Saudi Arabia versus Jordan- Female perspective

Before leaving for Jordan’s top tourist attraction, Petra, I go to check my email at the Internet Café. A twenty-two year old is the only one working. I catch her staring at me a few times. I halt my work to converse with her.

She asks me how I like Amman. “I love the people I tell her, but frankly, I find the city dirty and ugly.” She nods and agrees.

She is originally from Saudi Arabia. I note that she is wearing only a hajib (head scarf) “In Saudi Arabia women are forced to wear a full burka,” I remark, “but here you choose to dress in only a hajib.”

She LOVES the fact that she has the freedom to choose. She detests that the Saudi government forces the burka on women. “Women cannot do anything in Saudi Arabia,” she tells me, “They cannot drive, leave the house without a male family member, go to the movies, there is nothing we can do! In Jordan it is very exciting, because I can drive, although I don’t yet know how … I can choose what I wear … I can do anything!” she exclaims. “In Saudi Arabia they are soooo religious. Everything shuts at the time of prayer. Even the stores ALL close. Five times a day. If they do not shut, the police come.”

The Muslim hajib You don’t want to be in trouble with the police anywhere in the Middle East. In America, you at least have some rights. In fact, I wonder for a moment who has more rights, American prisoners, or Saudi women.

“You are going to Petra alone?” she asks me flirtatiously.

“Unless you wish to come with me.”

Her eyes light-up. “I would love to, but my family … not so much.”