Baby, you can't drive my car: the arrest of women's right activists in Saudi Arabia.

Just yesterday, I was having a rant about how we are nowhere near the end of feminism. Only the day before, I was in tears about the Irish referendum. Today I am in tears for the women of Saudi Arabia and how we in the west can get caught up in how good we have it. People are talking about the end of feminism, whilst women are getting locked up for asking for the right to drive. Drive. A car. Not really a radical concept, is it? Imagine living in a society where your home is invaded, you are arrested, put in solitary confinement and face the death penalty for asking for something as simple as being able to drive. I don't even think about being able to drive as a basic human right. It's just so taken for granted. But this is a country so restricting the movement of women that they can't go out alone, drive, be seen with men outside of their family ... it's inconceivable really. But it is real.

These women are charged with treason and conspiracy against the state. All they are asking for is freedom of movement, independence and autonomy (women are under the guardianship of male family members) and to form refuges from domestic violence. Treason, huh?  Violation of "religious and national values". Is your head reeling yet? It bloody well should be.

A few years ago, I had a rant about the death penalty. I'm completely against the death penalty. I think once the state starts deciding when people deserve to die, other people will follow suit and justify deciding when people deserve to die. Countries with the death penalty have higher rates of violence because it demonstrates a social acceptance of violence.

However, in Australia, most people (and the government) only decide to get all up in arms about the death penalty when Australians are facing it. These women are facing the death penalty for feminist activism. They are going to be killed by the state for asking for some small portion of the rights and freedoms that we enjoy in Australia everyday. Some of these women are in their 60s and 70s. They have been fighting this shit since the 80s. I have been fighting for women's rights since not long after, but I have never faced arrest, torture and execution for it. I cannot imagine what it would be like living in a country where standing up for things I take for granted here would result in arrest, torture or execution.

Have we reached the peak of feminism because Beyonce announced she was a feminist? Fuck no. Are we about to see an end to the need for feminism? Fuck no. Anyone who spouts this needs to have a good look outside of their comfortable little bubble. I know it's hard. It horrifies me every time. But at least we are lucky enough not to be living it. And we can do these women the honour of continuing the fight even when it is not about our own lives anymore.