Comments on: A Malayasian female journalist point of view of Saudi Arabia http://americanbedu.com/2007/10/18/a-malayasian-female-journalist-point-of-view/ Experiences and observations of a former American diplomat now married to a Saudi and living in KSA... Wed, 15 Feb 2012 12:36:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: delhi4cats http://americanbedu.com/2007/10/18/a-malayasian-female-journalist-point-of-view/#comment-21 Fri, 19 Oct 2007 23:16:33 +0000 http://delhi4cats.wordpress.com/2007/10/18/a-malayasian-female-journalist-point-of-view/#comment-21 To wear or not to wear the abaya will continue to be an issue here in the Kingdom. I only know of a small handful (ie, less than the fingers on one hand) who venture out and about in Riyadh without an abaya. Because of the cultural interpretations these women typically do encounter routine problems each time they venture out without an abaya either by the Muttawa or others who are very conservative in nature. I am surprised that the official USG policy in KSA is that it will support the choice of women to go with or without. To me since it is the culture and to so many, viewed as a law, as much I would prefer to go without an abaya, I cannot imagine myself doing so. However in my case I also have to look at not only my own preferences but the important issue of face and sensitivity to my Saudi family as well. An American married to a Saudi and living in a conservative city like Riyadh and going without an abaya would most likely not be viewed in a favorable context. And as we all know, we only have that one chance to make the right first impression so my recommendation to women is to grin and bear it and as Nike says, “just do it.”

]]> By: John Burgess http://americanbedu.com/2007/10/18/a-malayasian-female-journalist-point-of-view/#comment-17 Fri, 19 Oct 2007 16:50:33 +0000 http://delhi4cats.wordpress.com/2007/10/18/a-malayasian-female-journalist-point-of-view/#comment-17 Just a technical correction: The US government advises its female employees in Saudi Arabia that they may choose to wear abayas in public or not. Either way, the Embassy will support their decisions.

‘Doing in Rome as the Romans do’ is certainly culturally sensitive. But treating guests generously is also culturally sensitive. It just depends on who’s doing the sensitivity stuff.

Another way of looking at it is that if a woman does not wear an abaya, the Saudis are rather insensitive in their own right. The assumption that the lack of an abaya equals ‘prostitute’ is rather harsh. American women can dress modestly without an abaya: long sleeves, ankle-length dress/skirt, etc.

This is the way Saudis used to treat people. They could again, if they chose to do so.

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