I know this is an old thread, but as a long time lurker I've been MIA from QL for a while.
This is a subject that I have a great deal of experience in. As a young(ish) western woman i can not remember the last time I went any where and did not recieve unwanted attention. I won't speculate as to why this is because I wouldn't dream of casting aspersions on any group of people but the fact of the matter is it happens. Because I'm western and don't cover I seem to be fair game. Whilst most western men might give you a glance over (and hey lets face it that can work both ways) I have to say, that sadly, its the locals and, for lack of a more appropriate term, non western ex pats, that do it. In my experience the indians ect tend to just stare (which is not pleasant)the boldest do seem to be arab men. On one occasion I was followed from the car park of the centre to the car park of the Inercon. This was in the middle of the day on a friday. I wasn't in any way improper or "encouraging" as it was only when I got near the hotel that I realised that it wasn't just a coincidence, they were following me. It was made more apparent when they pulled into the parking space next to me and sat and stared as me as I got my gear out of my car. I have been explicitly propositioned on more than one occasion. As a teacher of older students its something that came up in the course of discussion as a hypothetical. Is it ok to say things to a woman because she does not cover?? Scarily, the answer (from one of the nicest and most respectful boys in the class) was "Yes". It was only wehen I personalised it and asked if it was ok for things to be said to me that the boy became horrified. Where does this mindeset come from???
Whilst I would never dream of generalising and in my exerience the majority of qatari/other arab men are nothing but rspectful, it CANNOT be denied that there seem to be a significant percentage for whom western women (and probably any woman who doesn't cover) are nothing but sport.
I know this is an old thread, but as a long time lurker I've been MIA from QL for a while.
This is a subject that I have a great deal of experience in. As a young(ish) western woman i can not remember the last time I went any where and did not recieve unwanted attention. I won't speculate as to why this is because I wouldn't dream of casting aspersions on any group of people but the fact of the matter is it happens. Because I'm western and don't cover I seem to be fair game. Whilst most western men might give you a glance over (and hey lets face it that can work both ways) I have to say, that sadly, its the locals and, for lack of a more appropriate term, non western ex pats, that do it. In my experience the indians ect tend to just stare (which is not pleasant)the boldest do seem to be arab men. On one occasion I was followed from the car park of the centre to the car park of the Inercon. This was in the middle of the day on a friday. I wasn't in any way improper or "encouraging" as it was only when I got near the hotel that I realised that it wasn't just a coincidence, they were following me. It was made more apparent when they pulled into the parking space next to me and sat and stared as me as I got my gear out of my car. I have been explicitly propositioned on more than one occasion. As a teacher of older students its something that came up in the course of discussion as a hypothetical. Is it ok to say things to a woman because she does not cover?? Scarily, the answer (from one of the nicest and most respectful boys in the class) was "Yes". It was only wehen I personalised it and asked if it was ok for things to be said to me that the boy became horrified. Where does this mindeset come from???
Whilst I would never dream of generalising and in my exerience the majority of qatari/other arab men are nothing but rspectful, it CANNOT be denied that there seem to be a significant percentage for whom western women (and probably any woman who doesn't cover) are nothing but sport.