Lingerie, baby steps and women's liberation

If you ever heard the saying "One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind" then you can relate to this post.

In Saudi, a 2006 law banning men from working in female apparel and cosmetic stores has never been implemented due to various conservative groups who are opposed to the idea of women working in common areas visited by men and women, like malls.


Finally, the government has decided to enforce this law effective this month after long standing protests by Saudi women.


Strict Saudi law prohibits mingling of unrelated men and women.

Which kind of makes it awkward for women to be accompanied by male relatives in buying their intimate wear from men behind the counter.

"I and many other women like me were always embarrassed to walk into lingerie shops because men were selling the goods," said Saudi shopper Samar Mohammed.

She said that in the past she often bought the wrong underwear "because I was sensitive about explaining what I wanted to a man."

Saudi women, for years had complained about being forced to buy their underwear from men, hit back with a campaign on Facebook called "Enough Embarrassment."
 

"The embarrassment has ended," the activists' page proudly proclaimed this week.

But although they still can't drive, the women can now be relieved that they can finally speak freely and more openly in choosing and buying their undies from fellow women.

As I said, baby steps... but a step forward nonetheless.