Thursday, January 5, 2012

A Victory for Saudi Women


It was one of those head-scratching confusions about Saudi society that was impossible to wrap one's head around - a strictly religious and gender-segregated society forcing its black-cloaked women to purchase bras and panties and cosmetics from a men-only sales force. It was common for the salesmen to size up their customers, telling the women things like, "You need a 36C not a 34B." The whole situation was distasteful, undignified, embarrassing and shameful for a country that claims its women are not oppressed and are protected and insulated from the morally corrupt West.

Since the passage of a law in 2006 banning men from selling lingerie and cosmetics to women in Saudi Arabia, it was "business as usual" for the last five years as business owners chose to ignore the law in hopes that it would just be forgotten. But the women of the country would not allow it to just fade away.

What it finally took for the law to be enforced was a Royal Decree and threats of penalties and loss of business.

So finally, after years of protests, boycotting lingerie shops, and outcries about the absurdity of it all, a significant change has come to the holy land of Islam. One may not think that employing women in sales positions is a big deal, but in a place like Saudi Arabia, it presented major headaches and additional expenses for business owners. In typical Saudi fashion, it's much more complicated than it needs to be. The interior of female-only shops must not be visible to anyone from the outside. There must be a minimum of at least three women working each shift. Keeping men and women separated in a working environment, providing security for female employees, and other extra measures are required to employ women in sales positions.

I remember in 2010 as the Saudi religious police objected vehemently when Hyper Panda (a mega-supermaket chain in Saudi Arabia) hired female cashiers on the basis that the move was an effort to "westernize" Saudi society. And now, apparently, the religious police have done a complete about face, cooperating with the Labor Ministry to ensure the success of this new measure which champions women's rights.

This is indeed a huge victory for Saudi women, who increasingly seem to yearn for more rights and a more active role in their society despite opposition. While gaining every inch is a hard-fought uphill battle, Saudi women should be proud of this achievement.

14 comments:

  1. It's so nice to read about something positive for the Saudi women. Are you back home now?

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  2. It's about time. And this is a Giant step, if they follow through.

    Are you still in the states? Hope all is well.

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  3. Hi Lori and Gaelyn! Great to hear from you. I'm enjoying my last few days of "freedom" as I plan to return to KSA next week. Happy New Year!

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  4. Great news, indeed! However, from past experience I'll save my heartiest congrats for six months down the line when we can see that progress has actually occurred.

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  5. Good news about KSA, Susie!
    I'm guessing you will really miss your son when you return to KSA. When will your next visit to the US be?

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  6. You're back in the States? Happy holidays!! I hope you enjoyed every minute!! Long time reader here, and I've seen many challenges and amazing experiences through your blog. I'm soon to head back to the States myself, and I'm so glad you got a taste of "freedom," as you said. Safe travels home to KSA. :)

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  7. This is wonderful news! Let's just hope they follow through.
    And, Mr.Beale, Susie has written many positive posts about KSA over the years. Also, her photo link is full of all the beauty that KSA has to offer. :-)

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  8. A small cake , till the bigger cake , to live freely like any other Gulf state...Your prayers and blessings.

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  9. Hi Susie,
    Could you write something about the impression made on you of being in the United States after being in KSA? Thanks!
    H

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  10. Wonderful to hear!!! My dear Susie I hope you have a wonderful 2012! Happy New Year of the Dragon!

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  11. Dawaud Beale...It is my humble opinion that Susie had to make many drastic changes when she moved to SA.
    Anyone who values women would find it difficult to accept the way they are treated there. For example, if they are socially conservative and deeply religious, why are they struggling to have more rights (driving for example)? All of us are entitled to our opinions, and I give her an enormous amount of credit for having the guts to communicate honestly with us. I don't know too many women who would be able to conform to the lifestyle over there, once they have had equal rights.

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  12. @Dawaud,
    The fact of the matter is that Western Civilisations are more Islamic than Saudi which is highly tribal/patriarchal. Women wanting their rights isn't about being "westernized" so much as it is about living in the modern world and having their Islamic rights the way women in the west do. And I know PLENTY of Saudi women (probably more than you do-as I am a woman and you seem the sort of convert who doesn't mix with women) who WERE suffregettes before King Abdullah made clear that women are from now on to participate in elections.

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  13. @Dawaud:

    Really you think Saudi is a role model for Muslim countries. You who live in the western world with all the western world's rights. Western converts make me sick when they uphold a system they are not governed by and uphold the dehumanization of women by a brutal tribal land with a government that can't even follow (manmade) Islam correctly. Are you aware that they currently practice Inquisition and hold witchcraft trials? They recently killed a witch. Are you aware that their morality police have a 5 day training course on how to deal with witches and socerors? I am not kidding. This is the direction you think Muslim countries should go in. The days of Inquisition and Witchcraft Trials. Remember it was in 2002 that morality police wouldn't let girls out of a burning school because they didn't have cloth covering their faces and heads. So do you really think that girls should die because of the lack of a piece of black cloth. Do you really think this is the direction Muslim countries need to follow? Give me a break. Maybe you need to rethink your humanity and your role model country.

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  14. Thanks Susie for showing every step of positive change for Saudi women. Although I do not always comment I always read your blog with much interest.

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