Women of Sabir [Archives:1999/52/Culture]

Sabir Mountain, rising high and over-looking the city of Taiz, is fascinating and eye-catching. Visitors and tourists who visit it become immediately arrested by its beauty and charm. The infatuation lasts for a long time, leading to repeat visits.
The women dwelling in the many villages which adorn it are gifted with natural beauty. This is further enhanced by an elaborate ornament of clothes and jewelry. The Sabir dress has many designs and decorations that are unknown in most of Yemen. Finally, the women wear strong and soothing traditional perfumeries. They also carry on their head-dress fresh flowers that add to the scent.

As one poet ones noted, you feel the approach of a Sabir woman long before she arrives. Famous poets composed lyrics and poems eulogizing the beauty of Sabir women. Many songs carry this theme. But that is not the main point of my story. I want to address the practical and positive attitude of these women towards work. You can see them freely going about their business, not held back by any social taboo.
How did they break the social?
Is It True?
There is a funny story being told by folks of the mountain. The men of that mountain used to go down to Taiz to sell products. Given the long journey up and down a huge mountain, they used to come back home very weak and exhausted. The result was that they could not satisfy their wives. The women could not take it any longer, and went to the Imam (ruler at the time) to complain about situation.
Do you know what he decided? He suggested that the women would be more considerate if they were to go up and down the mountain. The situation developed like a challenge. The women said they would shoulder responsibility of the business, and the men – thinking this to be a short-term enagement – told them they can take over. Well, the process continues as women have proven themselves to be up to the task – both physically and mentally.
Whether that story is true or not doesn’t matter.
The point is that those hard working women have taken charge of the family businesses, leading to almost a matriarchial society.
Breaking the Barriers business mentality. 
There are many stories about how Sabir women sweet talk their customers into buying their products at above average prices. They sellfresh fruits, vegetables, home-made bread, cakes, and of course, qat.
It is easy to recognize them given their distinguished and colorful dresses. They have succeeded in breaking social barriers not only in getting involved in public activity, but also in direct exchange with society. They are so self-confident that openly flirt and engage in extended conversations with strangers. If you stop to chat, you are bound to find yourself buying something.
Taking Business Seriously
In spite of the fact that those women work in close contact with men, and they flirt, they have never been accused of loose morals. To the contrary, they are seen as virtuous, chaste and straightforward.
A few days ago, I saw a man teasing a female qat seller in an impolite way. She was very furious and tried to hit him in the face. Though the women are soft-spoken, they guard their dignity, honor and virtue. veryhighly.
Women of Sabir are productive members of the society, having developed a keen sense of barriers and freely engage in business activity?
More Courage Needed
It is true that those women are deprived of education, but they are independent and display a practical attitude to life. This is ironic as we do find plenty of educated Taiz women who fear contact with men. These are university graduates and holders of high degrees, but they have a frightened attitude to life.
They could not yet free their minds of ghosts of the past while claiming to be educated and open-minded. This should not be understood as prejudice against educated women, but rather a call to them to get rid of negative approaches and indulge in serious work to promote the society. Meanwhile, Sabir women are very active and positively-oriented inside and outside their homes. They are successful both as housewives and businesswomen. Work is not restricted to a particular age group. Young and old Sabir women indulge in business. Finally let us all hope that a more productive future is awaiting all hardworking and productive members of our society.
By:
Mohammed Hatem Al-Qadhi,
Taiz Office Editor,
Yemen Times.
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