Video of Saudi women behind the wheel in protest

If something could be poignant in its banality, the protests today in Saudi Arabia by women defying the authorities and daring to drive would fit the category. Though their act of mass civil disobedience may be small in scale, the women have gotten worldwide attention thanks in part to YouTube, where videos of the defiance ...

If something could be poignant in its banality, the protests today in Saudi Arabia by women defying the authorities and daring to drive would fit the category. Though their act of mass civil disobedience may be small in scale, the women have gotten worldwide attention thanks in part to YouTube, where videos of the defiance were posted. Watching women drive shouldn't be as compelling as it is, but the recordings are quite powerful.

If something could be poignant in its banality, the protests today in Saudi Arabia by women defying the authorities and daring to drive would fit the category. Though their act of mass civil disobedience may be small in scale, the women have gotten worldwide attention thanks in part to YouTube, where videos of the defiance were posted. Watching women drive shouldn’t be as compelling as it is, but the recordings are quite powerful.

Below are a couple of the posted videos:

 

And here’s an argument for why perhaps the wrong gender is being banned from the road:

Also check out this account of one Saudi woman who took part in the protest and this look at the context in which today’s mass protest comes.


Robert Zeliger is News Editor of Foreign Policy.

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