Monday, January 09, 2006

How funny would arabs beer bonging be?-- Drinking Stereotypes

My New obsession, he's just amazing

The Charming Lads--as they like to call themselves--and I decided to drive to a nice lounge and enjoy a few hubblies and good conversation before classes start and work overwhelms us. It so happens that we stumbled upon a planned event which drew a huge eclectic middle eastern crowd-- My favorite.

Believe it or not, as much as I babble on here, I'm actually very quiet in real life. Observing is my hobby. People are the most fascinating subjects.

We were seated between the most amusing bunch-- a group of 3 Saudi guys/men with slicked back hair, pungent afflicting aroma, and shiny shoes on one side and a group of what my friend has assured me is a mix of 4 Saudi/Kuwaiti gals on the other.

To recount the whole evening would take too long of a post. What interested me is their choice of drinks. The guys next to me asked for beers all around. Not unexpected, it's not exactly news that our good boys indulge in alcohol while abroad. After a few minutes my friend, amused, nodded towards them. I hear them ask for a round of Tequila shots.
I get up to visit the lady's room, and as I'm powdering my nose (not really.. I was speaking on the phone) the girls enter with a rush of excitement. Out of the corner of my eye I see a golden flask making it's way around after each takes a few swigs.

Later on, with my head swimming from all the smoke, we get up to leave and the girls do the same. They're steady and seem to have had fun, while the guys are getting belligerent and are stumbling about the place.

So--
Why the double standards?

Why must the girls drink stealthily in the bathroom out of a flask like it's the prohibition while the men are out flaunting their indiscretions? Both genders are equally in the Haram .. no?
Why is it "6aish shabab" when the guys drink and "wa7da say3a o khalas abad moo naf3a" when the girl does?

Hell while I'm at it, what is the scale? is drinking alcohol more haram than .. say.. speaking ill of others?

Someone should've taught the boys from the homeland the old limerick: "Drink liquor before beer, and have no fear.. drink beer before liquor, and you're gonna get sicker."

| 16 CoMmEnTs| -- Posted by [[ On My Own ]]--|Permanent Link|

16 Comments:

no matter what we say or do... this double standard will always exist... 3araby guys get away with many things that a 3araby girl cant... like you said, she will be labeled "9ay3aa" right away...

i still dont get how ppl can drink... its not about 7aram and 7alal... its about what it does to a person... i dont know, i just dont get it... personally, its a turn off for me if a guy drinks... i just find it disgusting!

By  Anonymous, at 08 January, 2006 22:08  

Yeah, why the double standards with everything we do? Interesting post, lol and to START talking about would mean I'd be glued to the laptop for the 24 hours, typing fervently :p

P.S. "Someone should've taught the boys from the homeland the old limerick: "Drink liquor before beer, and have no fear" good one Lenz ;)

By  Sedna, at 09 January, 2006 07:43  

adaydreamer: It's the label that I hate, the least they can do is turn a blind eye like they do towards the men's antics.
There's different levels of drinking, those who drink excessively are a turn off-- but usually they're hiding a bigger problem.. so I doubt it's the drinking that is the concern.

sedna: heh.. thanks babe.

raf*: I would've guessed you to be the vodka-straight type.

P.S Thanks. We're an odd lot aren't we.

By  Trevelyana, at 09 January, 2006 18:56  

Gender is irrelevent in Jeddah.. if you drink, you drink. No one would really care especially if you belong to a notorious family who consume alcohol on a daily basis, serve it to guests, parties etc etc.

I'm guessing if they were Saudi girls, chances are they're from Riyadh.. and after all Riyadh is the ultimate when it comes to double standards.

lol ،اخرتها... يبون يعرسون.. وهذا الواقع

By  Anonymous, at 10 January, 2006 05:21  

There should be no double standard, but there is. It is at all levels of personal activity. Drinking, smoking, sex.

Ever heard of a woman turning down a man for marriage because he wasnt a virgin? I can see it now, the woman who has lived the high life then wants to settle down and marry the virgin man with a beard?

Either way, it is wrong full stop. As to drink being worse than back talking, I would say it is, healthy wise and otherwise, but then you get into deciding which sin is worse than others as a way to justify what you do.

Happy Eid!

By  أبو سنان, at 10 January, 2006 08:11  

I see double standers in everything here in Riyadh but not in drinking... Drinking for both, male & female, is forbidden by society (& religion of course)
All I hear about is how good Saudi guyz were rejected in 5e6ba-wise coz of their issues with drinking...
I think Saudi ppl have changed the past two years – just a little- so this should give us hope for future tremendous & significant change…

By  $uper MO, at 10 January, 2006 16:38  

7tenths: Ya religion class leashed me.. you should've seen it, it was in English.. and one day she bursts out with "Alcohol is the DEVIL'S water".
As for smoking, it has spread through the female population within the past 3 years.. suddenly every other girl over 14 smokes.

Loki: No one's preaching here buddy. I recounted an observation.. you can agree or disagree. Ideally, you're right.. we're all judged as equals in the end. But in the eyes of many, I find that we females are prodded at on a different scale.

Catch: I never knew it was so common in Jeddah. Very interesting.. so you'd have saudi women's gathering with drinks right under the formidable male's roof? As long as she's covered up from head to toe when she leaves the house..heh.

heh.. مالهم الا ذا العرس
You should've heard the conversations they were having.. The term "Man-Trap" comes to mind..

Abu Sinan: No justification necessairy on my part.. and even if there was, I'm not one for denial.
Simply an argument that comes to mind from time to time.. that we don't know which sin is graver, and then we end up tailoring them to our comfort..

$uper Mo: You'd be surprised Mo. I've personally seen three or four semi-"public" booze serving esatblishments fully stocked.. Albeit frequented by the expat community and the more "liberal" saudis.
Yes we have changed. But unfortunately we can't rid ourselves from the hypocrisy and double perceptions that lace us.

By  Trevelyana, at 10 January, 2006 17:03  

If men are caught, they might get a light verbal lecture on how it is haram and blah blah.
Women on the other hand, would probably be locked up for the rest of their lives and have all their freedom taken away.
The double standard exsists because everyone allows it to exsist!

By  ghoweljlsfqwef, at 11 January, 2006 12:26  

Covering isn't a big issue either.

I see a movement going on where girls refused to wear their Abayas (that horrible black cloak) and replaced it with colorful athwaab..no head scarf thats one look. The other would be replacing the Abaya with a knee length shirt (sort of like a lab coat, but colored)

I've also come across foriegners who didn't wear the Abaya period.

Needless to say, proper beachwear is a must in Ub7ur. It's the beach for Gods sake!

But in comparison, Hijazi females are more outspoken and less restrained than males. Both genders are equally easy going. But women tend to be a tad bit "louder". So it's normal to find relationships where the wife has full control over her husband.


& in all cases, GOOD FOR THEM!

By  Anonymous, at 12 January, 2006 11:15  

Dotsson: Locked up?.. maybe if her parents are benevolent heh..

Loki: I don't.. or rather, I try very hard not to.

Conformity doesn't suit me.
Thank God.

By  Trevelyana, at 12 January, 2006 11:16  

Catch:
Is it just me or is Riyadh a decade behind?
A few years ago I went back to find streaked teased manes strutting their way across the malls, I thought thank god.. let the poor follicles get some air.
Then I go back last year and the head-to-toe shroud is dominating again. There is not a smidgen of individuality in Riyadh.. it's depressing.

An old expat teacher of mine was forced to pull up her shoulder design abaya over her head for not having a 6ar7a.. so there she was dawdling along, hunched over.. with her pale shins exposed..

I've developed an infatuation with Hijazi women's attitude.. Riyadh women seem to be caught up in a string of fake decorums they try so hard to keep up.

If only it wasn't so humid in Jeddah.. it'll just kill my hair :)

By  Trevelyana, at 12 January, 2006 11:35  

oh don't be tooo infatuated my darling.. we have our share of secrets that are too shameful to be revealed... (evil grin)

By  Anonymous, at 12 January, 2006 14:30  

to say that Riyadh is only a decade behind is putting it mildly.

too bad the city's planning doesn't suit it's inhabitant's mentality..such a shame really

By  Anonymous, at 12 January, 2006 14:42  

The planning isn't that great either..
Have you noticed there isn't a place to just .. walk. The chance to stroll on the rare pleasant days is non-existent. How about eating or enjoying a cup of coffee out in the open air?..

Of course one can always enjoy a lap around their own 7oash.

By  Trevelyana, at 12 January, 2006 20:43  

When I said planning I meant the infrastructure of the city. It's well planned in a sense that Riyadh is infact considered to be a Metropolitan city. It is well organized that it is open for expansion. Riyadh's building codes are unified - or let's put it this way... the city HAS a code!

and by codes I mean regulations in regards to building and construction.

So to sum it all up, what I'm trying to say is that Riyadh as a city is too hi-tech for it's people.

By  Anonymous, at 12 January, 2006 22:51  

True.
Yet much of the less glittery neighborhoods are still very poorly attended to. But I have to give them credit.. overall it's a pleasing sight.

For all the good it'll do us though.. I pity the fool who attempts to be a tourist in Riyadh.

As for it being too hi-tech for the people.. I'd like to defend them.. but I'd be lying. They say you can take the people out of the ghetto, but you can't take the ghetto out of the people.

By  Trevelyana, at 13 January, 2006 09:32  

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