Comments on: The titillation of concealment

By: Aafke

Aafke — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 11:34:38 +0000

Sometimes I think it must be wonderful to be a man.
Never any doubts, the world is a lovely simple place, you are great, all women are just crazy about you…..even if they say they are not….
Sometimes I wish I could be like that.

By: Aliyah

Aliyah — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 09:56:51 +0000

Yeah, you are right!! Men think ALL women want them and are sending off secret signals, hahaha *joke* And yes, a ‘get lost’ should be quite enough to stop ‘flirting’ progressing into harassment. Then the stupid ones just think she’s playing hard to get.

The men might see a little bit more nowadays if they ascend after the (some) ladies, lol, like what they had for breakfast perhaps, uggh.

You’re welcome, for the links, I like her insights too.

By: Aafke

Aafke — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 23:35:20 +0000

Oh, come on, men harrass women because they are women, nothing more is needed.
Well, flirting is one thing, and then if you say ”sodd off” and they do go.
It’s harrassment, of the kind described by SB that I object to.
I must say I’ve usually heard from women travellers in the Middle East that they are treated with a lot of curtesy, so yeah, these stories from real saudi women surprise me.

I think one eyes come out most beautifully in a niqab! So I can imagine that one could do some pretty succesful flirting. But if you don’t, you should be left alone!

I agree with you on the details coming out more succesfully if everybody wears more or less the same uniform. Some abayas are really pretty! In the nineteenth century men in Europe apparently could go beserk over the ”Provocative hint of an ankle” Also the reason why in western etiquette men always ascend the staircase in front of the ladies; otherwise they might see their ankles!!!

Thank you for the links to Saudi stepforth wife: I think she’s very funny! And I hadn’t read the post on the abaya dispute.

By: Aliyah

Aliyah — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 04:05:07 +0000

I thought it was Saudi Bridget Jones. I read that blog; what a loser that guy was.

Yes, I saw your humor straight away – seemed to have touched a nerve with you….

I believe that a woman has the right not to be harassed by men, regardless what she is (or isn’t) wearing. Some men will flirt or harass women because they perceives something about her (her type of clothing, makeup or her body language) is sending off ‘signals’.

You would think that in the Middle East (or other countries where people wear more clothing than is normal in the West) there would be less harrassment and flirting going on. Maybe less, but it still happens. I’ve seen women in niqab flirting! So maybe the guy thinks that he has to at least give it a try (to see if the woman flirts back).

You might find these blog entries and the comments interesting:

http://saudistepfordwife.blogspot.com/2007/10/souk-make-up_10.html

http://saudistepfordwife.blogspot.com/2007/07/great-abaya-debate-head-vs-shoulders_24.html

When everyone wears a type of uniform (abaya, hijab), the little individual differences become more noticeable to the trained eye.

By: Aafke

Aafke — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 13:22:42 +0000

Hi, Aliyah, Yes it’s about Saudi Bridget Jones; The post: ”Why is that Stupid Man in the Car Beside Us Staring at US with that Stupid Smile?” And all the other weird stories I’ve read.
You know, one isn’t surprised to be harassed over here, especially if I have to cross the centre of town of an evening when people have been drinking, but then I can deal with that. But when you’re all properly attired, just going about your business in broad daylight? weird.
It just made me angry on her behalf.
Because it is injustice.
Because I cant’t hop over and knock the bozo down for her I just wrote this. It’s also supposed to be funny. My way of dealing with stuff. I do hope you found it funny?

By: Aliyah

Aliyah — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 04:09:47 +0000

Now I want to know which blog you are talking about. Is it Saudi Bridget Jones?

By: Lofter

Lofter — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 23:33:20 +0000

Well said, my friend… and something that Islam and Christianity surely do have in common.
And I enjoy a bit of poetic exaggeration!

By: Aafke

Aafke — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 18:30:37 +0000

Ok, ok, you get them in all different sorts of materials, bit of poetic exaggeration!

Basically you are required to cover up, according to Islam, but interpretations vary: some say: éverything, that means even gloves (at 40′C)!!! On the other side of the spectrum I’ve heard: you can let your head/hair free, but it is better to cover.
What is important is niyyah; intent. If you are forced to a good behaviour, but don’t really want to do it, it means nothing. Islam leaves it to yourself, and your relation to God, Following any rule under force, or merely as a front, will not get you anywhere with God.

By: Lofter

Lofter — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 17:20:32 +0000

But think on it for a moment… if such attire is mandated by law and by religious conviction in KSA, then it should be according to the prophet who required it initially. And, my friend, there was no rayon those many years ago. So, I submit for your consideration, that the abandonment of cotton attire – cotton, which lets you breathe and be covered at the same time – could possibly be in error.
However, if I (as a man) were forced to wear leather, I must concur that it would have to be black. While it may be, in fact, much hotter, it definitely looks much cooler! :->
And, for the record, “the imagined allure of a covered beauty”… (very wonderfully written, by the way)… such will always be greater than the reality which exists beneath the veils. It’s the curse of the human mind. The blessing which offsets such a curse is usually found by the doorway, and commonly referred to as a light switch!

By: Aafke

Aafke — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 14:02:04 +0000

You don’t know your blessings, that much is clear!
You should have lived a couple of thousand years in the past: with any luck your wife would have been buried with you! }:)

No, sorry, it has to be leather. And although there are two pictures of ”The Stig” (because I’m a fan of The Stig) in white, it also has to be BLACK leather.
We are talking Saudi Arabia here. And I think it’s pretty selfish to choose cool white cotton for yourselves, and stifling hot black rayon for the others.
Time for some justice.