Women of the Holy Kingdom. Struggling for Equality in Saudi Arabia

Description

There is a palpable sense of change in Saudi Arabia today - or at least it sounds good to say that. Women may be gaining ground in some areas, but the oil-rich nation remains one of the most conservative societies in the Islamic world, with plenty of obstacles still littering the road to equality. Directed and narrated by Pakistani filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid, this program explores the tensions and complexities that cloud the professional prospects, political rights, and personal dignity of women in the country. Conversations with women in a variety of roles - a nurse, a factory worker, a history professor, and several others - help shed light on the debate happening within Saudi society over what should and shouldn't change. Obaid's frustration with the constraints placed on her and her crew, and the fact that many of her interview subjects still feel the need to cover their entire faces, serve as reminders that talking about change doesn't always lead to action. And sometimes even the talking is difficult.

Runtime

50 min

Subjects

Geography

Genre

Date of Publication

[2013], c2006

Database

Films on Demand

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