The transformation of society in the modern world is inexorable. Technology has introduced information, attitudes and lifestyles to the Kingdom that even 30 years ago were sampled only by those who had the opportunity to travel and live abroad. Today, one need only tune into satellite television or begin to surf the net to enter a world of nearly unfettered ideas, declarations and arguments that are far from native to Saudi Arabia. Divorce statistics published in yesterday's Saudi Gazette are most likely indicative of the downside of communication technology's proliferation in Saudi Arabia coupled with an extremely young population that is inevitably open to new ideas and ways of living that are different from that of their parents. It should come as no surprise that 65 percent of divorcees in the Kingdom are aged 18-35 as the majority of the population falls within that demographic or younger and it is specifically this age group that has been most influenced by the opening up to the outside world afforded by the oil boom of the late 20th century. Society, however, has clearly not prepared itself for the repercussions of the Kingdom's increasing divorce rate. The harshest repercussions inevitably fall on women, especially in societies in which women have not reached parity with men on the employment or the earnings front. Although some countries have begun to approximate parity, most still promote a system in which the wife is dependent on the husband for financial support. Once that support is severed through a divorce, the woman finds herself forced to return to a family that may or may not want to embrace a divorced woman. This is just one of the reasons that the decision taken by the Emir of Riyadh to establish an official association to deal with the plight of divorced women is so important. Although much attention is being focused on dealing with domestic violence, that is just one of the issues faced by divorced women. By establishing the foundation, professionals will be more able to help divorced women handle the very real difficulties and the stigma of divorced life. Through educating the divorcees, the rest of the population will also be educated. And ultimately divorce will not only become less of a stigma but less of a potentiality as well. __
