The L.G.B.T.Q. community still does not see the light of day here. But I have a tiny bit of faith after everything that has happened.

Do you think the new driving law will change your life in a significant way?

Yes, I don’t need to annoy my father or brother to drive me to my friend’s house anymore, or pay a driver just to run errands.

I will go to college this year, so getting to drive is essential. I remember seeing tweets from girls in college about always being late to school, or staying at school longer because their driver was late. I don’t want that to happen to me. I’m so grateful that this came at the perfect moment. I’m secretly proud of this dysfunctional country.

Fareeda Al-Sajan

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Image Fareeda Al-Sajan in Florence, Italy, in 2016. Credit... Courtesy of Fareeda Al-Sajan

What, if anything, has changed about your life as a woman over the last several years?

Frankly, the changes that have been implemented in the last three to four years are small enough to only be truly appreciated by those who did not have the privilege of growing up in an open-minded household.

I was lucky to be brought up by parents who made sure that nothing was out of my or my sisters’ reach because of our gender. However, there has also been a noticeable change in the status of women in Saudi society, with many starting businesses and holding more positions in government.

Do you think the new driving law will change your life in a significant way?

The lifting of the driving ban is one step closer to the independence and liberation of Saudi women. Many people do not realize how significant the ability to drive — to freely transport yourself of your own accord — is, because they have never had to live without that right.