http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1§ion=0&article=64639&d=31&m=5&y=2005&pix=kingdom.jpg&category=Kingdom
Tuesday, 31, May, 2005 (22, Rabi` al-Thani, 1426)
An Unmentionable Problem for Women
Saleh Fareed, Arab News
JEDDAH, 31 May 2005 - In a country as modest as Saudi Arabia, it's a
little strange that women are supposed to purchase their unmentionables -
lingerie and undergarments - from male salespersons.
"All over the world, women sell women lingerie - except in the Kingdom,"
said Hanan Bawzeer, a mother of two. "I believe women should have the maximum
amount of privacy for such a personal task, and I have never approved of men
working such jobs."
For some women, it's downright uncomfortable. "Shopping for clothes in
general is pretty hard in the Kingdom because no shops offer changing rooms for
women," said Amal Basyoni, a 32-year-old Egyptian woman. "Even if they do,
someone could be watching you through those small, hidden digital cameras or
tinted glass. That's what I've heard."
She noted that she waits for her holiday to shop in Cairo. "I don't think
that a woman would feel comfortable picking out lingerie and then discussing
its quality, color, size, and price with a total stranger behind the counter,"
she said.
With the opening of a few women-only shops, 29-year-old Abeer Abu
Al-Foutooh says it has solved some problems, but hopes to see more such shops.
"I think that women can shop in such places in comfort with all the privacy
they seek," she said.
Al-Foutooh said most women suffer and complain about having to deal with
men to buy their unmentionables.
"It is a silly situation," she said. "I can't let a man watch me shop or
check my underwear. It's a very private thing."
Al-Foutooh no longer goes to stores to shop for lingerie, opting instead
to purchase it from women running home-based businesses.
For husbands who can be uncomfortable if other men even look at their
wives, imagine what it's like to watch their wives buying underwear. "I
accompanied my wife to a lingerie store, but I couldn't take it when she was
asking the salesman about the latest models," said Hassan Al-Ahmadi. "So, what
I did was that I asked her to leave the place and not to shop there anymore."
Some male lingerie salesmen dispute the observation that most women are
uncomfortable with the current situation.
"I think there are many women who prefer to buy their underwear items
from our stores and don't mind the presence of men in the lingerie section,"
said Maher Sadoun, a salesman at 24. "I have served many women, and they come
to me asking my help with comfort and satisfaction."
He pointed out that the city has more than 20 licensed women-only shops
and dozens of unlicensed home businesses. They are all working to create a
suitable environment for women to shop in comfort. But, they do not cater to
all and lack many items so that women still have to deal with a male stranger
to buy.
In other words, business continues as usual. "I've noticed that many
women-only stores don't succeed and close down after a few months of
operation," he said.
Maher said reaching a solution to this problem may be a little
complicated. He said that society ought to make up its mind about the issue and
then make a decision.
That may be difficult. After all, it might require officials to mention
the unmentionables - probably as uncomfortable for the men as it is for the
women to buy them.
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