An interesting article in today's 6Days, where a female reporter writes about her experience on a Dubai public beach during Eid (oh how brave she is!).
A couple of weeks ago I wrote a post about being able to walk without feeling like we are being undressed by some stranger's eyes. Well, now it seems women can't swim in peace either, with hundreds of men standing there, staring blatantly at half naked women, trying to brush against them and even trying to talk to them....
When asked why they behave this way, some men admitted to going to the beaches purely to gawk at women: "I regularly stroll around the open beach. I like to see beautiful women [...] I only look at them from far and if I really find them attractive, I go near them. There is some sort of satisfaction when I look at them" said Khalid Khan, a 36 year old married man.
That's why I never go to public beaches. I go to a beach to be able to relax and enjoy the sun, sea and sand....I would definitely not be able to relax if there are dozens of men walking around searching for the next victim of visual harassment. So, instead, I am stuck having to pay for a pricey membership fee at a hotel (or a pricey daily entrance fee of Dhs 150 or above on average), when I could be enjoying a perfectly beautiful, free public beach instead!
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3 comments:
I felt really torn reading this piece in 7 Days. I'm not a beachgoer myself, but the behaviour they describe is totally unacceptable and very intimidating for women - even just the staring.
However I can't help feel sorry for those poor "bachelors", many of whom I'm sure are married men with families back home. Not only are they kept in conditions as bad as factory farmed animals (maybe worse in some cases) but in their few off hours, nobody wants them in the malls, in the parks or on the beaches. Where are they supposed to go? And let's face it, it's not natural for most men to live like monks, so who can blame them for looking at women, particularly scantily clad ones?
You have Emaar and Palm to thank for that...
Khalid Khan Inta-l hheen fee tasfeeeeer!
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