Cycling for women’s rights in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia remains one of the most male dominated societies in the world and ranks as one of the countries with the most significant gender gap. Despite king Salman recently loosened the laws concerning male guardianship; Saudi women are still deprived of many rights, such as the right to drive a car.

With these changes, some women are determined to take the changes even further and defy cultural barriers. Twenty five year old Baraah Luhaid is one of these women. Her dream is for all Saudi women to cycle freely. Women’s cycling was legalized in Saudi Arabia in 2013, but is only allowed in parks and recreational areas, and only with a male guardian present.

After her graduation, Baraah Luhaid founded Saudi Arabia’s first gender inclusive cycling community and business, Spokes Hub. She also runs the kingdoms only cycling shop for women. Through Spokes Hub, Luhaid aims to get women – and the fight for women’s rights – moving.

As a young Saudi women peddling counterculture, Baraah has faced many obstacles. The most challenging “Is the cultural barrier” she states. She often faces insults, and she is routinely stopped by the police.

Despite the difficulties, Luhaid is determined to fight the current gender barrier and to advocate women’s rights in Saudi Arabia. “I’m standing against something bigger than I originally thought,” says Luhaid. “When I advocate for women’s cycling, I’m advocating for women’s independence. Changing core beliefs requires slow, consistent work,” she says. “It’s challenging, but someone has to start.”

Source: - The guardian