At the opening of Saleh Al-Mulla’s campaign quarters a few nights ago, former member of parliament Abdulla Al-Naibari gave a heated speech that touched on several subjects, including women’s rights.

He said that although Kuwaiti women have gained their political rights to elect and be elected, there are still many women’s issues that need to see reforms. Kuwaiti women have been elected or selected to the highest positions (i.e. ambassadorial, ministerial, or educational), they can own and run the biggest businesses, and they can be totally independent economically. But when it comes to doing something as simple as renewing their passports, they need a male guardian.

It sounds ridiculous doesn’t it?

Recently, I went to the passport services department in my area, armed with the family passports and with the intention of renewing them on my own. As soon as the empolyee in the reception saw my folder full of Kuwaiti passports, she asked me who they were for and I said for my husband, children, and myself.

Is the father around? she asked.

In retrospect, I ponder what this means.
If I were divorced, I would not have his passport in my hands to renew now would I?

I did not stop to think but nodded quickly and innocently:

Yes, of course but he asked me to help him finish his paperwork.

She shook her head resolutely:

Absolutely not. There is no way you can renew the family passports. He must do it himself. A copy of his civil ID must be attached to every passport.

(Because we are all his)

Including mine? I asked.

Yes, including yours.

I called to inform my husband that my mission had failed and he was indignant.

How can that be? What do women with no male guardians do?

I don’t know. All I know is that you have to finish the job yourself. Nothing much else I can do here.

This is only one example of the many difficulties that face women in Kuwait and that hamper their independence.

She furtively

plucks the white

fragrant “ful”

from my garden

and rushes to keep it

in her room,

thinking I won’t miss

what I don’t see;

But

the perfume

swells into the air

and gives her

away.

==

And I smile

quietly

at the pleasure

she feels

in such little things

as I breathe in the

whiffs of fragrance

floating

down

the stairs.

Forgive me

tiny spider

for uprooting you

when I plucked

your fragrant white home

and placed it on

my dashboard

early

this morning.

===

You bounced

out

in indignation

and scurried

across

the cold a/c vent

as I made my way

through

the congested

morning traffic.

===

I no longer

search

through dusty papers

to find

you.

====

I no longer

wait

holding

cliches

at my little window

to hear

the truth.

===

Unclench your

fists

my dear.

===

I see myself

already

long gone,

in peace,

walking down

the greying

meadowed lanes

of my heart.