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Post by lisacharlotte on Nov 22, 2014 3:36:16 GMT
well, if you're an older Saudi woman, you're not out walking around alone navigating the city in a veil.
no western woman is going to cover their face. most don't wear the hijab either.
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Post by snowsilver on Nov 22, 2014 3:50:01 GMT
well, if you're an older Saudi woman, you're not out walking around alone navigating the city in a veil. no western woman is going to cover their face. most don't wear the hijab either. You're absolutely right about the hijab. My DIL was in a mall last week without one and she got stopped by the mutawa. She said he was actually quite nice and even smiled at her when he told her she should have a head covering. Not that she plans to wear it! My son and DIL live in the Diplomatic Quarter and it is better (for Westerners) there than in other parts of Riyadh. My DIL wears shorts and a tank top when she walks the dog and there aren't nearly the restrictions there are in other areas. Still, it's good to be careful. There is a Starbucks in the DQ that my son says they never go to because it is surrounded by young Arab males sitting outside hoping Western women will come by and they can see a woman without an abaya. I know that many of you won't agree with me but I think it is rather condescending of us to always think our way is best and that the rest of the world would be so much better off if they would only do it the way we do it. Don't get me wrong--I wouldn't live in Saudi for any amount of money! But I respect that they have a right to see things differently than I do. |
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 20:01:58 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 22, 2014 3:59:40 GMT
I find it hard to even consider these two issues in the same conversation. They are apples and oranges to me. As for the OP, I probably shouldn't feel as amazed as I do that they have found one more way to attempt to oppress women. Why are they apples and oranges? My middle-school daughter has a list of more than twenty items she is not permitted to wear to school because they are distracting to boys. It is different in degree, but not kind. Bare shoulders can't be shown in our middle school, but the length of shorts is not clarified.  When I say no bare shoulders it means nothing sleevless; not just no to spaghetti straps. |
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Post by lisacharlotte on Nov 22, 2014 4:00:26 GMT
snowsilver - I agree that it's not my place to tell another country how they should run it. that's why I always wore my abaya and hijab. It was my choice to live in their country so I followed their rules.
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Post by hop2 on Nov 22, 2014 4:06:19 GMT
Their country their laws. I do not for one minute want to allow them to choose the maws in my Country so I have to extend the same courtesy to them.
I take more of an issue issue with the 'punishment' for some of these seemingly minor 'crimes' as it seems unread only harsh to punish people with stoning or whipping.
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Post by epeanymous on Nov 22, 2014 4:38:05 GMT
Why are they apples and oranges? My middle-school daughter has a list of more than twenty items she is not permitted to wear to school because they are distracting to boys. It is different in degree, but not kind. Bare shoulders can't be shown in our middle school, but the length of shorts is not clarified. When I say no bare shoulders it means nothing sleevless; not just no to spaghetti straps. My daughter's dress code is ridiculously detailed and also leads to ridiculous enforcement issues. She came home a few weeks ago to tell me that she had been comforting another girl in the bathroom who was crying because she had to wear the Sweatpants of Shame. Why? Because the vice principal decided that her pants didn't meet dress code because they lacked pockets. There is indeed an item in the dress code that says that pants without pockets are leggings. Pants without pockets are of not by definition leggings, but the dress code has so defined them, and so it shall be ever more. Those little slacks-wearing twelve-year-old temptresses. |
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Post by AussieMeg on Nov 22, 2014 5:03:16 GMT
well, if you're an older Saudi woman, you're not out walking around alone navigating the city in a veil. no western woman is going to cover their face. most don't wear the hijab either. My dad worked in Saudi (Riyadh) for 3 years in the early 90's, so it's been 20 years since I was there, but back then all Western women wore an abaya (of course) and you didn't go anywhere without a hijab. You might not necessarily wear the hijab at all times but you sure as hell didn't want to be caught without it when the religious police were around or the call to prayer went out. It only took one time for an Indian store keeper to frantically tell me to put my head scarf on because the religious police were coming for me to learn to wear it all the time in public. None of the Western women wore a niqab though (the thing that covers the eyes). To be honest, I didn't see many Saudi women at all. Lots of Indian and Pakistani women in abayas and hijabs. It really tickled my fancy to catch a glimpse of all these magnificent brightly coloured garments underneath their abayas. |
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Nicole in TX
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by Nicole in TX on Nov 22, 2014 16:03:04 GMT
I don't think I would call life great when, if I accidentally have a bit of my hair showing, or, heaven forbid, my eyes I use to see where I am going, that I risk having rocks thrown at me and being called a whore.
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Post by Merge on Nov 22, 2014 16:44:08 GMT
What if the woman isn't interested in fashion or jewelry? Or marriage? What if she wants to be an independent career woman?
Any culture that tells women they have to fit into one mold of someone else's choosing is repressive in my book. Just because some women don't mind the mold doesn't make it right for everyone.
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Post by winogirl on Nov 22, 2014 16:50:19 GMT
High-end fashion under a mandated head-to-toe covering = bird in a gilded cage. I know they shop and wear makeup and that's great that some of them get to rule the insides of their own homes (what a privilege!). Doesn't seem like such a great thing knowing they need male escorts and drivers just to get to the mall. It's ridiculous bullshit...I hope someday things will be different for our fellow women. Maybe someday their men will get control enough over their penises to let women dress however they like, God/Allah be willing. Exactly. The women that are so-called happy are making the best out of their situation. And they know no other way. Not all women in Saudi Arabia are wealthy and can afford such extravagance. What do they have? No freedom and no money to buy pretty distractions. It's not all fun and fashion for the wealthy women either. Read the books by Princess Sultana (not her real name) as told to author Jean Sasson. They are not for the faint of heart, but very eye-opening and interesting. |
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When I say no bare shoulders it means nothing sleevless; not just no to spaghetti straps.
Time to get off the internet!
