Pantalon Abaya

here's a new abaya style from a saudi designer eman joharjy based in jeddah - pantalon abayas.. the designer claims it to be "the perfect hijab for active saudi women. Whether working hard at the office or while jogging, these exclusive abayas are made from great quality material with innovative design"

innovative? definitely.. however, i would still stick to the classic version of an abaya

what do you think? would you wear something like this?

Pink Hijab Day Outfit

i'm sure you've heard about global pink hijab day, which is coming october, 28 this year.. in case you haven't:

"Pink Hijab Day is intended to shatter stereotypes of Muslim women, as well as raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research. All over the world, Muslims participated by wearing pink hijabs, pink ribbons, and donating to breast cancer foundations"

i liked the idea so much and this is what i'd wear on this day

Breast Cancer Campaigns In Full Swing

october is regarded globally as the breast cancer awareness month.. here in saudi a number of charities, medical associations and individuals have also launched campaigns to raise awareness of the disease in the kingdom, specialy in rural areas

more than 20% of cancer cases in saudi arabia are breast cancer, it being the most common cancer in the country

a breast cancer organization, which is currently at the forefront of awareness campaigns in the kingdom, called zahra breast cancer association, has implemented several awareness campaigns in rural areas around the kingdom, including three mobile clinics

it is reported that in saudi most breast cancer hits women in their 30s, however most women living in rural areas as well as small cities within the kingdom are ignoring the necessity of detecting such diseases at an early stage, as well as the importance of self-detection

as part of "choose wise, save lives" campaign by the zahra association, educational displays and brochures can be seen in a number of supermarkets and malls.. a series of seminars and lectures with the participation of doctors, the media, educators and volunteers are also to take place during october all around the country

moreover, as reported, king abdulaziz university (KAU) in jeddah announced it would establish the first center of excellence for breast cancer in the region, thanks to a SR15 mln donation from a local businessman.. the center will perform mammograms with modern technology and cooperate in research with specialized international research facilities in geneva and the united states.. it will concentrate on young women diagnosed with breast cancer

a doctor at zahra association advises that every woman from the age of 20 upward, should perform a self examination every month, about three to five days after her period.. once the patient reaches the age of 40, she should get a mammogram done every two years and then every year after 50

more on cancer in saudi

sources: saudi gazette, arab news

Lace Is In!

abayas with lace look chic, feminine and simply gorgeous! don't you think?

Fulla In Saudi

i'm sure many of you know fulla, an 11.5 inch doll marketed to children of islamic and middle-eastern countries as an alternative to barbie

the concept of fulla evolved around 1999, and she hit the stores in late 2003 after barbie was banned in saudi arabia because she did not conform the ideas of islam shared by the saudi society

fulla was created by a uae manufacturer from dubai and was developed to have long coal black hair and brown eyes, but later, dolls with lighter hair and eyes were introduced.. she was dressed in a black abaya and head scarf for the saudi market, and a white scarf and pastel coat for other countries.. her outdoor clothes have since become more colorful, but her shoulders are always covered and the skirt always falls below her knees, as muslim women (and men) are expected to dress modestly

fulla is named after a fragrant jasmine flower found only in the middle east.. she's 16 years old, she's arab and her personality was designed to be loving, caring, honest, and respecting her parents.. she's good to her friends.. she's honest and doesn't lie.. she likes reading and of course fashion

fulla has two friends, yasmeen and nada, as well as a little brother and sister.. an older protective brother is in development for her, as well as a teacher and doctor fulla, which are two careers that fulla's creators believe to be respectable.. fulla will not have a boyfriend, because muslims do not believe in romantic relationships out of wedlockin saudi arabia, animated commercials display fulla's life, such as showing the doll saying her prayers as the sun rises, baking a cake to surprise her friend, or reading a book at bedtime.. they also often promote modest outfits, as one of fulla's commercials had warned, "when you take fulla out of the house, don't forget her new spring abaya!"



more about fulla on the official website

No Reservations In Saudi Arabia

if you are an american you might have seen this show on tv.. i've found this episode of no reservations show on youtube and just looooved it.. it shows the nice side of saudi which pretty much nobody knows or hears about.. and ta-da! it was filmed in jeddah where i live :) i also loved this danya girl, she's so sweet and bubbly mashAllah.. in a word, do watch!

Research On Ways Of Flirtation

males trying to pick up with females in public places is an annoying part of modern saudi reality.. however, it is reported that a team of researchers has begun work on what seems to be a thorough study of the problem in order to pave the way for measures to tackle it

22-month study involves the researches going around the kingdom looking at the various ways in which males give females unsought attention as well as the factors contributing to the spread of the activity

they will observe, conduct experiments and interview around 400 individuals who have been detained by the commission for promotion of virtue and prevention of vice (pvpv) as well as 400 females, who are the activity’s most targeted section of society.. the researchers are also going to seek the views of representatives from the pvpv, the judiciary and education, and interview those who are forced to witness the activity most often, such as taxi drivers and shop assistants in popular shopping areas

so far, saudi sociologists name marital delays, lack of accomplishments in life and the feeling of emptiness as the primary drives for men and women to flirt.. in saudi society people don't have to worry about poverty, wars or financial problems, they also have limited opportunities for utilizing their free time, then they want anything to replace the emptiness they feel inside

even with restricted social interactions, people in saudi manage to flirt by means of the internet, mobile phones and bluetooth outlets

source: saudi gazette

Punish Or Help?

police and members of the commission for promotion of virtue and prevention of vice have begun a campaign of apprehending youths who are indecently dressed or behave in public, newspapers report.. police sources say that all who have been arrested so far have been saudi teenagers.. punishment could include jail time and lashes

imho, this is fighting the consequences instead of the cause

according to researches there are three types of factors that cause deviant behaviour: psychological, biological, and sociological.. and though the society can’t change what’s given to a person by God, it can have some influence on the sociological part (obviously)

family is the link to socialization in one’s environment.. in the family, divorce, conflict within family, neglect, as well as too much supervision and spoiling, abuse, and deviant parents are the main preconditions for the offspring’s deviant actions

modern research finds that the lack of support a child needs is a link to delinquency in any race.. children need close, supportive relationships with parents.. what promotes deviance in the home is not being able to talk to parents.. many, however, these days leave video games and tv to raise their children.. the child may feel that they need to get attention elsewhere, thus acting deviantly if their parents are not there for them

family size also leaves an adolescent without the necessary attention they need as an individual.. middle children are more likely to misbehave because they go unnoticed more than their younger or older siblings

all this causes stress, poor self-esteem, aggressiveness, lack of empathy, and fewer interactions with peers and leads to deviant behaviour

too much supervision can be as harmful as the lack of it.. excess control, for example, may lead to decadence, which is luxurious self-indulgence on a personal level and "corrosive decline due to a perceived erosion of necessary moral traditions on a social level".. well, well, well…

however, back to the family.. the most common reasons found that parents abuse their children is because this is a learned function they acquired from their parents.. it truly amazes me when parents complain that their children misbehave while they are the ones who give them patterns of behaviour

another cause for teens to behave deviantly is simply just boredom with their lives, which is especially pressing in this society.. deviant behavior is exciting to the teens who have limited opportunities for diversifying their spare time

other influences outside of the home that can cause a person to act deviantly are peers, media images, and other people in society that set what the norm should be

the very important part of all this is that once a person is labeled deviant they continue to respond to society as if they are.. when more and more people think of these people as deviant they, themselves think they are too.. parents (as well as society) need to correctly punish their children when they see deviant behavior and give them love and care, but the problem is that some people do not understand it