Saudi Women To Boycott Lingerie Shops Over Male Sales Staff

[Rage for Order]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090325/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_saudi_lingerie_boycott

It's an irony of the kingdom's strict segregation of the sexes. Only men are employed as sales staff to keep women from having to deal with male customers or work around men. But in lingerie stores, that means men are talking to women about bras or thongs, looking them up and down to determine their cup sizes, even rubbing the underwear to show how stains can be washed out. The result is mortifying for everyone involved — shoppers, salesmen, even the male relatives who accompany the women. "When I buy underwear in Saudi, some salesmen say, 'This is not the right size for you,'" said Batterjee. "You feel almost taken advantage of. Why is he looking at me in this way?"

Mannequins — headless in keeping with a ban on realistic depictions of women — were displayed in the shop window dressed in modest pajamas. Inside, racks held an array of colorful bras, lacy panties and sexy nighties — along with more day-to-day undergarments. Under Saudi Arabia's strict interpretation of Islamic law, women are required to cover themselves head-to-toe in black robes in public. But in the privacy of their own homes — and bedrooms — they can wear whatever they want, and sexy undergarments are popular.

But buying them is another story. Fitting rooms are banned in the kingdom — the idea of a woman undressing in a public place with men just outside is unthinkable. So a woman is never sure she has chosen the right size until she gets it home. "I have bras with sizes ranging from 32 to 38 because I can't get to try them on," said Modie Batterjee, Huda's sister and one of the boycott organizers.

Even male relatives get dragged into the embarrassment. Women are allowed to shop without a male relative, but husbands or brothers sometimes insist on coming along — or the women want them there — to ensure salesmen stay respectful. Modie Batterjee recalls how her husband fled a lingerie store because he could not bear to hear her explain to a salesman that she wanted high-waisted underwear to hold in her tummy after their daughter's birth.

more at the link

:rofl:

Sounds like some people have their panties in a twist over this (pun intended). I'm beginning to believe that oppression isn't nearly as big of a problem as repression.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

1. And they think that AMERICANS are decadent????

At least we ladies can buy undies and try them on first.

And I have NEVER been in a lingerie dept. or lingerie store that had ANY male employees.

Hell, my guy (who is mature and has been married and divorced twice)is baffled when he washes the clothes and picks up a camisole style top with a built in bra & thin straps, that I wear in the summertime under a short sleeved top!!

No-Man's-Land (as I call it) is far more comfortable for us decadent Westerners than for the poor Saudi ladies.

Messed up. Very messed up. :wtf: