MAKKAH: Women members of the Makkah Literary Club are divided over a decision preventing them from serving on the Board of Directors of the club. A few are “fed up” and will not nominate any men for these positions while others are prepared to accept the decision taken by the Ministry of Culture and Information . Some said that women must take up any post at the club because this will prepare them for bigger roles in future. Thurayya Bella, a female nominee to the new Board of Directors, said she was affected by the decision. “There was widespread frustration because women have been prevented from serving on the board of directors and chairing the club, so we decided, with a number of educated women in the General Assembly, to stop nominating men to the new Board of Directors.” Bella added that she had ambitions to organize activities such as lectures, seminars, storytelling and prose evenings for all segments of society. She particularly wanted to attract young men and women to the club, to hold training courses and workshops, and to help them polish their talents. Bella also wanted to honor some male and female personalities for their contribution to society, and expand participation in annual activities such as festivals, Souq Okaz and the Riyadh Book Fair. Kawthar Qadhi stressed that men do not own women and argued that this male-dominated society, with its outdated traditions, should not be reflected in official institutions. “This sudden decision by the Ministry of Culture and Information to bar women from nomination to the boards of directors of literary clubs consolidates this outdated view. I believe that it is our duty as women to boycott these elections. We should not accept that our role is to look to the man to be our savior. We are fed up with begging men to give us crumbs. We should not accept a role to support men in the election war,” Qadhi said. Meanwhile, Suzann Wazzan, one of the female members, said her nomination to the new Board of Directors would enrich the club because she has administrative experience. “I'm the Deputy Dean for Development in the Faculty of Arts and Administrative Sciences and Director of the Business Leadership Center at the university. I have wide experience in this field. I have written down my ideas for developing the club. Anyway, I am with the club physically and in my heart, whether I become a member of the Board of Directors or an active female member or merely take part in the activities of the club. All my education, culture, thought and experiences are at the disposal of the club in general and the cultural café in particular.” Wafa Abdul Wahab agreed with Wazzan and said she would continue at the club with her cultural activities. She said she would attend the meeting next week to find out the latest about the board elections. She said she has no objections, as this is a fait accompli and she cannot object to it.
