Attitudes of Professional Muslim Women in Saudi Arabia regarding Wearing the Abaya

Abstract

Clothing choices create a "semiotic sparkle" for the individual, and convey meaning to viewers. In a global world, interpretations may differ, if wearer and viewer are from different cultures. This is the case for the hijab, or required Muslim dress for women, which has been profoundly ideologised. This study explores how young professional Saudi women understand the abaya, the long outer robe, as a fashionable article of clothing. Corpus data was analysed using Appraisal techniques. Positive results indicate they focus on visual details, appreciate its enabling both comfort and elegance, and perceive design-diversification according to social identities, activities, contexts and roles. They view wearing the abaya as culturally authentic, more than a religious duty. Negative results focused on hot textiles in summer, movement hindrance, and cleanliness.

Constructing Identity against a Backdrop of Cultural Change: Experiences of Freedom and Constraint in Public Dress among Saudi Women

“…As a result of this shifting landscape, many urban women discarded the niqab and even the hijab, and young women sometimes allowed Western dress such as trousers, dress, and tee-shirts to peek out beneath their abayas. Thus, although women continued to face systemic discrimination and structural constraints during this time, improving socioeconomic conditions afforded women some choice relative to their dress (Decoursey, 2017; Quamar, 2016).…”

Evolusi dan Eksistensi Model Abaya pada Masa Modern di Jazirah Arab

“…Dulu pakaian ini serba longgar, kini ada yang bentuk pinggang dan modelnya seperti kaftan yang lebih diminati wanita Arab. 48 Bahannya yang jatuh dan lembut seperti sutra dan kain lembut lainnya serta nyaman dipakai menjadi incaran wanita Arab, 49 diharapkan pakaian ini tidak hanya diminati kembali oleh wanita Arab teluk, namun diminati pula oleh wanita di negara-negara asing khususnya wanita muslimah atau wanita yang menyukai pakaian panjang.…”

“…Wanita Arab kini juga memperhatikan pemilihan abaya saat berkegiatan seperti halnya pesta pernikahan, kegiatan formal atau non formal, dalam hal ukuran lengan, potongan, warna, motif, renda sulaman, dan bahanbahan lain yang melengkapi abaya menjadi sempurna. 54 Secara bertahap, wanita Arab telah berpindah dari pakaian tradisional ke fashion yang lebih modern dengan berbagai warna dan gaya kerudung. 55 Munculnya abaya modern membuat abaya menjadi kebanggaan dan masih bertahan menjadi fashion wanita Arab sampai sekarang.…”

Hijab Micropractices: The Strategic and Situational Use of Clothing by Qatari Women

“…The so‐called fashionable abaya has received considerable scholarly attention (Al‐Qasimi ; DeCoursey ; Lindholm ; Moors ; Sobh et al. ; Trainer ).…”

“…Women in the most conservative Muslim countries, such as Saudi Arabia, are legally obliged to wear a cloak and headscarf in public, while relatively liberal states, such as Lebanon, have a somewhat laissez faire attitude toward covering (DeCoursey ). Qatar is situated somewhere in the middle—a conservative Gulf state where there is intense social pressure for Muslim women to wear the hijab, especially Qataris, but no legal mandate to do so…”