Journalist Nadine Al-Budair confirmed that her father is the first supporter of her media career, and gave her a strong push to stand out in the media after he was surprised by her media appearance, noting that Saudi women proved their presence after two successful experiences in the Shura Council and municipal councils, attributing that success to the maturity of Saudi society, which was proven in the elections. The municipality is accepting women and integrating them into society.
Here are the details of the conversation:
• Your media beginnings were through a political article in "Okaz" newspaper.. Tell us about that experience?
•• The first newspaper I wrote in was “Okaz”, after which I moved to Al-Majalla magazine, then Al-Watan newspaper, and since 2007 I have been publishing in Al-Masry Al-Youm and Al-Rai Al-Kuwaiti, then I stopped writing in Saudi newspapers years ago.
The beginnings were confusing, because when I started writing in “Okaz,” the path I was planning was far from the media. My dream was to move to London to complete my PhD and live there. With the first article I published, my father's view of me changed. He took my opinion on many matters and granted me some freedoms that were completely forbidden. And when the Kuwaiti journalist, Muhammad Al-Jassem, hosted me to talk about Saudi women, and it was my first appearance on television, everyone in the house was amazed because I had to travel to record the program. The question on the family’s mind at the time was, who is Nadine to host her in such an important programme? My father traveled with me at the time, and after his return he said to me: “I am very proud of you.” When an offer came to me to present a program on women, he told me: I no longer need to accompany you, so travel alone.
• Where do you rank the arrangement of your program (Ettijahat) among the talk shows at the level of Saudi programs?
•• I think that what distinguishes Ettijahat is the boldness of the proposition. One of the guests, a Saudi intellectual, said to me, “You know that the interlocutor is the one who can restrict the guest or allow him to break free from restrictions and start making disclosures. This is what your program gave me.”
• Who is competing with "Ettijahat" in your opinion?
•• I hope that as many programs as possible will compete with me, because I have a message before I am a media person looking for fame or the largest number of followers.
Therefore, I hope that everyone will compete with me, because that means that the public will enjoy programs that nourish the mind and prompt thinking, and disengage from a past that prevents the mind from working, and forces it to shift from the natural human state of the mind to the state of a dependent mind that is deprived of questions and answers, and thus of creativity and renaissance.
• What does the Saudi media lack in order to be creative and distinguished?
•• Saudi female media surprised everyone. How can this place, which is said to oppress women and not believe in their eligibility for a female to come out of her womb, who can stand in front of the camera and reach every council and house? I hope that they will become ambassadors for outstanding women's issues and direct their interests to women's issues.
• Being an activist and defender of women's rights, how would you describe the Saudi woman today?
•• Beautiful, elegant, loves fashion, loves to travel, loves life, yearns for everything related to civilization and the developed world, is highly educated, holds certificates, gives her family tremendous giving and great sacrifices, and finds no shame in participating in spending on her family.
• Saudi women were given an opportunity to prove their presence in the municipal councils, the Shura Council, and some leadership positions. Do you think that they have failed their gender? Or do you think they succeeded in proving their existence?
•• There are two parts to answering this question; The first is related to the concern of every woman who has reached office in various countries. The “parliamentary” is required to carry out her duties in addition to representing women and demanding their rights, and the Minister of Labor is required to eliminate unemployment, but at the same time raise the flag of women. All women who live in suffering are waiting for the holder of the position to bear their concern and raise it to the decision-maker, unlike the man. The minister, parliamentarian or others carry the concern of the position only without the issue of the male gender being a responsibility that follows him wherever he reaches and is raised.
Therefore, it is natural that all eyes are on the members of the Shura Council and the members of the municipal councils, because they are required, according to the traditional text, to raise women’s issues to the highest summit in order to finally solve them.
As for the municipality, the elections for these councils were indescribable proof of the error of the saying (the society is not ready). Huge numbers of women voted for women in villages and provinces whose people and tribes were known for extremism, so they were the first to champion women and defend their right by nominating them and pushing them to participate in politics.
• How do you reach about 20 women with fair elections from the first time in a society that is rumored to suppress women and reject their existence?
A: This did not happen in any Arab or Gulf country that was newly elected. Most Arab countries (even those that preceded us in civil affairs) have quotas to ensure the presence of women and minorities. As for Saudi Arabia, it was a shock when women reached municipal councils without a quota at all. This is a hat that deserves to be raised to our Saudi society, which yearns for civilization, women's liberation and respect.
• You said in press statements that liberalism is an intellectual fashion in the Kingdom! What was your basis for this opinion?
•• I offer a very big apology for my article (Saudi liberal rot), as I wanted through it to call on the liberals to raise the intensity of their activity and push them towards the boldness of the proposition, and now I offer my apologies to every Saudi liberal, whether brave or cowardly, because I have become more mature, and have mercy on his inability to confront society . However, I do not apologize to the hypocrites who dress up and take shape according to the prevailing fashion. If the trend is towards extremism, you will suddenly find them defending traditions and heritage, and if they feel that the scale is in favor of openness, they will bent on cursing backwardness and calling for freedom.
Dialogue: Amr Salam (Jeddah)