Ahead of her visit to Saudi Arabia this afternoon, Theresa May has said she hopes to send a message about women in leadership and act as an example for the role of women in a society where women are still banned from driving, must limit their interactions with men to whom they're not related and must obtain permission from a male guardian to travel.
According to the Guardian, the prime minister – who is currently on her second part of her Gulf tour to boost post-Brexit trade ties with the Saudi government – revealed she wanted to be seen as a female leader of a powerful government.
'I hope that people see me as a woman leader, [and] will see what women can achieve and how women can be in significant positions,' she told journalists on her plane to Amman, Jordan yesterday.
'I've talked to the Saudis on a number of occasions now and I raise issues of this sort. I think we have already seen some changes,' she added.
During her visit to Saudi Arabia, the Prime Minister will reportedly meet with the vice-president of women's affairs at the country's sporting authority, Princess Reema, who is the first Saudi woman to hold a government position.
May explained she plans to talk to her about 'the role that she plays, and generally we do encourage people to look at a woman's role in society'.
However, the politician – who came under fire from the Daily Mail's sexist 'Legs-it' headline last week following a meeting with Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon – highlighted how her intention during her visit is not to over emphasise her role as a female leader.
'It's important for me as a woman leader and as leader of the government of the United Kingdom to maintain the relationships that are important to us as a country, for our security, and our trade for the future,' she said.
May's comments come after Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn recently criticised her visit to the country, as a result of its controversial human rights record and military actions in Yemen.
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