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PUBLIC OPINION > Saudi Arabia's Women-Only City Is Mostly Regressive, a Little Revolutionary

SodaHead News 2012/08/14 20:00:00
Saudi Arabia is planning to build a unique town where only women are allowed to reside and work. The reason they're developing the city is to provide a way for women to succeed in their careers without compromising Islamic law. We wanted to know if the public thinks it's a revolutionary idea, or a regressive move.

saudi women city

The result was close, but most people are skeptical of the idea. The Top Opinion read, "Pretend this was only for men. Is it really revolutionary? ... This makes women unequal to men. It only makes the gap between each greater." However, others argued that it only sounds strange to Western ears. It certainly wouldn't make sense in America, but in Saudi Arabia religious law complicates the issue.

Men Aren't Far Behind

What we found most interesting about the gender demographic was how close the results were. Sure, women were more enthusiastic about it, but only a little. It was still supported by 40% of male voters, and rejected by 45% of female voters. It appears gender doesn't have a whole lot of impact on reactions to the idea.

Teens Approve of the Town

Young people were actually much more supportive of the town, but only the youngest voters. Nearly two-thirds of voters under the age of 18 thought it was revolutionary, perhaps illustrating a youthful desire for revolution. It's also worth noting that liberals were more likely to support the idea by almost the same amount, and age is often tied to politics.

Workers Are Wary

Since the town is being built to help women build careers, we decided to take a look at how people of different employment status responded. Interestingly enough, the most supportive group was not students, but retirees. And there were quite a few responses from retirees. What's interesting about this is that it's inversely related to the age breakdown, which suggests older people don't like it.

If you'd like to vote on this question, dig deeper into the demographics, or engage in existing discussion about the topic, visit our poll about Saudi Arabia's planned women-only town. We'd love to hear from you!
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Top Opinion

  • obmon 2012/11/21 12:52:40
    obmon
    +10
    You are all nuts! and ignorant! and also hilariously trivial!

    First of all.. the Koran actually reads much like the Bible.. all rehteroc and fear mongering in an attempt to force submission to God. I think the only really specific part of the Koran is the small section which goes into great detail about inheritance.. the rest of it reads like this:

    Man sins. God is angry. God gives man one last chance. Man fails last chance. God destroys men. God says "you deserved it".

    Any of you actually read history of religions without it being led by religious thought? You'll see it's all just politics! Let me explain, in summary:

    1. Though there were slaves in ancient Egypt, the majority were salaried workers! "Hebrew" was the ancient Egyptian word for immigrant!
    2. All immigrants to Egypt came for the promise of work, many got rich, one family of Hebrews even rose to the power of Pharaoh!
    3. All those immigrants brought their belief systems with them.. which eventually got amalgamated into the Hebrew religion.
    4. The drive across the Sinai and into Canaan, was actually a land grab by the Pharaoh Thutmose! How do you like them apples?
    5. Hebrews didn't become Judaism until the emergence of Jesus. Jesus wanted to reverse and correct the failings of the Hebrew religion which, as we all...




    You are all nuts! and ignorant! and also hilariously trivial!

    First of all.. the Koran actually reads much like the Bible.. all rehteroc and fear mongering in an attempt to force submission to God. I think the only really specific part of the Koran is the small section which goes into great detail about inheritance.. the rest of it reads like this:

    Man sins. God is angry. God gives man one last chance. Man fails last chance. God destroys men. God says "you deserved it".

    Any of you actually read history of religions without it being led by religious thought? You'll see it's all just politics! Let me explain, in summary:

    1. Though there were slaves in ancient Egypt, the majority were salaried workers! "Hebrew" was the ancient Egyptian word for immigrant!
    2. All immigrants to Egypt came for the promise of work, many got rich, one family of Hebrews even rose to the power of Pharaoh!
    3. All those immigrants brought their belief systems with them.. which eventually got amalgamated into the Hebrew religion.
    4. The drive across the Sinai and into Canaan, was actually a land grab by the Pharaoh Thutmose! How do you like them apples?
    5. Hebrews didn't become Judaism until the emergence of Jesus. Jesus wanted to reverse and correct the failings of the Hebrew religion which, as we all know, became Christianity. In creating Christianity, he in inadvertently solidified the Hebrew religion into Judaism.
    6. The Muslims believe that Islam is the CONTINUATION and completion of the previous monotheistic religion. Think of it this way, Judaism provided the infrastructure, Christianity the love, and Islam the Law.
    7. Calling the Prophet of Islam a pedophile is just plain stupid. Back then, puberty was the age of consent, not the arbitrary number "18". Also, they were political marriages, not marriages of lust. Also, if you knew anything about the prophet, you would know the only woman he truly loved was his first wife; who was 10 years older, a business woman, and that he was faithful to her completely (practically unheard of for those times).
    8. The prophet Mohamed was a feminist. Men and Women prayed side by side and treated with equal value. The only reference to the "veil" (which at the time was an item denoting luxury status in women) is when the Prophet asked the hordes of men coming to his home in Medina (the first mosque) to speak to his wives from behind a veil, so that they can all remain respectful to each other. Pretty frigging understandable!
    9. Most of the DOGMA that is the modern religion was created by man AFTER the fact. There are literally HUNDREDS of varying translations of the Bible. Christianity even held a meeting in the Council of Nicaea to put together the final version of the Bible, whereby the cut out, put in, and re-interpreted the source material as they saw fit. Muslims did basically the same thing, only they used what's called "Hadiths". These are saying of the prophet as heard by someone's uncle's sister's son's cousin's friend.. Chinese whispers anyone?
    10. The bad parts of Islam comes from the radical sects, of which there is ONE that is the worst of all.. the Wahhabi of Saudi. A terrible bunch. The rest of Muslims don't pay attention to any of that and simply try to live decent lives.
    (more)

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  • obmon 2012/11/21 12:52:40
    obmon
    +10
    You are all nuts! and ignorant! and also hilariously trivial!

    First of all.. the Koran actually reads much like the Bible.. all rehteroc and fear mongering in an attempt to force submission to God. I think the only really specific part of the Koran is the small section which goes into great detail about inheritance.. the rest of it reads like this:

    Man sins. God is angry. God gives man one last chance. Man fails last chance. God destroys men. God says "you deserved it".

    Any of you actually read history of religions without it being led by religious thought? You'll see it's all just politics! Let me explain, in summary:

    1. Though there were slaves in ancient Egypt, the majority were salaried workers! "Hebrew" was the ancient Egyptian word for immigrant!
    2. All immigrants to Egypt came for the promise of work, many got rich, one family of Hebrews even rose to the power of Pharaoh!
    3. All those immigrants brought their belief systems with them.. which eventually got amalgamated into the Hebrew religion.
    4. The drive across the Sinai and into Canaan, was actually a land grab by the Pharaoh Thutmose! How do you like them apples?
    5. Hebrews didn't become Judaism until the emergence of Jesus. Jesus wanted to reverse and correct the failings of the Hebrew religion which, as we all...




    You are all nuts! and ignorant! and also hilariously trivial!

    First of all.. the Koran actually reads much like the Bible.. all rehteroc and fear mongering in an attempt to force submission to God. I think the only really specific part of the Koran is the small section which goes into great detail about inheritance.. the rest of it reads like this:

    Man sins. God is angry. God gives man one last chance. Man fails last chance. God destroys men. God says "you deserved it".

    Any of you actually read history of religions without it being led by religious thought? You'll see it's all just politics! Let me explain, in summary:

    1. Though there were slaves in ancient Egypt, the majority were salaried workers! "Hebrew" was the ancient Egyptian word for immigrant!
    2. All immigrants to Egypt came for the promise of work, many got rich, one family of Hebrews even rose to the power of Pharaoh!
    3. All those immigrants brought their belief systems with them.. which eventually got amalgamated into the Hebrew religion.
    4. The drive across the Sinai and into Canaan, was actually a land grab by the Pharaoh Thutmose! How do you like them apples?
    5. Hebrews didn't become Judaism until the emergence of Jesus. Jesus wanted to reverse and correct the failings of the Hebrew religion which, as we all know, became Christianity. In creating Christianity, he in inadvertently solidified the Hebrew religion into Judaism.
    6. The Muslims believe that Islam is the CONTINUATION and completion of the previous monotheistic religion. Think of it this way, Judaism provided the infrastructure, Christianity the love, and Islam the Law.
    7. Calling the Prophet of Islam a pedophile is just plain stupid. Back then, puberty was the age of consent, not the arbitrary number "18". Also, they were political marriages, not marriages of lust. Also, if you knew anything about the prophet, you would know the only woman he truly loved was his first wife; who was 10 years older, a business woman, and that he was faithful to her completely (practically unheard of for those times).
    8. The prophet Mohamed was a feminist. Men and Women prayed side by side and treated with equal value. The only reference to the "veil" (which at the time was an item denoting luxury status in women) is when the Prophet asked the hordes of men coming to his home in Medina (the first mosque) to speak to his wives from behind a veil, so that they can all remain respectful to each other. Pretty frigging understandable!
    9. Most of the DOGMA that is the modern religion was created by man AFTER the fact. There are literally HUNDREDS of varying translations of the Bible. Christianity even held a meeting in the Council of Nicaea to put together the final version of the Bible, whereby the cut out, put in, and re-interpreted the source material as they saw fit. Muslims did basically the same thing, only they used what's called "Hadiths". These are saying of the prophet as heard by someone's uncle's sister's son's cousin's friend.. Chinese whispers anyone?
    10. The bad parts of Islam comes from the radical sects, of which there is ONE that is the worst of all.. the Wahhabi of Saudi. A terrible bunch. The rest of Muslims don't pay attention to any of that and simply try to live decent lives.
    (more)
  • Jorge Enriquez 2012/09/12 07:21:35
    Jorge Enriquez
    Yea :D
  • Marlene Wilkins 2012/09/05 00:40:42
    Marlene Wilkins
    Worth a try, why not, it's a workaround to keep religion happy and allow women to work and succeed. Win-win.
  • les_gvt 2012/08/18 15:33:38
    les_gvt
    So where is NOW and Gloria Alred on this? I would think this would be a high publicity law suit
  • bags the Indigenous Guru 2012/08/18 14:44:47
    bags the Indigenous Guru
    All I know is when I showed the story to a couple of my neighbors their first question (in stereo) was 'when are we leaving?' A city without men......it just sounds more peaceful and less stressed.
  • Tim 2012/08/18 03:33:21
    Tim
    So are they going to allow them to drive? If not, then will they have to use taxis? And who is going to drive those? And who will be allowed to be members of the morallity police since the women would not be qualified?
  • ★Calliope★ 2012/08/17 21:51:47
    ★Calliope★
    +1
    Segregation works so well..

    segregation works
  • john.keenan.792 2012/08/17 20:27:26
    john.keenan.792
    this is a little nuts by any stretch of the mind
  • jdemme 2012/08/17 18:29:02
    jdemme
    This question was in the wrong context from the start. The polling should've been more specific with the question, since really, a women only city is very regressive. The reason it was built was for a progressive reason, but any society that isolates a group of people who are not allowed to drive or be out of the house without covering their face is a regressive society and not anything anyone should use as an exaple of a good society.
  • Vampyrekiss 2012/08/17 03:46:14
    Vampyrekiss
    +1
    I used to live in Saudi Arabia..and yes even as an Ex-Pat I did wear the abaya although i did not cover my head or face. There are many Muslim women who do not cover their faces and they are not looked down upon. I even know a Saudi lady who's husband allows her to wear jeans when they come to the states. As far as this new city..I think its great. What's the harm when this is only trying to help. They may be backwards in a few ways but..this is a step to help their women succeed..so what if they live in a women-only city.
  • Rust Vampyre... 2012/08/17 04:34:32 (edited)
  • Vampyre... Rust 2012/08/17 23:56:10
    Vampyrekiss
    In that culture, women are not allowed to associate much with men outside the family. So men as friends..not happening
  • Rust Vampyre... 2012/08/18 04:16:22
  • les_gvt Vampyre... 2012/08/18 15:36:26
    les_gvt
    I even know a Saudi lady who's husband allows her to wear jeans when they come to the states.- that right there says that women are little more than slaves in Muslim society, so why do all the leftist feminist groups keep supporting them?

    Why doesn't NARAL or NOW come out against Sharia, and female genital mutilation?
  • Dan der Mensch 2012/08/16 22:28:08
    Dan der Mensch
    They'll have less chance of getting stoned or mutilated - since the men won't be allowed in.
  • David 2012/08/16 20:08:05
    David
    This is another sad side of fundamentalist Islam. There are examples close to this in sects of Christianity and Judaism but nowhere near as extreme or widespread. I am normally tolerant of most religious beliefs and practices but this goes way too far and shows the extremes religions will go to in order to keep it's followers under control. Many Arab women are stunning beauties and it's a shame to cover them up and to repress their freedoms.
  • Action Bastard The II 2012/08/16 19:39:38
    Action Bastard The II
    +2
    Sounds sexy
  • Skylaris Alanis 2012/08/16 17:42:07
    Skylaris Alanis
    +2
    Sad that a whole population of people can think in such a way.
  • PeterHenderson 2012/08/16 17:39:18
    PeterHenderson
    They are trying to reconcile their religiion with sexual equality. In the west we tend to equate equality with sameness. Personally I think sameness is both unattainable and undesirable. How many of us want women and men to be indistinguishable?
  • OneLast... PeterHe... 2012/08/16 19:39:37 (edited)
    OneLastWord
    +1
    WTF, 99 % of Men have never wanted women to be indistinguishable.

    It's the sick progressive, red-eyed with hate, mean spirited lesbians at the N.O.W. that want this, so they can acquire power, then rule women, and sneak around and sniff, lick and suck virginal clitorises’!

    Am I being to frank? Sorry then.
  • aslan OneLast... 2012/08/17 03:36:32
    aslan
    +1
    You are being very crude but probably correct.
  • Rust OneLast... 2012/08/17 04:22:54
  • OneLast... Rust 2012/08/17 13:59:16 (edited)
    OneLastWord
    What? Being a lesbian?
    Ha, lesbianism IS synonymous with left-wingers ONLY.

    Did you just get that degree, and believed everything you’re progressive Professors told you?

    Or is that just a dumbest hat?
  • Rust OneLast... 2012/08/17 15:58:13 (edited)
  • OneLast... Rust 2012/08/17 16:47:39
    OneLastWord
    I posted to your reply to me thinking you were commenting on my post above.

    My Post above:
    WTF, 99 % of Men have never wanted women to be indistinguishable.

    It's the sick progressive, red-eyed with hate, mean spirited lesbians at the N.O.W. that want this, so they can acquire power, then rule women, and sneak around and sniff, lick and suck virginal clitorises’!

    Am I being to frank? Sorry then. Yea I know, a little harsh.
  • Rust OneLast... 2012/08/17 16:48:33
  • Rust OneLast... 2012/08/17 16:48:47 (edited)
  • belinda baardsen 2012/08/16 17:38:43
    belinda baardsen
    +2
    I am an American Ex Pat, and I live and work in Saudi Arabia. I think it's fantastic that there will be a women only town where they live and work. It would give women a peaceful place to live and work. And unless you have lived here, and worked here - and gotten to know the people - I would not rush to judgment and think it's a bad thing. It's actually good.
  • brian.s... belinda... 2012/08/16 19:41:15
    brian.southworth.921
    +1
    Since you have first hand knowledge, I will trust your opinion over many of the ones in here.
  • CODE 11 2012/08/16 16:28:16
    CODE 11
    +1
    At least you know where to go..to get alittle
  • brian.southworth.921 2012/08/16 16:26:14
    brian.southworth.921
    Personally I think that they are trying to do a sociological experiment. It is hard to dance between religion and state there. It looks like they found a loop hole. But, in the end, if these countries can make wealth and build a good education system, eventually reason will win out over religious indoctrination. Look at America. How long ago was it that our women were treated just as bad? Wasn't that long ago, relatively speaking. As our nations grew and was better able to handle new philosophical thought, it did. We started out with a white Anglo Saxon malecentric government with slaves and with women that were utterly under male domination. Look at us now. Progress doesn't happen over night and generally it takes social argumentation to work things out. But, in the right atmosphere and right time; truth, justice and equality can win out.
  • CODE 11 brian.s... 2012/08/16 16:29:29
    CODE 11
    +1
    Our women were never treated that bad
  • brian.s... CODE 11 2012/08/16 16:38:38
    brian.southworth.921
    +3
    Uh, yes they were. In quite a few states, it was legal to beat your wife if she didnt obey you or rape her if she refused you marital bliss. Women couldn't work, couldn't vote. At one point in time there were of 1/2 a million prostitutes in New York city because the women needed some kind of money to take care of them selves. Women couldn't own property. If you go back to colonial times there was a sex trade that went on here and throughout europe. I'd recommend taking a women's literature course and read stories of what it was like to be a woman in America pre1900's. If I had been a women anywhere in the world pre1900's I probably would have been burned as a witch or ostricized by the general population for being a radical.
  • brian.s... brian.s... 2012/08/16 16:44:23
    brian.southworth.921
    +1
    The Scarlet Letter. Most popular book I can think of to show you what I mean.
  • brian.s... brian.s... 2012/08/16 16:47:04
    brian.southworth.921
    +1
    Other books I can think of are:
    Mol Flanders,Daniel Defoe
    The Awakening, kate chopin
    Sweat, Nora zeal Hurston
  • CODE 11 brian.s... 2012/08/16 16:44:57
    CODE 11
    +1
    please
  • 1stCEB 2012/08/16 15:05:06
    1stCEB
    +1
    Part like it's 2999...BC!
  • Ang74 2012/08/16 14:41:37 (edited)
    Ang74
    +1
    I think any group should be allowed to form their own communities, so long as people aren't being forced in to it...
  • chris.haynees 2012/08/16 12:00:40
    chris.haynees
    +1
    I don't see any problem with it unless they are forced to live there.
  • kobidobidog 2012/08/16 05:48:22 (edited)
    kobidobidog
    Evil to do that. that is way, way worse than Catholic segregation or separate Bathrooms. The Muslim religion loves with dissimulation. KJV is against it. That is why the Muslims are dong those outlandish things like separating the sexes. Muslims think nakedness is an evil thing.That wound make God evil for making all things nude.
    We have more votes saying it is regressive because there are not enough Muslims to vote saying that is it revolutionary. That's why the vote is the way it is.
    Romans 12 >9Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; 11Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 12Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; 13Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

    King James Version
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