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(The Saudi Gazette), 28
February 2006 – Oh
the good old days, that’s when women had more freedom, says Umm Abdullah
during a discussion among her female colleagues over tea.
Sitting in a black goat
hair tent, sipping tea under their veils, a group of elderly Saudi women
who were participating in the Janadriya Heritage and Folklore festival were
taking a break from the afternoon sun and reminiscing about the good old
days. Women had more freedom when I was growing up, continued Umm Abdullah,
a grandmother of four. We had the freedom of movement, we walked to the
market and worked in the shops selling our goods, we didn’t have to depend
on men to do everything for us. Today, everything is too far to walk to;
the shops, schools, the hospitals, so we have become dependent on men to
take us everywhere. explained Um Abdullah. The women agreed.
Not only did these women
believe they had more freedom in the past, but men had more respect for
women’s honor and trust bonded people together.
Back then, it was not
surprising for a woman to travel with a guide, who wasn t a relative,
explained one woman. Now, it’s unthinkable. People have lost trust in each
other. said the woman while sipping her tea.
People’s bond with each
other and their family has drastically changed, the women said. When you
needed help, every one was there to help you. Your family, your brothers,
your neighbors, even strangers! said Umm Khaled. Today, it’s your wallet
you seek help from, not people.
The women agreed, nodding
their heads. Today, when you want to visit your own family you have to
phone them first, like we were strangers. said one woman.
People were healthier too,
said Umm Mohammed, who seemed to be in her seventies. Today everyone is
sick. People didn’t suffer from diabetes, cancer and asthma before.
We would bake our own bread
from freshly ground flower, and cook freshly slaughtered meat. Because we
didn’t have refrigerators or freezers, the food had to be fresh. Today
everything has chemicals to let them last longer, that is what’s making
people sick. added Umm Miteb, a middle aged woman.
While walking around the
old market at the festival, I passed by a stall for old kitchen utensils.
This is a traditional pot carved out of stone, said the Saudi woman. The
food doesn’t stick like on today’s pots and pans and the meat doesn’t dry.
Intrigued by how the pot
worked I asked and the Saudi woman explained that not a drop of oil is
needed when cooking with the stone pot. The vegetables and meat are placed
in the pot with some water and spice then placed in the oven. People today
complain on being fat, well I tell them its how they cook. said the woman.
They should use less oil and cook like their grandmothers used to. Today
with electric stoves women changed how they cook and the ingredients they
use.
While the women were
talking about the good old days, the elderly men were sitting in the shade
at the old market also sipping tea, discussing how technology had enhanced
their lives with the radio echoing in the back ground.
No, no, no said Ibrahem
Al-Sowailem, a participant at the crafts section. We are living better
quality lives than in the past, we have hospitals, vaccinations and even
the raw materials we use are better quality.
Look at these water and yogurt
bags, and fruit baskets, said Sowailem while proudly pointing to his
display of hand made products. We used to make them out of camel leather,
but then we discovered tires.
While leather dries quickly
and cracks more often, Sowailem discovered that tire didn’t. Saudis have
been substituting leather with old tires since 1936 with the arrival of the
first automobile, explained Ibrahem Al-Gaseer, a white bearded Saudi who
seemed to be in his 80s.
While the men still made
the traditional leather water and yogurt bags and fruit baskets for the
tourist, they made their daily living making fruit baskets out of recycled
tires still used in Saudi farms.
The car, telephone and cell
phone were unanimously the best technical advancements the elderly men at
the Janadriya voted for. Car made villages and cities closer together, and
the cell phone keeps me in instant contact with my family. explained
Gaseer. I don t worry about my family as much because I know if they are in
trouble they will call me and I will be there in minutes.
The Saudi men participating
at the crafts section at the festival talked with pride about their crafts.
Most were civil servants and office workers.
More info on:
Janadriya Village
A
View of Kingdom's heritage
King Abdulaziz Center for
National Dialogue
King Abdulaziz Foundation
for Research and Archives
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