of the world around her. After graduating she got a job with Aramco, the national oil company and left home to live in their suburban compound. Here the exposure to Western ideas juxtaposed against her countrymen’s stifling behavior (being called a slut for talking to a man at work) started a shift in Manal. She began to question Why? The necessities of adult life meant needing to drive but it is forbidden for women. There was no law, just custom, punishable by the religious police.
Things come to a head when, in 2011, Manal organized a day of driving for Saudi women. Shortly before the event she was arrested and put in prison. Her social media savvy and connections meant the news of her arrest went global and pressure was put on the Saudis to release her. She was, but the protest never happened and the resulting harassment means she no longer lives in Saudi Arabia.
For those of us in the Western world, as much as we may chafe against the inequality between men and women, Daring to Drive will still be shocking. In Saudi Arabia women are without an identity. Unmarried girls can’t talk in public, their name is never used—they are only referred to as daughter of their father. At every stage of life, they need a man as “guardian” no matter how that man abuses them or how old they are. It’s almost impossible to believe in a place where women truly have no value, except for bearing and raising children. Where they have no name, their existence is kept out of sight, their faces and bodies covered, their voices unheard. Manal’s bravery in fighting against this world is staggering, its implications more than we can understand, but Daring to Drive is not about a woman as victim, it’s about woman as warrior.
Okay, I HAVE to read this. We all have to become warriors in a world where such things can happen.
Definitely. That’s why I read it. I feel as if I need to be better informed.
Great review Catherine. I loved this book and think it’s one that more women should read. In the end I found it to be empowering and admired Manal so much. She gave up a lot to fight for the women of Saudi Arabia. Moving on to 2019 books?
You would think so, Susie, but I have one more 2018 book left to review! December came on strong with great books.
Thanks for reminding me about this one! Sounds way more intense than I expected even. Just put it on my library hold list.
It is. Her childhood is beyond anything we could ever imagine here in the West. Saudi men want women treated the way they were in the time of Muhammad.
Yeah thanks to women like the author — the ban on driving there (apparently) was finally overturned but not before years of this awful law was enforced. The oppression there on females (as mentioned in the book) is unbelievable! The audiobook of her book is excellent and I was impressed by this woman warrior. Go!
I read that, but they still can’t get a license without their guardian’s approval- and their guardian is always a man, husband or father. So the system is still incredibly screwed up. Can you imagine your husband being your guardian?! No way.
No I can’t. that’s terrible
Fascinating book, and one I want to read. Interestingly, I know a lady who contracts with businesses to chauffeur out of town businessmen and women. She told us stories of Saudi men who would get in the car and immediately ask her to take them somewhere where they could find a prostitute. She, of course, told them no. So I guess they were Ok with American women driving them around to find sex.
It is appalling. I was listening to the book while at the gym and was literally yelling while on the treadmill. Saudi men can behave however they want with impunity. It is a revolting sect of Islam.
Revolting for sure. This is going in my audible library. Thanks for bringing it to my attention,
It was utterly shocking to me. I can’t believe that there are places on earth where this is the accepted way of life. And that our government supports them.