While many Saudis appear to believe that a woman’s place is in the home—preferably pregnant with male offspring—others think women actually have a role to play in the business world. Thus, as Gulf News reports, the Saudi Ministry of Labor is continuing its efforts to have women work as cashiers in supermarkets.
I’m mystified by arguments that having women work in this capacity is haram. Women certainly worked in the markets in the time of the Prophet, and ever since. You can go to various market stalls (or blankets) in any of the souks of major cities and find them operated by Bedouin women. Does the fact that this is not haram suggest that the practice is, actually, fine? Or might it be a perception that Bedouin women are somehow less than human, thus exempt from Islamic principles? I’m pleased to see the Ministry of Labor standing up to the troglodytes.
Saudi ministry undeterred by Islamist threats
Saudi Ministry of Labour to continue issuing work permits to women to work as cashiers in shopping centres
Abdul Rahman ShaheenRiyadh: The Saudi Ministry of Labour has made it clear that it would continue issuing work permits to women to work as cashiers in shopping centres and would not be deterred by Islamist threats to boycott shops that employ women.
The experiment of employing Saudi women as cashiers has been implemented for the first time in leading shopping centres in Jeddah and the Eastern Province,” Deputy Minister of Labour Dr Abdul Wahid Al Humaid said in a statement published on Sunday by Al Riyadh newspaper.
However, the controversial experiment has not been tried in Riyadh and Qassim.
Al Humaid urged the people to cooperate with the efforts of the ministry to find employment for women as this is one of the limited opportunities available for the employment of women.
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September:06:2010 - 18:21
The statement:
“Or might it be a perception that Bedouin women are somehow less than human, thus exempt from Islamic principles?” is close to the truth.
You neglect to mention that foreign Muslim women (from Indonesia, Bangladesh and others) often engage in activities that some view as religiously inappropriate for many Saudi women.
Our clerical establishment does make a distinction between what is permitted for most Saudi women and what is permitted for other Muslim ladies.
September:07:2010 - 12:59
It’s good to see our new Minister of Labor is following the steps of the late Dr. Al Gosaibi. Then again, I’ve worked with Adil Fakeeh before when he was the municipal mayor of Jeddah, and he is a big supporter of women in the workforce. He hired the first ever female Asst. Mayor, and 30% or our department’s staff were ladies.
September:11:2010 - 19:58
I don’t understand this at all. Would the trogs be relieved if the women were working in an open-air market instead of having a roof over their heads?
September:11:2010 - 23:36
When emotion is taking 100% of one’s mental faculties, there’s no place for reason.