Last week's column reflected the reaction of a cross section of women in the Kingdom to the labor minister's decision to delay the employment of women in retail business that primarily catered to women.
This week, men who had something to say spoke out.
Ahmad from Riyadh advocates: "I am all for women working in all fields and I understand that selling women garments represents a golden opportunity to open the door to women. However, I do not believe in brute force in the form of banning men from selling women garments. This allows men to be able to buy things for their families and reduces the cost burden on shop owners. Let us give women the choice to go to any shop they wish. Shops run by women should not go to extremes in closing and securing their shops, as this would drive costs up."
Abdul Rahman in Jeddah states: "I strongly recommend that women boycott these lingerie places for at least one month. I am certain that those shop owners objecting to women working will change their minds."
Abdul Aziz in Riyadh: "It's mind boggling for me to understand how our society and labor minister whom we thought was more liberal are standing in the way of women to have the privacy of choosing their lingerie and have fun doing it around their friends and female saleswomen. I feel uncomfortable when I see a man helping my wife discussing her sizes and what she likes. I feel like he is intruding on our private life and undressing my wife in front of me."
Muhanna in Jeddah: "Females make up half of our society. We are an Islamic society and have particular requirements such as women dealing with women. Yet even in non-Islamic countries, you see women dealing with women's requirements, which they understand better."
Hasan J. offers: "Delaying the normal way of life is a continuation of the crime of bringing about a sick double- standard society. The decision should have been simple and normal. Women should be allowed to coexist with men in the working place as long as it is in the public's eye and carried decently. Forty years ago, this discussion would have seemed silly, but closed-minded members of society have created such a social problem. Do we come from a different planet? Let us get out of the idea that we are a special society with special everything, and live a normal life like the rest of the world."
Ismail, an airline staff: "I was really in favor of the earlier decision to allow them to work. I don't really feel comfortable with seeing a man selling my wife underwear or lingerie. I am a man and I know what a man's mind is capable of. Don't forget what the devil is capable of regardless of how you are raised. This is why I have never let my wife buy any lingerie from salesmen while alone ever in my entire married life. Besides, if a woman is selling the items the lady customer in return will feel more relaxed and make a better decision. The ministry should implement this rule and make the decision effective immediately."
Dr. Abdulaziz from Dhahran: "I believe the minister of labor took on, with this decision, two formidable opponents. One is the ultra-conservatives who oppose any change, especially when it comes to women. The other opponent is the businessman who is opposed to hiring Saudis because he is not ready for them management-wise. This businessman has not developed the control method that is right for Saudis; only the oppressive ones that he has been using with expatriates, hence his fear and hesitation about employing Saudis. The right decision for the minister should have been to only issue a regulation that permits the hiring of Saudi females and stipulates the proper Islamic conditions under which such females can be employed.
He should have never forced the issue, letting the pressure for employing Saudi females come from the society."
Dr. Tariq: "One thought I would like to express. Why do we have to make decrees for practically everything in a market economy? Should it not be left to market supply and demand? The Ministry of Labor could have left it to business owners to decide whether to employ women or not? Issuing orders and then reversing them creates confusion and gives a strong indication that there are forces behind the scene trying to influence all decisions without consideration to the right of the general public to express their opinion regarding their own rights."
Dr. Mahmood K: "If it is allowed for men, where some of them are uneducated, barely talk English or Arabic and do not use deodorants to hold lingerie/dress and talk to women and girls in the shops or in public markets to sell them the stuff, then why it is not allowed for women to do so for other women? Where is the logic behind not allowing it one-way and allowing it in the other direction? Also, we have lots of women who are either divorced or have no other men (brother or father) to take care of their financial needs and they are desperate to work; then why not give them a chance?"
Yousuf in the Eastern Province: "Those who oppose have to realize the economic need for families to provide better living by hard work. This will deter illegitimate means to enhance quality of living. Change must take place the same way; we had television broadcasting and girls education achieved by the will of the authorities who recognized the need for this nation to move on with the rest of the world instead of staying in the caves of ignorance and denial. There are a lot of women who need jobs to put food on their children's table and to cope with the rising cost of living; it is not change for luxury, it is change for the needy. Women will be serving women in the shops who know about women's needs. Fear of change by the men who want to keep the most vulnerable women under their control, will send us back to the dark ages of control by the few."
Samir, a car-dealership executive: "The fact that the government is unable, or unwilling, to enforce all such similar regulations indicates that as a country we still favor 'Business' over 'Rights'. A case in point is the taxi (limousine) market. The government has extended for a third time the period allowed to enforce 'Saudization', mainly because of the business owners' complaints. This is the same case in the lingerie shops, where the 'perceived' danger to business has delayed the implementation of the rules. Business and money always come first, even against the national interest."
In two columns, both genders selected randomly have expressed their opinions. It is perhaps time for the minister to listen, and better yet act upon the wishes of the masses.
(Concluded)
