tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840441359840260402.post1666701862374743999..comments2023-11-15T09:58:47.005+03:00Comments on In a Maze of Beige: A picture a day: The AbayaTiffany Wacaserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08224661646987749451noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840441359840260402.post-39065356428671902832012-02-11T09:47:58.971+03:002012-02-11T09:47:58.971+03:00Emily, Saudi Arabia follows Sharia law, which is b...Emily, Saudi Arabia follows Sharia law, which is based on the Quaran. The dress standards are dictated by Sharia law, which is enforced by religious police. Religious police patrol all public areas and if you aren't following the rules, they can and will confront you. I gather it is a rather unpleasant experience, with a lot of yelling and threats. I don't know how much actual authority the religious police has. I read in my cultural guide that if you are accosted by the religious police to refuse to go with them. <br /><br />Children attend Quaran based school here which teaches them the dress standards. So I imagine that there is a definite cultural leaning. I've spoken to a couple of Saudi women about wearing the abaya. They felt that it had religious importance to them. <br />While visiting a friend a couple of days ago, I found a book about wearing the hijab and its religious signficance. I'm looking forward to reading it because I hope it will be enlightening. <br /><br />Wearing long-sleeved clothing is remarkably practical in this harsh desert country. And wearing loose-fitting clothing is much cooler than tight shirts and pants. I have lupus and have a sun-sensitivity problem which means that I would already wear long-sleeves to protect my skin. I always wear a hat. I just object to the black color of the abaya. <br /><br />I forgot to mention that the men wear white robes. There are two different head-dresses men wear. Some are white and others are red and white checked. I asked a Saudi man the difference between the two headdresses and he said that it is merely a "fashion" choice.Tiffany Wacaserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08224661646987749451noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840441359840260402.post-31319129033970537252012-02-10T23:50:17.317+03:002012-02-10T23:50:17.317+03:00I'm really enjoying reading about your adventu...I'm really enjoying reading about your adventure.Bobi Jensenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07691254928223482975noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840441359840260402.post-21278710305163327512012-02-10T23:46:20.322+03:002012-02-10T23:46:20.322+03:00I have to say, the sleeves are pretty on the abaya...I have to say, the sleeves are pretty on the abaya!Emilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11450808986911204788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840441359840260402.post-7640761733646860902012-02-10T23:45:10.987+03:002012-02-10T23:45:10.987+03:00So interesting. After studying plenty now about p...So interesting. After studying plenty now about pioneer clothing, I can see similarities. Long sleeves, ankle length, hat... it was the style, yet it was also practical in protecting the sun. No way did they wear black and I don't think anyone enforced the clothing, it was just cultural/style. I'm curious to know how much is cultural -- would people just do it anyway because it's style and how much is because of enforcement. The black standard reminds me of the Mormon Fundamentalists restricting their colors too. In pioneer days, they wore all sorts of color. Fascinating.<br /><br />When I did my student teaching in Samoa, I learned that the thigh was sacred and you covered it. It was rude for foreigners to come in their little swimsuits and expose their upper legs. We were always sure to cover up (I swim/swam in shorts anyway already) to show courtesy. So, it's also interesting seeing that comparison with the short sleeves. Again, I wonder if it's for sun protection or culture or what?? Keep us posted!Emilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11450808986911204788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840441359840260402.post-34812029937582771372012-02-10T23:16:19.840+03:002012-02-10T23:16:19.840+03:00I edited my post to add an explanation about weari...I edited my post to add an explanation about wearing my abaya on a daily basis. To clarify, most Western compounds (compounds that house Americans and Europeans) tend to restrict the wearing of the abayas within the compound walls. If you are a resident in a compound, you can dress however you like, without having to cover-up. However, once you leave the compound, you must wear an abaya, even in the car. I live on a compound and only wear my abaya when going outside of my compound.Tiffany Wacaserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08224661646987749451noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840441359840260402.post-9409802031935837422012-02-10T23:07:10.769+03:002012-02-10T23:07:10.769+03:00Very interesting...about the immodest/western clot...Very interesting...about the immodest/western clothing in the stores...the contrast is not lost on me.Jocelyn Christensenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10342635172904848811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840441359840260402.post-56962493635428741902012-02-10T23:05:08.482+03:002012-02-10T23:05:08.482+03:00Wow, that is very interesting about the abaya. Do...Wow, that is very interesting about the abaya. Do you only wear it when you go out, or do you need to wear it at home too? It sounds so hot and limiting. In some ways it does sound nice, you never have to worry about what you are going to wear. But I think it would be hard to have to wear a vail all the time. Especially the one were there are no slits, I admit, it sounds very oppressive. I am glad you don't have to do that much, but what little you do sounds very respectful. When in Rome...My Little Pla.nethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00801562595379782654noreply@blogger.com