Imagine for a moment a grown woman, a professional, having to seek permission from a male relative - a husband, a brother, or even a son - to travel overseas for work. Or to work at all.

This situation is the daily reality for women in Saudi Arabia, where decisions about their lives cannot be made without the blessing of a male guardian. And yes, sometimes that male guardian is a person the woman grew inside her own womb and raised in her own home.

Saudi activist Ghada Ghazzawi tapes a selfie video marking a historical day for Saudi women as she arrives to vote for the municipal elections on December 12, 2015 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Credit:Jordan Pix

And sometimes that male guardian is an abuser who uses his power to extort money from the woman under his control, or worse.