Even in 2018, women are still making milestones in history. This past Friday [Sept. 21] in Saudi Arabia, Weam Al Dakheel, made history by becoming the first woman to report the evening news on a live broadcast.
She sat next to her male colleague, Omar Al-Nashwan, something that has never happened in the country’s media history before. Traditionally, only men reported the hard news casts and women focused on the softer, morning news. Ms. Al Dakheel has previously worked as a reporter for CNBC Arabia and as a presenter for the Bahrain-based Al-Arab News Channel. It’s baby steps for this traditionally, strict Muslim country when it comes to women’s rights. Earlier this year, Saudi Arabia had organized its first-ever women’s run and in June, the country lifted its ban on female drivers. In other words, women can finally get an license and drive on their own. Women can now also attend football games and tackle jobs that fell outside the traditional gender roles.
Providing more rights for women is part of Crown Prince’s ‘Vision 2030’plan to modernize Saudi Arabia.