How are the choices of Saudi women limited by the country's customs?

Answer 1

The iron clad ban on driving for Saudi women is one of the most well known restrictions in its oppression of women. That's only the most well known. Every Saudi woman must have a male guardian who has legal power over her. A Saudi woman is dependent on her male guardian (husband, father, brother, uncle, etc.) for her ability, if any, to access and experience the world outside her dwelling.

The male guardian holds complete authority over her. A woman can only enjoy the rights her male guardian decides to bestow upon her. She has no power to make her own choices. They are generally forbidden to interact with non-related males. They are constantly taught to fear the outside world and the shame their every action could bring to their male guardian. They have the status of second class citizens.

Additionally, women are forbidden to work in any environment where a male also works. There have been debates as to whether or not there should be a requirement to build female-only factories so as to allow women to work. (Of course, the simple solution would be gender desegregation, but that is not on the table.) There are similar questions concerning a possible women's university. Women have minimal voting rights compared to men and the times when women are allowed to vote, their male guardian must come into the voting booth with them, effectively preventing the women from expressing their own views.