We may think we know what it is like to be a woman in Saudi Arabia. Women must all cover up in public. Women cannot driv | dG1fVE1oSjhnWXpWdmM
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Short filmTranscript
00:00 In Saudi Arabia, women can't drive, can't travel without a man's permission, and can't
00:08 dress freely.
00:09 But now, women's voices are about to be heard.
00:12 "History is being made today in Saudi Arabia."
00:15 "There are more than 900 female candidates in the kingdom's first nationwide election."
00:19 I've been reporting on the Middle East for the past decade.
00:22 Over and over I've seen promises of reform that never led to any real change.
00:26 "If I were to get you a street, I would have sexually harassed you, either morally or
00:31 financially."
00:32 It's left me wondering if change is impossible, or if progress is just so slow that it's
00:36 hard to see.
00:37 "Why as a journalist, as a woman, didn't I have the chance to have a dialogue with
00:41 you?"
00:42 "I'm not a journalist."
00:45 There are almost twice as many female college graduates as men, highly educated Saudi women
00:50 with few choices in life.
00:51 "Do you care about the elections, honestly?"
00:53 "No, I don't care, honestly."
00:56 The late King Abdullah granted women the right to play a part in Saudi politics.
01:03 But activists say any changes are minor at best.
01:06 "You can't believe how hard it can be in this country."
01:09 "Election is like giving somebody who's very hungry a piece of kaffir.
01:14 I don't need kaffir.
01:15 I need to be free, to be a full citizen."
01:17 I'm following three very different candidates running for office.
01:22 "I see it as a great opportunity to give women a chance to stand next to men for once."
01:34 "I want to be a part of a society.
01:40 I want to have a voice.
01:43 I want to have a decision."
01:46 "How can a woman be punished if she doesn't make a decision?"
01:55 Among many voters, I can feel a sense of wonder at an opportunity they've never had.
02:01 "They succeeded in eliminating the identity of the woman, doing whatever it takes to just
02:08 forget her."
02:09 "And you don't want to be forgotten?"
02:10 "Who wants to be forgotten?"
02:11 "But how does it feel to win?"
02:12 "The first candidate is the female candidate for the presidency."
02:13 "I'm a woman.
02:14 I'm a woman."
02:15 "I'm a woman."
02:16 "I'm a woman."
02:17 "I'm a woman."
02:18 "The first candidate is the female candidate for the presidency."
02:19 "I think the lady has a question."
02:22 "Lady is first."
02:23 "Lady is first."
02:25 "Lady is first."
02:26 "Lady is first."
02:27 "Lady is first."
02:27 (music)
02:29 [BLANK_AUDIO]