Mick Hartley

Politics and Culture

The Issue of Saleswomen Working in Lingerie Shops has Become a Crucial One

April 7, 2008

Clearly in a country like Saudi Arabia it’s important to have a Big List of Things Women Aren’t Allowed To Do, but….working in lingerie shops??

Many men find accompanying their wives to a lingerie shop to be awkward — an act that infringes on their privacy. However, some still go because they feel protective. They think it is their obligation to protect their wives from the sexual harassment of some sales assistants. After all, young salesmen can sometimes be disrespectful.

All over the world, one finds saleswomen at lingerie shops. In our country — where officials are trying to introduce regulations granting women their rights — women are prohibited from working in lingerie shops. I wish this would change.

Women are not at ease with salesmen at lingerie shops. Women do not have privacy when they are out shopping, they deal cautiously and hesitantly with strange men who try selling them underwear and evening clothes. This is especially the case when they look for a particular size or a certain shape, color or material.

The issue of saleswomen working in lingerie shops has become a crucial one. The Ministry of Labor and the Ministry of Commerce must work quickly to solve this problem. Having an all women lingerie boutique inside shopping centers would not be as awkward as asking a strange man for your underwear size.

Posted in Uncategorized

6 responses to “The Issue of Saleswomen Working in Lingerie Shops has Become a Crucial One”

Noga

April 7, 2008

I just don’t get it. How can men only serving women in lingerie shops be reconciled with what we have been led to believe about Saudi female modesty? This is too bizarre.

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DaninVan

April 7, 2008

Amen, Noqa! The thought of a Saudi woman going in for a bra fitting boggles the mind…
Maybe the sales’men’ are eunuchs?
The corollary to this is the hiring, by dept. stores here, of young women to staff their men’s wear departments. I have very mixed feelings about having a sweet young thing checking my inseam.

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Dom

April 7, 2008

Have you noticed that so much of the writing in SA newspapers seems to be written for a children’s magazine, like “Highlights For Children”, a kid magazine that was popular (at least in the US) when I was young. For example, this could come from “Goofus and Gallant”, if the rest of you know what that is:
“Women are not at ease with salesmen at lingerie shops. Women do not have privacy when they are out shopping, they deal cautiously and hesitantly with strange men who try selling them underwear and evening clothes. This is especially the case when they look for a particular size or a certain shape, color or material.”
Maybe its the sense that the writer believes he is saying something with which no one can seriously disagree.

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Mick H

April 7, 2008

I don’t know if Arab News is written in English, or in Arabic and then translated, but if the former that might explain some of the childishness: they’re struggling with a foreign language.

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Vagabondblogger

April 8, 2008

I once walked into a La Perla Shop (waaay out of my league, price-wise, and at the time) as I needed some undies, when we lived in Abu Dhabi. The attendants were Indian salesMEN, and believe you me, I was embarrassed (and I’m an American. “‘scuse me sir, does this bra fit right? What do you think? European clothing is tighter, yeah?”) I proceeded to get online, and order from Victoria’s Secrets. Then I had to deal with the imbeciles at Etisalat Internet services, writing them regularly to unblock the site, as it was the only place where I could shop, without being leered at by a male salesman! Besides, I couldn’t afford La Perla, and it was that or the cheap Indian souk, at that time. Things are different now – at least in Abu Dhabi, but that should give you an idea of how screwed up the thinking is.

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DaninVan

April 8, 2008

My head is reeling; I thought women weren’t allowed to be in the company of men not their husbands or family? Never mind getting up close and personal about their frillies. Oh the hypocrisy!

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