Gender accessibility to different spaces in Qatar

We talked in class about gender polarization and how it separates the two genders in the society, and even creates spaces specific for each gender, like bathrooms, or even schools. We also talked about how it’s more acceptable for women to cross the social constructed rules for her gender than it is for males. That made me think about how this phenomenon applies here in Qatar, and specifically for spaces. It occurred to me that the special separation is even stronger here because of the Hijab, making the access of males to female spaces harder than the access of females to male spaces.





Most of the Qatari women wear the Hijab, and that creates a restriction for men to enter many places, as I mentioned. For example, men are not allowed to enter ladies beauty saloons, and it’s so obvious that there is a sign on the front door that says no men allowed. On the other hand, there isn’t any similar sign that restricts women from entering the males’ barbershop. Some people would say that it is still not acceptable for women to enter males’ barbershops. However, its not a formal rule like in the case of women’s saloons.





Another example that shows the limited access males have to spaces specified for females, is the gym. If we look at the gyms here in the student center, we can see that there is a gym for females and a mixed gym, where both males and females are allowed in. It is forbidden for males to enter the females’ gym, but there isn’t a gym for males where females are not allowed.





The same happens with swimming pools. There are pools that are open only for females, other open for both males and females. Also, some of these mixed pools dedicate about five hours a week for females only.
A similar example to that is the cinema. A few months ago, a new cinema theater for females opened in Aspire. Males are not allowed into that space, and if we look at cinemas here in Qatar, we will not find any cinema that allows males but not females in. moreover there are parks opened only for females and children, and the zoo also dedicates Tuesdays for women and children only.



In my opinion, it is not only the Hijab that affects this special division and accessibility. This is also happening because many Qatari families are not comfortable with letting their women going alone to mixed spaces. That’s why they created spaces like the females only cinema and parks; to accommodate with the social norms and give women the chance to have fun together outside their homes.