Women bristle at male staff selling lingerie
sharjah — Despite a law banning men from working in lingerie shops in Sharjah, women have complained about being forced to have “embarrassing” conversations with male staff about undergarments. Several women Khaleej
Times spoke to urged the authorities concerned to carry out inspections at lingerie shops to penalise those caught flouting the rules.
A resident, L. Al Shamsi, said: “How can I walk around covered from head to toe and discuss the size and material of undergarments with strange men? Isn’t that odd? How can I accept a strange man talking to me about intimate wears and ask me what my size is?”
Another resident, Sanna Yosuf, referred to the need to adopt “gender sensitivity” when it comes to selling women’s clothes.
sharjah — Women in Sharjah have expressed concerns over the lack of female staff at the lingerie sections of cloth stores. According to shoppers, the problem is prevalent at open markets like Irani Souq, Al Ghuwair market and Sharjah Central Souq.
Women said they feel “embarrassed” to interact with male staff about the “specifications of undergarments”.
His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, had earlier introduced a law banning men from working in women’s lingerie and undergarment shops. Women of various nationalities are urging the authorities concerned to conduct inspections at outlets that are flouting the rules.
These are private pieces of clothing and gender sensitivity must be adopted, said a resident, Sanna Yosuf. “Lingerie stores should have privacy and must not have male employees. Many women find it difficult to seek help from shop assistants if they are male. It is only logical to have women selling those items.”
Some residents prefer to shop at branded shops at malls “as they follow the rules”. Al Anood Al Jasmi, a resident, said: “It is difficult for me to ask strange men about such things. Also, most shops have surveillance cameras that capture such things being discussed. How can we be sure that such videos won’t be circulated?”
The presence of male staff at such stores has decreased after the law issued by the government. “However, some shops, even if they have a female salesperson, have male cashiers or supervisors and this makes women uncomfortable. I don’t accept men in
Lingerie stores should have privacy and must not have male employees. Many women find it difficult to ask for help if they are male.”
Sanna Yosuif
How can I walk around covered from head to toe and discuss the size and material of undergarments with strange men. Isn’t that odd?”
L. Al Shamsi
I prefer to buy lingerie from branded shops at malls as they follow rules. It is difficult for me to ask strange men about such things.”
Al Anood Al Jasmi
these shops,” said Awadia Mustafa, another resident.
Yet another resident, L. Al Shamsi, said: “How can I walk around covered from head to toe and discuss the size and material of undergarments with strange men. Isn’t that odd? How can I accept a strange man talking to me about intimate wears and ask me what my size is?”
She claimed that many shops employ females to get the licence, but have male managers or cashiers sitting around in the shop. “How can I show male cashiers the undergarment pieces to scan it for making the payments?”
Echoing similar concerns, Maha Khalifa said she found it difficult to shop for private clothes from stores that had a lingerie section with male employees. “The odd thing is that they have women at the cashier desk. Why can’t they have females in the female section?”
Some residents said any shops selling items meant for women must have female staff. A resident, Samah Sultan, said: “In my opinion, shops that sell cosmetics, abaya or garments must have female salespersons.”
Male shoppers voice concern
Some male residents Khaleej Times spoke to said they prefer to interact with women to buy garments for their wives. Ameer S, a resident, said he found it “indecent” to discuss his wife’s undergarment choices with other men. “My wife, who stays in my home country, asks me to buy such items of clothing for her. I have to go to these shops and find it embarrassing to talk to men.”
Another resident, Khalid, said: “I never step into a lingerie shop that has male sales staff or male cashiers to shop for my wife or daughters who live in my home country. If they lived here, I wouldn’t even come to these shops.”