The holiday season has come and gone and life has gone back to the usual daily grind. Michael, Allyson, and myself took a trip out on the town to pick up a few things when I was informed of a new "custom" or "practice" (if you will) of keeping the wife and kids out of the way while shopping (scoffs).
Ohhhhh this totally didn't settle well with me. I am not a hardcore feminist but some of things that take place here make me lean more and more in that direction.
Anyway, in stores and malls they have booth-like areas where women and children can be directed or left so they don't interfere with shopping or checking out. When I was told this I thought to myself, "Noooo, that can't be... It is probably a place for carts or a public sitting place..." Well as we finished up our shopping in the Hyper Panda grocery store these "standing areas" were pointed out to me. My jaw hit the floor as I seen a woman and child step into the area so they were not in the way of the male paying for the goods. This particular area was apart of the front glass windows to the store but it had vertical, glass, slats every few feet to create that booth-ish look.
AND it gets even more... "high tech"... as it has a metal bar a few inches up off of the floor for the women and children to step over and STAY BEHIND..... (deep breath).
I simply couldn't believe my eyes. I thought to myself about what would happen if a man tried to direct me or my kids to one of these booths... Let's just say it wouldn't go over well at all.
Our next stop was at the Aseer Mall and lo' and behold there it was another waiting booth for women and children. This one was much bigger, obviously to accommodate more women and children who might get in the way of an intense shopping experience. The below pictures aren't very clear but were taken somewhat discretely in attempt to avoid offending the people.
To be continued.... Oh, NO, You Didn't!!!! Part 2- Coming out soon :o)
Ohhhhh this totally didn't settle well with me. I am not a hardcore feminist but some of things that take place here make me lean more and more in that direction.
Anyway, in stores and malls they have booth-like areas where women and children can be directed or left so they don't interfere with shopping or checking out. When I was told this I thought to myself, "Noooo, that can't be... It is probably a place for carts or a public sitting place..." Well as we finished up our shopping in the Hyper Panda grocery store these "standing areas" were pointed out to me. My jaw hit the floor as I seen a woman and child step into the area so they were not in the way of the male paying for the goods. This particular area was apart of the front glass windows to the store but it had vertical, glass, slats every few feet to create that booth-ish look.
AND it gets even more... "high tech"... as it has a metal bar a few inches up off of the floor for the women and children to step over and STAY BEHIND..... (deep breath).
I simply couldn't believe my eyes. I thought to myself about what would happen if a man tried to direct me or my kids to one of these booths... Let's just say it wouldn't go over well at all.
Our next stop was at the Aseer Mall and lo' and behold there it was another waiting booth for women and children. This one was much bigger, obviously to accommodate more women and children who might get in the way of an intense shopping experience. The below pictures aren't very clear but were taken somewhat discretely in attempt to avoid offending the people.
Here is a much better picture showing some of the women waiting patiently for their male counterparts to return.
Side view... Getting a bit crowded in there.
As we moved along from shop to shop, I was absolutely DELIGHTED to stumble upon my very first Saudi MULLET!!!! After this I felt a little better. God bless and long live the mullet!
