Shops that sell women's apparel are under the gun to hire Saudi saleswomen. When I first moved to KSA in 2007, I never saw females working in retail positions at all - which meant that women were forced to purchase items such as intimate apparel and cosmetics from salesmen. This was particularly ironic in this strictly gender segregated society where contact between unmarried men and women is strictly prohibited and where women must be covered in black from head to toe when out in public. There are now new laws in place for businesses to replace male sales clerks with females in shops that cater to women customers.
12 comments:
Are there women eager to fill that sales position?
I cannot imagine women being comfortable with this.
Hi Dina - Apparently some business owners are claiming that they cannot find enough qualified women willing to fill these positions. I don't buy it.
Hi Jerry - It's creepy being waited on by men when I am out looking for cosmetics, lingerie, or even dresses. Uncomfortable is right.
If many of the workers who come to work in the Kingdom can come and do other jobs, why not the females who mostly come as domestic workers? Btw, I like those cotton jalabiyas on the display. How much do they cost in Riyals? sf
If they can get domestic female workers to come and work, why not for the shops? Btw, I truly like the cotton Jalabiyas on the display. How much to they cost in Riyals? sf
I would think that female domestic workers would not be considered "qualified" for sales positions. Although with a little training, it would probably work. These dresses can start for as cheap as 40-60 riyals and go p from there into the hundreds, depending on the details and trims.
Has the creepyness of being waited on by men in shopping situations ever stopped you from buying?
I ask because I can't imagine buying lingerie from men. At the store I shop, "older" women are the sales people and ask questions, make recommendations, and check fit. (I realize that you most likely can't try on items before purchase, per some of your posts)
~Laura
Hi Laura - Actually, yes - I have not enjoyed shopping in Saudi Arabia because of the situation. I have never purchased undergarments in KSA, or makeup - I bring what I need with me from the states. Some shops that now have females working in sales positions also have dressing rooms to try on clothing as well.
I have to correct what you said, simply because what you said is not accurate and it seems like a generalization, even if that's not what you meant!
I like your blogs and pix, but when something is not the full truth, I have to step in and speak from what I've eye-witnessed there living there longer than you have!
Clearly you've not been out enough. You said you moved to 2007. So, you can't generalize. There were retail workers that were female in SOME shops even in the 1990s.
Just because it's not common or you have not seen it in the beginning when you moved you cannot claim that there were no women working in any stores in 2007 in Jeddah or Saudi Arabia.
Please correct your blogpost so that it doesn't add to existing misinformation online and in the world.
Thank you for understanding.
Hi Anonymous - Thanks for your comment. The only women I previously saw working in "sales" were non-Saudi women selling their wares on the street. I admit I have not been in every shop here in Jeddah, but the only sales people I ever saw before in malls were males. So are you saying that Saudi women worked in sales positions prior? This is a surprise to me. Thanks for clarifying that.
It is very uncomfortable to deal with man in Saudi Arabia to buy undergarments. I don't want to do.
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