To thobe or not to thobe?
Here’s kind of a sad thought, the thobe is such a great peice of clothing, it’s woven and cut in such a way that it keeps you cool by circulating air and due to it’s material and colour (usually white) it blocks heat from the sun.
As I was thinking about the thobe I started to think about the advantages and disadvantages that it held at a social level. I notice that if I’m wearing a thobe, some people treat me nicer in stores, in other stores they’ll assume I’m rich and bump up the price. Why is that? That’s discrimination in it’s purist form.
What did get me into thinking though was the reaction that I got during my daily activities. In particular, I noted that when I’m wearing a thobe and in the elevator, expats are less likely to say ‘good morning’ to me than if I’m in a suit (which I also wear). I pointed it out to a Kuwaiti friend of mine (who was wearing a suit) who said that it was just a coincidence (which it might well be!) when a person entered the elevator turned to my friend said Good Morning and ignored me (I was on the other side).
It could be paranoia or a coincidence, it could be that I’m vigilant, but trust me I don’t look menacing and usually smile and always say Salam when entering an area. Don’t be shy of Qataris (or Arabs in general), they may look like gliding ghosts (a friend once said that to me), but we’re more like Men in White 
Solution? More expats need to wear the thobe so that the line between Qataris and non-Qataris is blurred. We do after all live in a country which I’m proud to say is becoming more International and globally tolerant (I hope). Oh and for those who are actually thinking of getting a thobe, do it! Qataris will be happy at the fact that expats are adopting their culture and you’ll feel much more comfortable too!
Ahmad said,
Wrote on March 31, 2009 @ 10:29 pm
what shocked me is that more than one my friends told me that when they first came to qatar they were told during the cultural orientation of the companies they worked for that wearing a thobe would offend locals !
it doesn’t offend us ! we’re happy to see expats wearing thobes !
trust me, the discrimination u feel is not paranoia ! I feel it everytime i wear thobe.
i don’t know if it’s fear of respect, but people do treat me nicer !
and that is one of the reasons in rarely wear thobe ! if anyone wants to respect me, they should respect me for who i am and not what i’m wearing.
Daloo3a said,
Wrote on March 31, 2009 @ 11:38 pm
I agree that most expats are told it is offensive to wear a thob or abbaya. I think it is indeed offensive unless u wear it properly out of respect to local traditions which most expats don’t do for several reasons. However, most western ladies would not want to wear the sheila as most westerners either associate the sheila to hijab/islam or think it is submissive to hide their hair and men would not feel at ease wearing just a sewal under the white ‘dress’.
It would be easy to overcome this with proper cultural induction sessions.
Another reason would that some stores do bump up the price for locals. Yet I believe they raise it much more for the western blond with blue eyes and million $$ stereotype maybe not for the asian/middle eastern looking people.
I myself has adopted the abayya that I do wear at several occasions most of the time it feels good to blend it, get the ’special’ treat reserved to locals and wear whatever I want underneath
such as my PJs to work lool
Sybil said,
Wrote on April 1, 2009 @ 8:13 am
I find this so enlightening. I, also, was under the impression that it would be wrong and disrespectful to wear the Qatari traditional clothing if you were not of this culture. Regarding the fact that you are not greeted by expats if you are thobed is interesting. I go out of my way to conquer the stereotype that Qataris are not friendly. I stare them down until looked at, so that I can smile and say “hello”
…not really to that point, but almost! I find that they are very friendly, men and women.
Rohanv said,
Wrote on April 1, 2009 @ 10:13 am
True, you do get discriminated for wearing a thobe in Doha, but honestly, that’s the least of your concerns if you’re worried about discrimination in the country.
I know you’re being honest with the blog post, but it still comes across like the trust fund kid at Harvard complaining to the community college kid about how his parents are forcing him to go to school.
(I’m not one to turn a somewhat light discussion too serious, but it was my response to the post, so I’m putting it down.)
More people definitely need to wear the thobe, but even more so, people in the country should mix more, rather than simply sticking with their ethnicity.
Kei said,
Wrote on April 1, 2009 @ 1:00 pm
Hi Rohanv, but the point of my post is that the discrimination is both ways.
You are exactly right with your last point and that’s what I’m hoping to acheive, if people mix more and the line is blurred then we’ll all live in a better Qatar.
Will said,
Wrote on April 4, 2009 @ 9:54 pm
I wasn’t under the impression that it would offend Qataris if I wore a thobe – I’m just more concerned with what my fellow ex-pats will think – which I know is a stupid view as if they’re enlightened they shouldn’t have a problem with it. I look quite jealously at the locals wearing it as it does look pretty comfortable and is probably perfect in the summer.
About saying hello in lifts – I try to say hello to everyone regardless, but I think that we get it drilled into us not to be disrespectful to the locals – but we’re not quite sure what that means. So some people might think greeting a stranger in the lift is disrespectful, who knows? I think there is perhaps a slight feeling of intimidation from the Qataris that ex-pats feel (not intentional I’m sure) as it’s very clearly their country, and we get told ‘don’t mess with them’ etc.
I think maybe if there were more opportunities for the different cultures to mix socially these barriers and prejudices could be slowly broken down. But I don’t have the answer I’m afraid.
whoami said,
Wrote on October 13, 2009 @ 3:47 pm
interesting discussion. When I first came to Doha, what I found strangest was the unsimiling faces and studiously indifferent expression most people sport especially when they come across a lady. I too have learnt to put a dead-pan face lest I am misunderstood to be a woman who is “interested”! Qataris do put on an aloof expression which breaks into a warm smile only when u get to know them. If they are less conscious of their expression and are more natural ( i dont know what the cultural constraints are) people would feel more friendly. I cant help but add that those who wear a thope usually carry themselves with a flourish, shoulders squared, spine straightened and they carry their head very consciously (seems so to me), all of which does give a very formal and reserved impression. But this discussion would make me look a little differently from now on.
Omar said,
Wrote on December 31, 2009 @ 3:37 am
I am a Muslim Revert, and living in Qatar and I wear the thobe everywhere, and I have found that I get more respect by the locals than if I wore the very incomfortable western clothing. I don’t even own any western clothing anymore, even when I go to the states I wear the thobe.