ARE SAUDI WOMEN FREE AT LAST?

On Sunday, it became legal in Saudi Arabia for women to drive.  However, most of them probably won’t because there’s a lot of red tape involved in getting a driver’s license, and Saudi  conventional wisdom is that women are mentally unfit to drive.  Wow! Talk about being out of the loop. Numerous studies from many countries show that women have far fewer traffic accidents than men.

Remember when your teenage children finally got their driver’s license, and you no longer had to chauffeur them everywhere, at all hours of the day and night?  One of the happiest days of my life was when all three of my children could finally drive.  I would think Saudi men would feel a tremendous relief now that women can  drive their kids to school, shop, and run all the many errands that women in other countries have been doing for a century.

But at least it’s a step in the right direction.  Maybe someday, they will change the dress code.  I don’t know about you,  but I get a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach when I see a woman dressed in black from head to toe on a hot summer day, with  her face covered, except for her sad eyes peering out at the rest of the world where women are free.    Worse yet, you realize that this woman is probably married to a first cousin, because the only way she can meet men is at private family gatherings.  All of this inbreeding results in  high rates of rare genetic disorders like sickle cell anemia and Thalassemia.  Statistics show that  Saudi women are 13 times more likely to bear a child with a genetic disorder than women in other countries.   I know, it’s all part of their culture and it’s their own business—I guess.  But  my heart goes out to the women and girls in that country. 

ORAL CONTRACEPTIVES FOR MEN

According to recent reports in Time magazine, scientists have been testing a new male birth control pill.  This will make women very happy?  I'm not sure.

The problem is that these pills have the same kind of side effects women have experienced with oral contraceptives. Nasty things like mood swings, bloating, depression, loss of libido,etc.  Here's the thing, women have been putting up with fluctuating hormone levels forever and a day.  The cramps, headaches,  depression, and all the nasty symptoms of the monthlies.  So, the side effects of the birth control pills actually weren't any worse than what they've gone through every month since puberty.

Now, scientists developing the new pill believe that men will take these same side effects in stride.  I would doubt that, because they never had to endure these uncomfortable symptoms before, and we women know how some men are babies when it comes to physical discomfort.

Also, the pills lower a man's testosterone levels.  Personally, I always enjoyed my man's testosterone.  It inspired him to bring me flowers, send me cards, and make love to me on starry nights. 😍 Do  women really want a "not tonight dear" kind of man?

Something else: a man's fertile years may be  double that of women.  The oldest man on record to father a child was 94 years old!  So, a sexually active man may have to be on birth control pills for most of his life.

Worse yet, I'm not sure women want to rely on a man's assurance that he's on the pill.  If he forgets to take the pill, she pays the price--not him.  I suppose if you are in a very stable, committed relationship it might work.  But what about temporary relationships or one night stands?  In the old days, most women didn't have casual sex very often for fear of pregnancy.  Are they now going to trust the stranger they hook up with at the airport when he says he's on the pill?  I don't think so.