The decision by the Ministry of Labor to restrict jobs in lingerie shops to women and increase job opportunities has been postponed. The law was scheduled to go into effect June 18, but in a recent statement, the minister of labor was quoted as saying: "Based on the plea by shop owners...that they were unable to comply with the deadline, the ministry's decision is postponed until all required preparations are finalized."
It has been reported that over 10,000 women had applied for this new opportunity, and the sudden back-pedaling of the ministry has taken them and a lot of others by surprise. To get a measure of the reaction to such a move, this week I offer some responses from those women who have an opinion in the matter, followed by responses from males in a following column.
Caro states: "I feel that he who hesitates is lost and do not really understand why there should be more hesitation due to gender considerations of lingerie shop attendants than to bankers. But perhaps it is the precedent that it sets; after all underwear shop girls first, ambassadors next, right? And then where would we be?"
Hadeel surmises: "All I have to say is that its very uncomfortable buying lingerie from men. I recently had to buy nursing and maternity lingerie, which is unattractive, baggy and very granny-like. I had no problem buying it from men. A while after I had delivered, I went to the same store thinking I had gotten over my complex. I had trouble buying anything and came out with furry slippers. I mean it's not an Arab or Islamic thing; I have been all over the world and have never bought lingerie from men except in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia."
Alaa says: "I cannot decide which is better, to have to buy my most intimate items from men or to walk into a shop with darkened windows and several entrances. I feel that we would be doing ourselves a favor if we stop saying that our culture is a 'special' culture. We should have women selling women's garments in shops with normal windows. If women can walk around in the shops as buyers then why can't they walk around the shops as sellers?"
Zarena, a frequent shopper: "As a lady shopper who shops in Jeddah I had welcomed the move to allow ladies to serve ladies in shops. I was not aware of any moves to delay this as I have seen some changes already. However, as usual the authorities have gone too far. Shops that have become 'all lady' shops have been completely screened from the outside. Furthermore what happens if I want to shop with my husband - should he stand outside?'
From Lana, a trade and marketing coordinator: 'I would like to stress that for some women it is vital to work and they should be able to work, period! And not only be allowed working, but not having obstacles in their way. Why this delay, and for how long? It just doesn't make sense as these stores cater primarily to women. I just think this delay is an excuse for men to exercise their authority. Some women actually have families to feed and kids to educate and have no male family members helping them out. I say let them do it and let them do it now!'
Muna AbuSulayman, a TV personality adds: 'It is something (the delay) that we thought might happen, given the complex number of intertwining issues at hand: lack of specific women training and development programs, gender separation in the malls were most of these shops are located, etc. Men selling female undergarments have been something that most women in the kingdom felt strongly against and one that goes against the Islamic idea of 'haya' and modesty. I do hope that Ministry will find a way to provide this service, empower women working, and pave the way for innovative methods of work regulations that allow women to participate in the economic development of the region.'
Dania from Effat College in Jeddah: 'I totally do not appreciate shopping here with men helping me and trying to figure out what size I am, and so I hardly shop here. I wait and from time to time I go to Dubai and do all my shopping there, even though my purchases are from the same chain of stores that we have here in the kingdom. It is a shame because a large group of us women that boycott these stores could be boosting the local economy. I realize a lot needs to be done before women can work freely in shops but we have to start somewhere.'
April TJ states: 'It's very awkward to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of lingerie with salesmen in any country. It's just not my style. So until I see women behind a lingerie counter in the Kingdom, I will take my business elsewhere. The wait is their loss.'
Nouf an MBA graduates vents: 'The ministry should spend its time putting proper sexual harassment laws than waste it's time on making exhausting and silly lists of requirements for lingerie shops. Where business owners have only two choices: comply or close you business! What they should do is simple; Give people and business the choice of doing what they want as long as it complies with Shariah. The Shariah we all understand, and not the Shariah that only a small group of fanatics decided it to be. How dare they decide that a billion Muslims in the world are not complying with the Shariah? The women in Iran, Malaysia, and Egypt are not any less Islamic than us!'
Um Majed: 'I have NEVER bought underwear or lingerie in Saudi. Why? It's appalling to me to have to talk to MEN about my personal needs! It's uncomfortable and weird! If women were able to run the shops completely, then women would be able to try things on before buying them. The concern is definitely in the wrong place! Officials should be more concerned about women being forced to deal with strange men in awkward situations such as these, as apposed to worrying about how women will enter and exit a building.'
D.D. from Jeddah: 'I have long ago stopped shopping for intimate apparel items here because I refuse to discuss the fit of my lingerie with a man in a shop. All women know that to have a properly fitting bra a qualified saleslady must measure one. Here, it is a matter of trial and error, and we are totally on our own when it comes to figuring out what we need. If a woman wishes to try on such an item before buying it, she must leave a deposit with the shopkeeper, take the item to a restroom somewhere in the mall (if indeed such a place is available), shed all her layers of protective clothing, and at last, try it on to see if it fits. If it doesn't, she must then go back to the shop and face said salesman with the ill-fitting bra and ask him for another size. You can see where I'm going with the trial and error bit. I will not subject my girls or myself to such humiliation. I prefer to shop in a country where I can keep my dignity while getting my most intimate items.'
From Pandora: 'I always thought men selling ladies lingerie and cosmetics in our country extremely oxymoronic. A Saudi woman is not allowed to mix or deal with any man who's not a Mahram (guardian) in any area of her life, yet she's expected to buy her lingerie from a strange man who will usually try to assess her best suited measurements. Even more intimate in my opinion is the act of buying make- up/cosmetics, which involves more of our senses. Not only is the experience uncomfortable, but in most cases men by their very nature are not qualified for the job. I personally have always found it more comfortable & enjoyable to buy such items from a woman, which generally means having to wait for the next trip abroad.'
Sherry in Jeddah: 'although I would absolutely welcome being served by ladies in lingerie stores and in make up stores, clothes shops etc, I think the Labor ministry has introduced an arbitrary proposal without the necessary groundwork and infrastructure in place first. Thus practically guaranteeing failure before it starts. How will prospective employees get to work? There is barely any public transportation, so most of an employee's salary will go on paying her driver. If she has children, who will take care of the children? So as usual here, instead of truly trying to change the way things work, we will just put another patch over the problem or we will think its too big to fix and its easier just to let women not work. We'll hire foreign men, let them work to the bone then we will replace them.'
Um Bandar adds: 'I believe that if ladies are to be selling in these shops, there will have to be an adjustment of the opening and closing times of these shops. I doubt that a lady would like to be working until eleven at night. In most countries most retail shops close either at seven in the evening. Most normal people, men or women, would like to be home to see their children before they sleep or at least be able to have dinner at home. The shops should remain open during the day and close at 9:00 pm. This way you would also avoid having our young out and about when they should be home.'
From Brenda: 'I am most definitely for more opportunities for women in Saudi Arabia, but I have some concerns with this particular situation. First of all, I understand that these jobs will be reserved exclusively for Saudis. Secondly, I understand that only women customers will be allowed into such stores and they will have to have to have their storefronts 'blacked out'. Why the continual need to segregate? Women work beside men in hospitals, labs, some teaching situations and banks, many private offices as well as the airlines. Does the country expect that large numbers of men will suddenly become interested in going into lingerie shops? And if so, who cares? All these years, it has been women who have had to go into shops full of men to buy their undergarments and society did not come to a standstill..'
The labor minister once remarked that people should air their views and proposals in the media rather in dubious chat-rooms. Well, there you have it, Your Excellency. The question remains: What are you going to do about it and when?
