In Saudi Arabia, the destination of Donald Trump’s first trip abroad as president, women that live in the country are required to wear an abaya or a black cloak that covers everything from the neck down along with a head scarf. When Ivanka and Melania Trump visited alongside the president, they both chose to forgo the standard dress and opted for long-sleeve dresses, a look deemed acceptable for foreigners visiting the country. Initially, many pointed out the hypocrisy of Donald Trump after he publicly criticized Michelle Obama for doing the same thing in 2015, but he seems to be fine with his wife and daughter’s choice.
When Michelle Obama opted out of a headscarf in 2015, many speculated she was taking a stand against discriminatory policies in Saudi Arabia, but Ivanka’s choice was coupled with a statement that praised the Saudi government for their progress in relation to women’s rights. According to USA Today, she said in a speech addressing a women's roundtable: “In every country around the world women and girls continue to face unique systematic, institutional, cultural barriers, which hinder us from fully engaging in and achieving true parity of opportunity within our communities. Each of you know this to be true. And yet the stories of Saudi women, such as yourselves, catalyzing change, inspire me to believe in the possibility of global women’s empowerment.”
Since the election, Ivanka has attempted to brand herself as a women's rights advocate in her father's administration. However, she's been met with constant backlash due to her father's policies that will adversely affect women, especially when it comes to healthcare reform. While this latest move seems to fit in with Ivanka's new political persona, we hope that her women’s rights advocacy incorporates actual policy on top of high hopes.
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