Women in Saudi Arabia want CNN to know they 'choose to stay'

Earlier this week, CNN published an article titled "The Saudi women afraid to go home," which tells the story of women who had fled the kingdom for fear of oppression, better education opportunities, and for wider career prospects. 

"What I really want is just to live normally without fear and not have to pretend to be somebody else, that's all I ever want," Arwa, one of the women featured in the article, told CNN. 

But, the story failed to provide a voice to women who remained, and those who are invested in social change. This is why several women took to social media, launching an online campaign, titled: "#I_Choose_To_Stay".

The hashtag sparked a discussion among Saudi women who pitched in on the conversation, listing their reasons for staying, and fighting.  

It all started with a tweet from Reema Bandar Al-Saud, a Saudi princess, entrepreneur and philanthropist. 

"All women around the world face unique struggles CNN," she tweeted.

Soon after her tweet gained traction, women in the kingdom followed suit. 

Women in the kingdom are choosing to fight for change, and this is evident in the countless campaigns that have come about for the very same cause. 

To list a few, women have demanded their right to be their own guardian, time and again. 

The kingdom's guardianship system prohibits women from traveling, marrying and working without the permission of a male guardian, typically her husband, father or brother.

The ">I Am My Own Guardian" campaign has been going on for years- specifically aimed to challenge the system currently in practice. 

Also, and in light of constant campaigning, the kingdom has >amended a number of laws in an effort to empower women. 

These include opening municipal elections to female candidates and making women's verbal consent to marriage mandatory.

The Saudi Council also announced an amendment to laws governing travel documents, giving women a right to obtain a passport without male permission. 

The kingdom's ban on women driving has also received significant attention. 

Under the current law, there is no official prohibition on women driving in Saudi Arabia. But, officials do not issue driver's licenses to women. 

In April, two female council members expressed optimism about reopening the debate surrounding the issue. 

But in early November, the Shura Council refused to even study the case. 

That same month, billionaire businessman Prince Alwaleed bin Talal took a stand for women's right to drive in Saudi Arabia.

In an open letter titled "It is High Time that Saudi Women Started Driving their Cars," Prince Alwaleed emphasized the importance of progress in today's world.

Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world where women are not allowed to drive. But, there is hope that change will come.