Sunday, March 19, 2006

Arab News: "Ministry to Start Field Checks on Lingerie Shops"

Tzniyuskeit is a good thing:
The Ministry of Labor has announced that it will begin inspections of all stores and shops selling women’s lingerie starting June 18 to make sure that only women are employed in them.

Khadija bint Khuwailed Center organized a meeting at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry yesterday to discuss the implementation of a Cabinet decision made two years ago in this regard. Only a handful of businessmen were present at the meeting; the low attendance may have been due to skepticism about enforcing the decision.

Those who attended voiced concerns about the requirement to conceal the stores or sections in the stores that sell women’s items. They also raised doubts about the availability of enough qualified saleswomen.
There isn't really that much to snicker about here. A later paragraph explains:
Women shoppers find it a little strange that they are supposed to purchase lingerie and undergarments from male salespersons in a country like Saudi Arabia. All over the world, women sell women lingerie, they observe.
I suppose what is striking here is the heavy-handed government-mandated lurch from all-male salespersons to all-female salespersons. See Religious Policeman.

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