The Author points out that her view of Saudi Arabia is tainted by her dislike of the customs and practices of that very closed and patriarchal country. She is particularly offended by having to wear the concealing abaya and being treated as a moral threat to all men simply because she is a woman. Saudi Arabia's tribal customs are well known from years of reporting on this issue, and the only insight this article brings is in showing that enormous wealth does not assure that a "modern" or Western point of view will be adopted by all countries.

an intriguing personal perspective from a Western female reporter.

Yeah, and the Saudis are our allies in all these efforts to bring democracy to the middle east. Sure!

This is an account of a personal experience, so it can't fairly be judged on the "objective" scale. However, it's about the best report by a western female on her experiences in Saudi Arabia. It starkly presents the near-impossibility of reconciling the Saudi way (even the Arab way as reflected in the men who hoot and holler in Cairo) with western concepts of equality of women. The writer dramatically illustrates the ingrained attitudes of both Saudi men and women that go back centuries and for most don't seem to be changed by the experience of western education. Depressing, yet this could be modern Islam if the Saudis have their way: They are spreading their ideology throughout the Muslim world with their oil money. Indonesia ... More »

This personal account of the status of women in Saudi Arabia is well-written and insightful. Highly recommended.