Saudi Arabia considers allowing women into legal profession.

May 11, 2002 9:44 PM

Saudi Arabia considers allowing women into legal profession. Justice Minister cautions that "female lawyers would not be allowed to attend court...Women would instead be asked to write out their arguments, which would be presented on their behalf by men."
posted by mediareport (26 comments total)

Interesting that in 1961, the U.S. Supreme Court held that "state laws which effectively exclude women from jury pools are not invidious discrimination...and that women tried before the resulting all-male juries have no valid claims under the equal protection clause." The Court reversed the decision in 1975.
posted by mediareport at 10:00 PM on May 11, 2002

why do we continue to respect the cultures of monkeys?
no wait, female monkeys are treated better than this.
posted by quonsar at 10:40 PM on May 11, 2002

why do we continue to respect the cultures of monkeys?

wow.
posted by BlueTrain at 11:54 PM on May 11, 2002

"Women would instead be asked to write out their arguments, which would be presented on their behalf by men."

Oh, SUCK MY DICK.

:: incredibly happy I don't live in Saudi Arabia, where I could get in a lot of trouble for saying that in mixed company, or even saying that at all ::
posted by metrocake at 12:12 AM on May 12, 2002

Quonsar, you meant to trash the culture that oppresses people to the point of dehuminazation and not the people themselves......right?
posted by Modem Ovary at 12:12 AM on May 12, 2002

I think quonsar has Metafilter confused with Fark. What a repellent comment.
posted by donkeyschlong at 12:13 AM on May 12, 2002

why do we continue to respect the cultures of monkeys?

I have great respect and admiration for Bonobo culture. Homo Sapiens could learn a lot from them, especially when it comes to conflict resolution.
posted by homunculus at 12:21 AM on May 12, 2002

:: went away, thought about it, came back again :: If this does come to pass, at least this is a move forward for the women, however small. So that is good. It's just hard for me to envision their culture -- one that's so restrictive that it seems like even when they grant a freedom, they've attached ten zillion rules and regulations to it.
posted by metrocake at 12:24 AM on May 12, 2002

It's not hard to envision that culture, and what makes people join the Taliban, if you're getting bashed over the head with some of the material that comes over the Internet. Sometimes I think it would be refreshing to take a break now and then in a country where overt and aggressive expressions of sexuality are less common.
(That said, I'm glad to see the Saudi women making one more step towards freedom.)
posted by sheauga at 12:46 AM on May 12, 2002

What legal system?
posted by Postroad at 4:48 AM on May 12, 2002

The same legal system that would prosecute them for driving to the courthouse. Still, small steps ...

(actually they probably wouldn't be prosecuted for driving, just pulled out of the car and beaten by men with sticks)
posted by grahamwell at 6:12 AM on May 12, 2002

Women are making fantastic strides in equality in the middle east. Now, they're even allowed to blow themselves up.
posted by mikegre at 6:33 AM on May 12, 2002

why do we continue to respect the cultures of monkeys?
All-time low Quonsar. Your argument (sic) against sexism is racist.
posted by Zootoon at 7:09 AM on May 12, 2002

quonsar, you little tripe, attention wantin Mo-fo. (i like that)
what the fuck charlie, we know your agenda and your limited scope of analysis with that decent brain of yours. If you want to see arabs squirm, do it elsewhere or read between the lines...son. this is a good step for these women. The Saudis are at the threshold of ecomonic death. they have a limited time before the oil dries up. (IMO, the oil wont be needed say, 15 years from now) Are you not satisfied that (perhaps along with posty...naw sorry posty) the crown prince...went to texas. let that sink in...son. If you knew a bit about the culture...well, anyone want to explain that...be summoned to...Texas. (beautiful move by g-dub and crew.)
posted by clavdivs at 7:27 AM on May 12, 2002

Muslim women urged to play greater role, says Malaysian official during visit to the UAE
Islam News - Newsfeed
posted by sheauga at 10:49 AM on May 12, 2002

I can handle trolls, but offhand dismissals of the world's entire monkey population are too much. Come on, people, learn to control yourselves.

Was the United States a "culture of monkeys" before the final state ratified a woman's right to vote in 1920?

posted by mediareport at 1:07 PM on May 12, 2002

monkeys. oo oo ee ee.
posted by quonsar at 5:45 PM on May 12, 2002

that did it, I'm calling Scopes.
posted by clavdivs at 5:49 PM on May 12, 2002

Jokes aren't enough, quonsar; you need to apologize and you know it. Even if you believe U.S.-style democracy is the pinnacle of human achievement (a debateable point) you should at least recognize that many of the things modern Westerners sneer at in Saudi society were part of Western society not all that long ago. Besides, it's obvious that Islamic culture was far more sophisticated than Western culture 1,000 years ago. They were the first to solve quadratic equations, for crying out loud. Even if the poles are somewhat reversed now, the least Westerners can do is not be moronic bigots during the discussion. There's really no excuse for bullshit dismissals of an entire culture, or for bringing the level of discourse here at Metafilter down to 6th-grade level (my apologies to all the 6th-graders in the house). Bite the bullet, admit you were wrong, and let's move on.
posted by mediareport at 7:24 PM on May 12, 2002

blah. blah blah. blah. besides, who was making a joke?
posted by quonsar at 8:39 PM on May 12, 2002

blah. blah blah. blah.

That'll do.

besides, who was making a joke?

Yeah, I didn't think it was funny, either.
posted by mediareport at 2:05 PM on May 13, 2002

Blah blah is about right. I don't support quonsar's "joke", but I wouldn't take kindly to being talked down to either. We've all heard untold volumes of rightthink on all sides by now, and we've all come to our own conclusions. If the only thing new you can bring to the table is quadratic equations, you might as well stay home.
posted by rodii at 2:18 PM on May 13, 2002

So, racist dismissals of entire cultures are OK now? Whatever.
posted by mediareport at 5:25 PM on May 13, 2002

Did I say that? No. Just that yelling at people won't win any arguments here. If all you're after is the moral high ground, though, well, here. *ushers mediareport to moral high ground* Enjoy your stay.
posted by rodii at 6:03 PM on May 13, 2002

I don't believe it's the moral high ground; more like an admitted defeat. quonsar was out of line, his words inexcusable, and tangentially I think he's getting off easy because he's an old-timer, which really is quite unfair but a fact of life, but to expect an apology is silly. It's obvious that quonsar is baiting, and acting like a dick to get under your skin mediareport. And it's working...the world is full of fucks; you can either let them get the better of you, or focus on what's important to you.
posted by BlueTrain at 9:33 PM on May 13, 2002

Monkey does seem racist to me. But that America is in bed with these sick fucks is appalling. Let’s reduce our dependence on oil in America and tell the Saudis to go fuck themselves. Their record on human rights is well-know and revolting.

Have we for got this disgusting atrocity?

SAUDI Arabia's religious police are reported to have forced schoolgirls back into a blazing building because they were not wearing Islamic headscarves and black robes.

Saudi newspapers said scuffles broke out between firemen and members of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice who tried to keep the girls inside a burning school in Mecca.

Fifteen girls were killed as they stampeded to escape from the blazing building in the Muslim holy city. Saudi media and families of the victims have been angry over the deaths of the girls in the fire that gutted the school.
SAUDI Arabia's religious police are reported to have forced schoolgirls back into a blazing building because they were not wearing Islamic headscarves and black robes.

Saudi newspapers said scuffles broke out between firemen and members of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice who tried to keep the girls inside a burning school in Mecca.

Fifteen girls were killed as they stampeded to escape from the blazing building in the Muslim holy city. Saudi media and families of the victims have been angry over the deaths of the girls in the fire that gutted the school.
posted by TeejNSF at 8:53 AM on May 14, 2002