Being a woman is supposed to be as enjoyable as being a man. But even though we live in the 21st century that’s not the case in many countries. There are still places around the globe where women don’t meet the same rights as men.
There are some areas where women are still underestimated. For example, there are fewer women in government positions even in many modern countries. On the other hand, a study shows that women receive smaller salaries than men in the same job position.
Why women are restricted from driving in some countries
Something so simple as driving can be a topic for gender equality decisions. Women in the USA are used to daily driving to work, but just a few probably know that their “sisters” from countries like Saudi Arabia, for example, win their right to drive just a few years ago.
First, place some religion gives women fewer rights than men. This is more valued in the Islamic religion where women have to follow restrictions for the way they dress up. It’s not surprising that women are banned from driving in some Muslim countries.
Countries that ban women from driving
Currently, there is only one country where women can’t drive – Afghanistan. Actually, Afghan women were allowed to drive until the country was occupied by the Taliban in 2021 for the second time.
Since May 2022, the Taliban has stopped issuing driving licenses to women. In June 2025, the Taliban in Herat province officially banned women from driving, claiming that women are “incapable of learning to drive”. This is part of the many restrictions for Afghanistan women that are established by the Taliban regime.
Afghanistan women don’t meet the support of Afghanistan men either. The women often meet violence on the road from men who chase their cars off the road. In general, being a woman behind a wheel in Afghanistan is life-threatening. This makes many women give up on driving.
The case of Saudi Arabia
Until June 2018, Saudi Arabia was a country that didn’t allow women to drive. This was a result of following a very strict brand of Islamic law known as ‘Wahhabism’. The law says that men and women should be kept separate. According to this law, women don’t need to drive because always they have to be a male guardian (a husband) who is supposed to drive them.
In 2011 have started the first changes in the law that include women’s rights. The son of the king by that time had the role of US ambassador, which make him more aware of how American women live. He was in charge of a plan to reform and transform society in Saudi Arabia by 2030.
The goal of this plan was to increase the number of women in the workforce. This could happen by giving women more social rights one of them giving them permission to drive. On June 24, 2018 this became official – Saudi Arabia women have the right to take driving licenses and to sit behind the wheel.
The more conservative part of society doesn’t react well to this news. The supporter of traditions and religion denounced this action as trampling on the religious laws of Islam.
On the other hand, Manal al-Sharif – the woman that had started the Women2Drive campaign and then was sent to prison for that, met this news as a win.
Saudi Arabia was the last country in the world where women couldn’t drive legally. Apart from that, there have been other “wins” for Saudi Arabia’s women over the years. In 2015 women were granted the right to vote and be elected to local councils. Sports restrictions have been gradually lifted since 2017.
Not all Islamic countries ban women from driving. Countries like Iran, Iraq, Kuwait and UAE, are not democratic but have allowed women to drive. Even in these countries, there are other restrictions that women have to follow which creates gender inequality.
My name is Rebecca McCarthy and I am an American girl with British heritage residing in the beautiful city of Nashville, Tennessee. I have always had a keen interest in cars, particularly brand new ones that showcase the latest technology and design features. I am also passionate about travelling and experiencing new cultures, as well as enjoying hot summer days with friends and family.
