http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1§ion=0&article=69810&d=10&m=9&y=2005
Saturday, 10, September, 2005 (06, Sha`ban, 1426)
Saudi Women Enjoy Special Treatment in Men's Sections
Ebtihal Mubarak, Arab News
JEDDAH, 10 September 2005 - "No, don't go to the bank that has the
women's section; drive to the other branch that only has a men's section,"
Sarah told her driver.
Her behavior is not unusual. For an increasing number of Saudi women,
it's actually preferred. They claim that they get better services at men's
sections at banks, restaurants and airports to name a few. No matter how
crowded a place or how long the queue, women often are served first.
"They treat me like a princess at the bank's men's section," Sarah said.
She told Arab News that as she sets foot in the bank, everyone offers
help. The security guard asks what kind of service she wants and then
personally guide her to the employee in charge. That employee will then motion
to her to step up and ignore the queue. He will politely finish her request in
a matter of seconds. She said that wouldn't be the case in the women's sections.
"Although women's sections aren't as crowded as the men's, I usually
spend more time there," she said. "They're very bureaucratic and obsessed with
paperwork."
Saudi men, on the other hand, find such attitudes unfair and obvious
discrimination. They contend that as women demand equality, they should be
treated as equal as the men in all matters. "They shouldn't be given such
privileges," said an angry fast-food customer.
He said he could be driving in the heat for an hour and wait in the
restaurant queue for about 20 minutes to buy his lunch while a woman sitting in
the back seat of her car can just step in the restaurant and buy whatever she
wants in a matter of seconds.
"If that isn't discrimination, I don't know what is," he said.
Women who enjoy the special treatment don't think of it as a privilege.
"It's just an attitude that some men practice out of courtesy all over
the world," one woman said.
Most women asked by Arab News said if they were offered such help they
would certainly accept it. "Most of the time we don't demand to be served
first," one said. "If we have the chance why not?"
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