And Still I Rise

For the first time in Olympic history every country participating in the games will have a female athlete.  For someone who considers herself fairly up to date on gender issues this was a news item that took me by surprise. However, the more I think of it it's not so surprising at all.  I've always felt that despite the strides  made by women there are still many frontiers to be conquered.

For instance, Saudi Arabia has the unenviable record of being the only country in the world where women are  not allowed to drive.  According to some Muslim scholars allowing women to drive will be the "end of virginity" as driving will tempt them into sex and pornography.  Who knew!  Not only are women not allowed to drive but neither can they vote nor offer themselves as candidates in local elections. Lest we forget the United Nations has declared India the most dangerous place to be a girl given the rate at which female babies are aborted or killed as infants. A female child is simply not as valuable as a boy.

So, I am overjoyed that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has bowed to pressure and along with Qatar and Brunei will allow females to compete. Although the athletes did not meet the Olympic qualifying requirements for their respective events they were accepted under the Olympics "universality clause". This clause makes provision for athletes to compete when their participation is deemed important for reasons of equality. We won't see them on the podium but even in the absence of medals they are winners all.