http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1§ion=0&article=79046&d=7&m=11&y=2006&pix=kingdom.jpg&category=Kingdom
Tuesday, 7, November, 2006 (16, Shawwal, 1427)
Saudi Salesgirls Speak of Challenges, Social Attitudes
Arab News
JEDDAH, 7 November 2006 - For decades, in fear of criticism, Saudi women
have shied away from certain jobs considered exclusive for men. Working as shop
assistants was a taboo but now attitudes are changing and a new assertive
generation of young Saudi women is picking the gauntlet up by taking these jobs.
"It is beneficial for women to work in mixed environments and not in a
female-oriented domain where feminine rivalry leads to conflicts and jealousy,"
said Duja Sbari, an ambitious sales assistant who works for a store in Jeddah.
Sbari spoke to Al-Watan newspaper about her experience working as a sales
assistant. According to Sbari, working women that endeavor to preserve their
values, modesty, manners and behaviors - according to both the teachings of
Islam and Saudi cultural practices - still continue to suffer criticism. "Most
critics tend to be people who have misconceptions about working women and have
very little respect and understanding of the jobs we do," said Sbari, adding
that she has along with her colleagues been well received by the company she
works for.
"They guide us and provide us with training in order to further expand
our skills to be able to perform successfully," she said.
"Working in this sector demands a woman to be dynamic. She requires
special skills and must be well qualified to deal with people from different
backgrounds that include both Saudis and non-Saudis. Saleswomen must be wise
enough to preserve their strong personalities in order to be able to succeed,"
said Sbari, adding that woman who work must also try to dress modestly in order
to avoid abuse and sexual harassment.
For some women, working as sales assistants has empowered them to prove
themselves. Muna is another sales assistant who feels working as a saleswoman
has given her confidence and helped her to prove herself.
"With training it has become much easier for me to know how to deal with
different customers and also created a lot of confidence in me. I can also
easily tell whether a customer is serious and interested in a product or not,"
she said.
Muna also urged the wider community and customers to respect saleswomen
and make for them working easy. "It is only by working that women are allowed
to feel a little independent and therefore end up not totally relying on their
families," she added.
Other women have experienced difficulties in working as sales assistants.
One such woman is Afrah Al-Saggaf who says she faced a lot of obstacles at the
beginning.
"With the help of my colleagues and the manager of the women's section
where I work I have been able to adapt to the environment," she said, adding
that in spite of having undertaken training she still faces some difficulties
in dealing with customers and convincing them to buy.
"I am usually rather selective in which customer I will approach and how
I will deal with them," said Al-Saggaf, who believes Saudi women should invest
their time and effort in finding jobs rather than just sitting at home. "Almost
all job opportunities that are available now are related to the marketing
sector. This sector helps females to be strong and gives them the ability to
deal with the different situations that they may possibly face," she said.
Other working Saudi women mention how they aim to work and also remain
attached to Saudi cultural norms. "We live in a conservative society; as
representatives of our company we tend to keep our veil on so as to project a
good image not only for the company that we work for but also for ourselves; by
doing this we prevent any potential harassment and disrespect," said Irada
Al-Saggaf, another sales assistant.
Al-Saggaf has great ambitions and wants to ultimately to start her own
business. "I want to become a businesswoman. I want to run my own business and
train other Saudi women to take up jobs similar to what I am doing right now,"
she said.
One Saudi sales assistant complained about the low wages saleswomen get.
"We pay the phone bill, drivers and for the clothes that wear which must be
appropriate and suitable so that they reflect well on our company.
Unfortunately our wages do not allow us to pay for all these expenses along
with our personal and family expenses," said Mirvat, a saleswoman working for
the same company.
Some Saudi women are university students who work part time. Dina
Al-Sabari, along with her two sisters who are all shop assistants, is at
university and is working part time. "I arrange my time in a way where I can
study and work simultaneously. This enhances my skills and has given me a lot
of experience," she said.
Al-Sabari, who is single, strongly feels that society must change its
view about women working, "Women are now educated and are much productive than
men."
When asked if working would delay getting married, Al-Sabari said that
she knows of many sales assistants whose husbands did not stop them from
continuing to work. "It depends on how open-minded the man is. The husband who
wants to go along with his wife must help and motivate her so that she can
achieve her goals," she said.
Muhammad Khaleel Faqih, manager of the company where these women work,
said the company stands by the girls and provide necessary support. "We send
out male sales agents on their behalf when needed," he added
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