President and First Lady Obama traveled to Riyadh yesterday to pay respects to the recently deceased Saudi Arabian king. It was an impromptu visit, and the Obamas had to cut their big trip to India short. But it was the First Lady's wardrobe choice, not the diplomatic gesture, that made headlines this week.
When FLOTUS greeted a group of male Saudi officials sans traditional headscarf, some of them shook her hand and others simply nodded in her direction, but on social media, the reaction was much more harsh.
According to the Washington Post, a Twitter hashtag that roughly translates to "Michelle Obama unveiled" started to trend. Why, users wondered, did she wear a headscarf in Indonesia but not in Saudi Arabia? And to pay respects to the king, no less?
Women's dress is severely restricted in Saudi Arabia, under the country's interpretation of Islamic Shariah law. Average Saudi citizens are expected to wear a headscarf and black robes when they go out in public, the Associated Press reports. But there are exceptions made for foreigners, and some Western tourists in particular choose to skip the headscarf altogether.
But on a refreshing note, the controversy blew over in what seems like record time. According to the BBC, the backlash was surprisingly small given Twitter's popularity in Saudi Arabia. And many tweets ended up making fun of the situation as opposed to the First Lady, and mocked the Saudi government's harsh restrictions on women.
This may be because Twitter is a young person's medium, but still–if young people don't care about the headscarf kerfuffle, it might be a sign that they want fewer restrictions on women in general. Who knew a wardrobe mishap would actually give us some hope about the world?
You should also check out:
Little Girl Meets Obama, Is Sad He's Not Beyonce
Last Night's State of the Union Was Not, in Fact, a Major Victory for Women
Stay In The Know
Marie Claire email subscribers get intel on fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more. Sign up here.
Megan Friedman is the former managing editor of the Newsroom at Hearst. She's worked at NBC and Time, and is a graduate of Northwestern's Medill School of Journalism.
-
I Work Out 5 Days a Week—These Are the Brands I Wear on Repeat
Sponsor Content Created With Nordstrom
By Emma Walsh Published
-
Princess Kate Will Be "Ready to Talk" About Her Absence When She Gets Back to Work, Source Claims
The Palace has released very few details about her illness and recovery.
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
Princess Kate Was Allegedly Spotted Looking "Happy, Relaxed and Healthy" at a Farm Shop This Weekend
Anonymous onlookers provided this description to 'The Sun.'
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
36 Ways Women Still Aren't Equal to Men
It's just one of the many ways women still aren't equal to men.
By Brooke Knappenberger Last updated
-
EMILY's List President Laphonza Butler Has Big Plans for the Organization
Under Butler's leadership, the largest resource for women in politics aims to expand Black political power and become more accessible for candidates across the nation.
By Rachel Epstein Published
-
Want to Fight for Abortion Rights in Texas? Raise Your Voice to State Legislators
Emily Cain, executive director of EMILY's List and and former Minority Leader in Maine, says that to stop the assault on reproductive rights, we need to start demanding more from our state legislatures.
By Emily Cain Published
-
Your Abortion Questions, Answered
Here, MC debunks common abortion myths you may be increasingly hearing since Texas' near-total abortion ban went into effect.
By Rachel Epstein Published
-
The Future of Afghan Women and Girls Depends on What We Do Next
Between the U.S. occupation and the Taliban, supporting resettlement for Afghan women and vulnerable individuals is long overdue.
By Rona Akbari Published
-
How to Help Afghanistan Refugees and Those Who Need Aid
With the situation rapidly evolving, organizations are desperate for help.
By Katherine J. Igoe Published
-
It’s Time to Give Domestic Workers the Protections They Deserve
The National Domestic Workers Bill of Rights, reintroduced today, would establish a new set of standards for the people who work in our homes and take a vital step towards racial and gender equity.
By Ai-jen Poo Published
-
The Biden Administration Announced It Will Remove the Hyde Amendment
The pledge was just one of many gender equity commitments made by the administration, including the creation of the first U.S. National Action Plan on Gender-Based Violence.
By Megan DiTrolio Published