Comments on: To thobe or not to thobe? http://blog.iloveqatar.net/2009/03/to-thobe-or-not-to-thobe/ Delve into the mind of a Qatari; Working hard to make Qatar a better place :) Wed, 08 Feb 2012 07:49:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Drummeralf http://blog.iloveqatar.net/2009/03/to-thobe-or-not-to-thobe/comment-page-1/#comment-2486 Drummeralf Fri, 18 Mar 2011 22:22:00 +0000 http://blog.iloveqatar.net/?p=521#comment-2486 hi emily , well i think from what i have heard since is that the locals find it amusing but u get better treatment in shops and so on. my friend who works there does not have to wear one to work but must wear formal dress so in the summer he just wears a thobe and his wife wears abaya. they do not get bad atention or looks and are in general treated the same as they normally are in shops ect. he wears a blazer over his thobe when he is not going out doors for a long time. hope this helps. and the arab people are very friendly from my experience so i dont think you will have many problems ;) thanks alfie hi emily , well i think from what i have heard since is that the locals find it amusing but u get better treatment in shops and so on. my friend who works there does not have to wear one to work but must wear formal dress so in the summer he just wears a thobe and his wife wears abaya. they do not get bad atention or looks and are in general treated the same as they normally are in shops ect. he wears a blazer over his thobe when he is not going out doors for a long time.
hope this helps. and the arab people are very friendly from my experience so i dont think you will have many problems ;) thanks
alfie

]]> By: Emily C Reubush http://blog.iloveqatar.net/2009/03/to-thobe-or-not-to-thobe/comment-page-1/#comment-2475 Emily C Reubush Fri, 04 Mar 2011 13:17:00 +0000 http://blog.iloveqatar.net/?p=521#comment-2475 Great post. I am a caucasian American expat here, and have lately been investigating whether it would be appropriate to wear an abaya-- I find them graceful and beautiful, though, unfortunately, certainly not quite as cooling as a throbe. Great post. I am a caucasian American expat here, and have lately been investigating whether it would be appropriate to wear an abaya– I find them graceful and beautiful, though, unfortunately, certainly not quite as cooling as a throbe.

]]> By: alfie http://blog.iloveqatar.net/2009/03/to-thobe-or-not-to-thobe/comment-page-1/#comment-1809 alfie Wed, 28 Apr 2010 18:52:34 +0000 http://blog.iloveqatar.net/?p=521#comment-1809 hi i went to qatar last year and i am planning to live their soon i do not know weather to wear the thobe or not i would be more comfortable and i would like to wear it but am i offending locals or will they laf at me if the will what shall i wear to show my respect or is the thobe okey hi

i went to qatar last year and i am planning to live their soon i do not know weather to wear the thobe or not i would be more comfortable and i would like to wear it but am i offending locals or will they laf at me if the will what shall i wear to show my respect or is the thobe okey

]]> By: Omar http://blog.iloveqatar.net/2009/03/to-thobe-or-not-to-thobe/comment-page-1/#comment-1394 Omar Thu, 31 Dec 2009 00:37:11 +0000 http://blog.iloveqatar.net/?p=521#comment-1394 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. 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.

]]> By: whoami http://blog.iloveqatar.net/2009/03/to-thobe-or-not-to-thobe/comment-page-1/#comment-1148 whoami Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:47:10 +0000 http://blog.iloveqatar.net/?p=521#comment-1148 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. 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.

]]> By: Will http://blog.iloveqatar.net/2009/03/to-thobe-or-not-to-thobe/comment-page-1/#comment-397 Will Sat, 04 Apr 2009 18:54:40 +0000 http://blog.iloveqatar.net/?p=521#comment-397 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. 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.

]]> By: Kei http://blog.iloveqatar.net/2009/03/to-thobe-or-not-to-thobe/comment-page-1/#comment-388 Kei Wed, 01 Apr 2009 10:00:27 +0000 http://blog.iloveqatar.net/?p=521#comment-388 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. 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.

]]> By: Rohanv http://blog.iloveqatar.net/2009/03/to-thobe-or-not-to-thobe/comment-page-1/#comment-387 Rohanv Wed, 01 Apr 2009 07:13:55 +0000 http://blog.iloveqatar.net/?p=521#comment-387 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. 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.

]]> By: Sybil http://blog.iloveqatar.net/2009/03/to-thobe-or-not-to-thobe/comment-page-1/#comment-383 Sybil Wed, 01 Apr 2009 05:13:16 +0000 http://blog.iloveqatar.net/?p=521#comment-383 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" :D ...not really to that point, but almost! I find that they are very friendly, men and women. 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” :D …not really to that point, but almost! I find that they are very friendly, men and women.

]]> By: Daloo3a http://blog.iloveqatar.net/2009/03/to-thobe-or-not-to-thobe/comment-page-1/#comment-381 Daloo3a Tue, 31 Mar 2009 20:38:31 +0000 http://blog.iloveqatar.net/?p=521#comment-381 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 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

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