Okaz

“First Saudi woman to get a driving license”, “First Saudi woman to win a medal”, and “First Saudi woman to sing in a public festival”. This use of the phrase “First Saudi woman” is irritating!

There are Saudi women who are first in many fields that were denied to them in the past. It is normal to see women first in many things, especially as we are living in the era of the empowerment of women. But to brag about the first Saudi woman in this and that, is a phenomenon that needs to be examined.

In my opinion, exaggerating and bragging about the achievements and extraordinary powers of Saudi women is actually harming their image in one way or another.

There is a difference between being “the first Saudi woman” and a being a “pioneer”. It requires a lot of knowledge and continuous hard work to be a pioneer with results that have an impact on the generations to come. We will never forget the names of Saudi women pioneers in many intellectual, cultural, economic and social fields who have done great work and deserve to be called “Saudi pioneers”. However, to be “the first Saudi woman” in something that can be done by many people is somewhat ridiculous.