Abaaya at workplace · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Arab Pearl of Chronicles of Life from Oman is discussing the interesting issue of work dress code, of woman at Arab world in general and gulf countries in particular. She asks, why should not dressing Abaya become such an issue especially in countries where the abaya is not enforced upon women? Why do educated people take such offence when a woman decides to dress up in a suit to work, especially when it is respectable attire? Why is it all of a sudden an issue if a woman decides to wear the headscarf at work as her choice to show respect to those who are conservative, yet when she removes it out side of work, they judge her and look down on her? Is it fair to judge a person because of the choices she makes and especially if this individual is one who is respectable, even though, wearing the Abaya or the Hijab was never compulsory for her?!