Wednesday, 24, May, 2006 (26, Rabi` al-Thani, 1427)
Women Security Guards Living on the Edge
Sheikha Al-Dossari, Arab News
RIYADH, 24 May 2006 - On the outset security guards look important, relaxed and seem to command respect but scratch the surface and the lives of female security guards in Saudi Arabia aren't as cushy as we may believe.
In fact female security guards say their job is a challenging one. Imagine facing demeaning sarcastic women ridiculing you, your job and even your uniform. In fact, some security guards even suffer violence.
Muna Ahmad is a security guard working in an amusement park. Assigned with the task of searching female visitors for cameras, cigarettes and recording devices, Muna says that many women scream at her angrily as she carries out her duties.
"It is the psychological pain that hurts me the most. I have to bear a lot of sarcasm and derogatory looks from women and to top it off the salary isn't very brilliant," she said.
Security guard wages aren't the best in the Kingdom. Working from 4 p.m. to midnight Muna only gets paid SR2,000 a month. She said, "The only extra incentive I receive are free tickets to enjoy the amusement park for my family. The fact that there is no job security makes working here considerably terrible. A simple problem with a customer could result in instant dismissal."
Women like Muna say that the need for money is what has driven them to take menial jobs like this. With no formal qualifications Muna says finding better jobs is difficult.
When she initially took up the job she felt hurt by the sarcasm but gradually got used to it. Most people hate the fact that their privacy is invaded when searched but nevertheless, she finds other people supportive and polite. Muna believes that it is these words of support that drive her to continue her work.
"Women do not like being searched; I did not invent the rules but I have to uphold them. Once a girl whom I had stopped from entering the amusement park because she was dressed improperly beat me up. She got away but sadly I didn't receive any compensation from my employer," Said Muna.
All across the Kingdom female security guards are growing in popularity and many shops catering for female needs are demanding female guards. Tasks include ensuring order, stopping trouble, searching for camera equipment in female areas, preventing men and most difficult of all resolving fights between women.
Hayfa, another Saudi female security guard, gets paid SR1,200 for working eight hours a day in an amusement park. She said that the money is not good and nor is the job but working as a security guard is the only job she is qualified to do.
"Working here I meet all sorts of people and to survive in a job like this you need to develop skills in dealing with an array of people. If there are problems then unfortunately security guards are always blamed - the customer is always right," said Hayfa.
Um Ahmad has been working as a security guard for more than five years. She says that most people undertake such jobs temporary while looking for better jobs. In her experience she says people will respect security guards if they adopt a tough outlook and that low pay shouldn't be a problem if they love the job.
For some women convincing family and friends in allowing them to undertake jobs as security guards can prove rather difficult.
Nora Ibraheem faced a lot of difficulties in convincing her parents to allow her to work as one. Her parents finally allowed her to work as a security guard after they came to realize that she couldn't really qualify for any other job.
A security manager in a women's shopping mall said that female security guards do need skills in settling disputes and a little martial art but not all of the time.
The manager said, "Many women apply for jobs like these not because they like working as security guards but rather because they can't find jobs elsewhere. The requirements are easier than other jobs; they don't need English language skills or computer literacy to qualify for a job like that."
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