Comments on: Not even Saudi Bookfairs are free of oppression http://bruceharpham.ca/2010/01/saudi-arabias-bookfair-oppressio/ Examining libraries, records management and emerging media trends Tue, 29 Nov 2011 21:14:08 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Bruce http://bruceharpham.ca/2010/01/saudi-arabias-bookfair-oppressio/comment-page-1/#comment-738 Bruce Wed, 13 Jan 2010 03:46:05 +0000 http://bruceharpham.ca/?p=615#comment-738 Thanks for pointing out some points that I overlooked. Based on what I know of the country, it looks like Saudi Arabia has reached the same place that Canada/UK/US reached around 1890-1900, perhaps a little bit further. Wikipedia (I know, I know not an ideal source but it is footnoted) supports my contention that <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%27s_rights_in_Saudi_Arabia" rel="nofollow">Saudi Arabia is effectively wasting the skills and abilities of its women economically speaking</a>. "Although they make up 70% of those enrolled in universities, women make up just 7% of the workforce in Saudi Arabia..." On a more philosophical note, I am very skeptical of any social system premised on a notion of "seperate but equal." Such a view is more often a cloak for oppression and/or mistreatment than anything else. Thanks for pointing out some points that I overlooked. Based on what I know of the country, it looks like Saudi Arabia has reached the same place that Canada/UK/US reached around 1890-1900, perhaps a little bit further.

Wikipedia (I know, I know not an ideal source but it is footnoted) supports my contention that Saudi Arabia is effectively wasting the skills and abilities of its women economically speaking. “Although they make up 70% of those enrolled in universities, women make up just 7% of the workforce in Saudi Arabia…”

On a more philosophical note, I am very skeptical of any social system premised on a notion of “seperate but equal.” Such a view is more often a cloak for oppression and/or mistreatment than anything else.

]]> By: Carolyn http://bruceharpham.ca/2010/01/saudi-arabias-bookfair-oppressio/comment-page-1/#comment-737 Carolyn Wed, 13 Jan 2010 00:45:07 +0000 http://bruceharpham.ca/?p=615#comment-737 I believe that there are plenty of educational opportunities for Saudi women - they just traditionally have to attend all female schools and universities. I think the first co-ed university opened there recently amidst some controversy. As for the libraries, I'm not sure how that would work but I assume there are separate hours for men and women to prevent such scandalous activities as mixed gender book clubs! I believe that there are plenty of educational opportunities for Saudi women – they just traditionally have to attend all female schools and universities. I think the first co-ed university opened there recently amidst some controversy.

As for the libraries, I’m not sure how that would work but I assume there are separate hours for men and women to prevent such scandalous activities as mixed gender book clubs!

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