Job Discussion Forums

[star2010]

This is a bit off subject, but what about open toe shoes or sandals? My intuition is telling me that this would be unacceptable, but I do not like to assume anything.

[Mia Xanthi]

Only the first one (mostly black with turquoise trim) would be appropriate. Even if you are in the more liberal parts of Saudi Arabia, you will attract too much attention unless you are wearing mostly black. In fact, if I were in your situation, I would buy one that is only black until you have time to check out the situation where you will be living.

I lived in the Dhahran/Dammam/Al Khobar area, which is quite liberal compared to the rest of KSA, but even there you rarely saw anyone wearing an abaya that was anything but black. Even brown or beige (which some Egyptian women wear) was not really considered appropriate for public wear. That being said, I did have colleagues who went out in public fully covered but not in traditional black abayas. They were not bothered by the attention they attracted, but it would have really bothered me. I only wanted to blend in, especially in such a strange place as KSA.

There is another option. A long black trench coach, slacks underneath, and a scarf that completely covers your hair would be perfectly fine for you to wear until you can get an abaya made. If you are covered from head to toe in black, even if it is not an abaya, you are not likely to attract attention or criticism. The only problem with the trench coat solution is that it will be hot, but hey...anything that is long and black and polyester is going to feel like hell in the Saudi heat. You've just gotta get used to it.

[veiledsentiments]

[Gerund]

You may hear that women are not required to wear abayas in KSA--only to dress conservatively. Don't believe it. This may be true in theory, but in KSA custom and tradition might as well be law. If you go out of the compound without an abaya, you will attract all sorts of unwanted attention.

My wife always wore one, but like most expat women, she did not cover her hair. She did however always have a scarf at the ready in her purse just in case. This was normally sufficient, but she and a friend were once violently accosted in Dammam by some big, bearded, wild-eyed, self-appointed mutawa who screamed at her and spit on her.

See, I told you Saudi Arabia was a different plantet.

[star2010]

Thanks veiledsentiments! I will check out those threads.

[lizziebennet]

[ummkhadija]

Hello:

So, from what I gather from reading this specific post and others about clothing is:

1. Women do not wear the abaya or hijab in class (even if they are Muslim).

2. You should wear clothing that is form/loose fitting, nothing tight or showing cleavage.

3. Pants may pass, but not generally the norm and long skirts not above or below-the-thigh length skirts should be used.

4. Sleeves can be/or should be past the elbow.

Is this for all cities in KSA or if you are in a more conservative city/town does this change a bit?

Please add anything that I missed or should know about. I will be living in Taif.

Thanks!

UmmKhadija

[Cleopatra]

[Mia Xanthi]

[boysfromtheblackstuff]

Someone asked earlier about open-toed shoes.

They are fine, but please remember that Saudi ladies use flip-flops/thongs to go to the toilet/bathroom. Thus it would be inappropriate to teach in rubber/plastic footwear!

[holoholo girl]

This 'abaya' seems a good idea to me. What do you guys think? It's like a long housecoat.

http://islamic-attire.com/prod_page.php?prod_id=1092717730#

Also for lissiebennet:
"Don't forget to bring all your favorite bikinis and costumes if you like the beach because there are a few private western style beaches around!"

Really? I'm hoping to work in Jeddah (Hawaii is home) & was wondering if it was possible to go to the beach there. Can you give me some names of these beaches. Do you have to pay to go to these beaches? Are they expensive? Also, do you think (traditional) Hawaiian mumus would work as an 'abaya'? I have some old vintage ones but think they might be too colorful but they definitely cover everything up ...

[Mia Xanthi]

Abaya 109047 would be considered pushing the envelope as abayas go. The color and the decoration would be fine for any of the less conservative areas of KSA, but the form-fitting style would be making the "I am a foreign hussy and I just don't care" statement. Remember, the purpose of the abaya is to hide the female form, and not to reveal or accentuate it. The abaya in this ad would attract way too much attention, especially if you have a nice figure to reveal. Men would follow you around, and women would give you dirty looks.

Old-style Hawaiian muumuus would be great at a private beach, but I wouldn't consider wearing them in public. However, I have had colleagues who would disagree with me on this issue, and some of them wore colorful but very modest and non-revealing garments in public. As for myself, I would have felt uncomfortable doing so, as it would have been flouting cultural (but not Islamic) norms, in my opinion. Although my colleagues who refused to wear black got lots of comments and criticism (especially from the Muslim teachers on our bus), as far as I know they did not encounter any problems with the police/mutaween or set off any riots in public!

It is the culture in Saudi Arabia that insists on the black abaya. Many Muslim women in Muslim countries other than Saudi Arabia wear colorful but modest attire, and it is my understanding that there is no "thou shalt wear black" verse in the Holy Quran. The women in Malaysia wear "baju kurung" (translates loosely as sack dress) in lovely bright colors and patterns. Even the much-criticized and all-covering Afghan burqa is usually a pretty sky blue.

But in Saudi Arabia, black is what a modest, respectable woman should be wearing according to cultural norms and recent history. Funny, though, if you look back at pictures from even 50 years ago, a lot of the local tribal dresses were very colorful and highly decorated. I wonder when black took over?

[Nochasauras]

[Nochasauras]

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