Excerpts from an editorial in Arab News...
In a recent article in a local paper, one of our Saudi academics suggested that women-only shopping centers would be best for Saudi Arabia. He enumerated the benefits that such a step would provide investors, customers and society at large. One of the principal reasons for his suggestion was that such centers would give women the protection they need from prying eyes and rude behavior (both from men). He goes on to say that the ventures might give businesswomen freedom from male supervision and added that in addition, more jobs would be created. In a similar article, the idea of a women-only industrial city was presented; the city would provide jobs and âthe necessary privacy and a conducive work environment.â
No matter what we do, men and women have to deal with each other on a daily basis â not only within the family but outside: From taxi drivers to supermarket cashiers to traffic police to passers-by. Even if we create women-only cities, wonât women have to deal with âmaleâ government officials at some point? Businesswomen must have men as agents; how can they conduct their business without dealing with those men? The strange thing is that many of us justify these calls on social and religious bases.
Now the reason for these ideas is that women are harassed in streets and in shopping centers by men. A definite violation of law and custom â so whatâs to be done?
Separate both parties by restricting the movement of the innocent and letting the guilty walk free? Or shouldnât the violators be publicly identified and humiliated?
| Yes! Damn those brazen hussies, inciting those men like that! |
It is strange that the same people who propose separate facilities are the very ones who have never noticed lingerie shops staffed by men â which is surely an instance where there should be a women-only environment.
"I'd like to see some crotchless underpants, please."
"Certainly, madam. Step this way, please... YEE-HAW!"
"Hey! Knock it off! Lemme alone! Help!" |
The core of the problem is that men and women in this society do not know how to interact properly. Most men have real problems in treating women with respect. Men have simply got to be taught to respect women. It is always a woman who suffers harassment on the street but somehow, the idea that a man should be respectful of women is never spoken of.
| First, you have to somehow absorb the idea that you, personally, can control your impulses. In a religion where disputes over the nature of monotheism lead to shootings and bombings, there isn't much hope of that, is there? |
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