Women on the Move in Middle East (Notes)

Saudi Women: Saudi women can now travel within the Gulf states without needing the approval of their guardians. They will be allowed to travel among the countries of the Gulf using their electronic passports. Previously, women had to carry "yellow cards" during their travel, indicating that they had received their guardian's approval. This decision comes only ten days after a recommendation from the supreme cabinet committee in Saudi Arabia, proposing that Saudi women carry national IDs (which Saudi men do) to preclude illegal impersonation (Daily News Egypt, 9/20/12).

Um Bassem: Egypt's First Woman Plumber: Seven years ago, Um Bassem, a housewife living in a poor district, lost her husband, leaving her with four children to raise on her own. Um Bassem’s case is being used as an example by the "Work is like Worshipping" initiative, undertaken by a group of young people in an attempt to attack the unemployment problem in Egypt. Um Bassem's job track got started when she needed some plumbing done and felt angry at having to let a strange men into her home to fix the problem. She thought to herself, "why don’t I try and do it myself?” She then decided to train as a plumber and found the ideal course, organised by a German agency. She applied, got accepted and passed. “I was the only woman among 20 men. Despite the ribald remarks they made, I stuck at it and passed. Many householders, especially women, much prefer getting me rather than a man to deal with their leaks,” emphasizes Um Bassem, who is now the proud owner of two shops that sell plumbing accessories (Maryam Raafat, The Egyptian Gazette, 9/20/12). Observation: Escalators in Egypt start when you step on them; does that save electricity?