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Saudi Women May Not Have To Get A Man's Permission To Do These Things

The country's king recently ordered a review of some laws restricting women's freedoms.

By: Melissa Prax

Posted at 5:09 PM, May 22, 2017

and last updated 2017-05-22 17:09:48-04

Soon, women in Saudi Arabia may not have to ask if they can work or study.

Women in the country have historically had to get a male relative's permission to do nearly any day-to-day activity.

But Saudi Arabia's GDP is struggling, and inequality may be partly to blame. Which could be one reason the king changed things. He issued a new decree loosening some restrictions on women, although it's not clear yet exactly how it will affect women's opportunities.

Research has shown that getting more women educated and in the workplace boosts a country's economy.

And while the Saudi society as a whole is still highly male-dominated, women have slowly been gaining rights.

In 2015, women were able to run and vote in a municipal election for the first time.

As for the most recent order, women can potentially go to the hospital or appear in court independently.

Correction: A previous version of this story presented these new freedoms as definite changes. Local and international reports suggest it's not yet clear how the new decree will affect women's opportunities in Saudi Arabia.