I still don’t understand – why is it okay for a huge sign like this to be on display here in Saudi Arabia, when images of women’s arms, faces, or with other skin showing in magazines or on products are most often scribbled over with a black marking pen here?
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Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, is KSA's 2nd largest city and is located on its west coast, right on the Red Sea. I moved here in 2007 with my Saudi hubby. This journal reflects the things that I see here, life through my eyes, my lens.
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Your question’s answer is : because in my culture/religion women have to cover themselves from head to toe according to Islamic teachings !
Also, even men it is inappropriate to display such pictures but people there are being less concerned about men’s photos than women !
You have to understand the social values, religion and all your questions will be answered!
Thanks, Hamdah – I understand but I still don’t think it’s fair.
What is the ad for?
A gym? Place to get chest hair waxed? A body-building competition?
Vitamins?
Reminds me (very little) of ‘Mr. Clean’, from the old cleaner commercials. Although, IIRC, ‘Mr. Clean’ wore all white and we didn’t see a bare chest.
Has bodybuilding become popular in Saudi Arabia?
He looks like he popped out of that giant lamp you posted recently. 🙂
He does, doesn’t he? Funny!!!
Good question Susie! It’s hard to understand.
His Awrah is covered! LOL 🙂
Very nice comments from you all but I’m afraid not entirely informative. I believe the answer to this seemingly bizarre contradiction lies in the religious belief shared across the Islamic world – not only SA – that a woman’s body shouldn’t be used as a sex object, sounds admirable enough to me, which is kind of true because femal bodies are usually more attractive and used more often in advertisement for instance, I usually see more women than men in ads. The scholars usually cite indisputable evidence from the Islamic history of such an embargo on female nude photos BUT I agree, if indecent, sexually provoking pictures of naked women should be removed from the eyes of the public then the same should apply to male bodies as well.
One quick comment though, my respectable ewok1993 says that SA is a man’s world but I still believe that women are much far pampered here than anywhere else in the world and I have been to many, many places and live abroad for years and years. Seriously a woman doesn’t have to run from an office to the other to get her paperwork done nor does she have to pay for her family because again it’s the man who’s responsible for all the hardwork, might not apply to every woman but certainly most average Saudis will agree with me.
Thanks for explaining, Grami, and I’m glad that you agree that this type of thing should apply to male bodies as well.
What a funny sign. I’m with you. Doesn’t make sense to me why images like that would be allowed if it’s so stringent to show any part of a woman uncovered. Your posts are always so thought provoking.
Susie: The infamous Saudi double standard.
That is one of the most intriguing images I have seem here. On the one hand the cover up of woman ans on the other this OTT in your face male body shot. Your world is always very different to most others. It’s been a while since I blogged.
It’s a lovely advertisement though. You know it’s a man’s world out there.
It does seem bizarre. A place full of contradictions.
Have to admit that’s the last kind of bill board I expected to see in Saudi Arabia!!! Even of a man!! I do understand where you’re coming from!! Great one for the day though! Hope you have a great week, Susie!
Sylvia