Job Discussion Forums

[veiledsentiments]

[eha]

At least people talk about it now. Back in the day, the expat community was as big into victim-blaming as the local culture... over any problems that arose. And there were many, not least of which was the conspiracy of silence of intimidated people in denial. The ferocity with which anyone who spoke up.. not necessarily only about such extremes as attitudes to women, etc....meant that everyone kept their mouths shut, or worse, identified sycophantically with whatever those in power wanted.

[NikiSC]

I am considering teaching in Qatar. I have very pale skin and red hair, so the idea, that once again, I could be mistaken for a Russian prostitute (happened a few times in China), has me concerned. What I am wondering is if wearing an abaya and covering my hair would discourage those kind of beliefs towards me. I am already aware that women, in general, are always at risk, no matter where they live. I just wonder if the abaya would discourage the prostitute way of thinking towards my ethnicity.

[veiledsentiments]

I would say that the risks are extremely small with a minimum of common sense. Walking the street or beach alone at night... scantily dressed will attract plenty of offers to pick up some extra cash.

During normal daily life, your pale skin and red hair will draw stares, perhaps a few comments in languages you don't understand, and nothing much else. The women at danger are those in low level positions with dark skins are the ones who are in serious danger.

None of the expat women wear abayas unless they are converts. That will draw a different sort of unwanted attention. I found just ignoring them was enough. The Gulf is high multiples safer for Western women than nearly anywhere in the US these days.

VS

[helenl]

East Asian women are more likely to be considered prostitutes (few Russians Eastern Europeans in Qatar).

Wearing an abaya will not avoid any unwanted advances, in my experience (with Muslim ladies who wear the abaya) they get harassed at times just as the rest of us do.

Common sense will serve to protect you in Qatar as it would anywhere in the world.