# 2 - Veiled Women

 

Shoe shopping - Intesar, her husband David and baby Akram (Sana’a, Yemen, Jan 2010)

  

A woman in a *setarrah*, a large piece of fabric brightly died in red, blue, green and yellow,. The setarrah is going out of fashion as most women,  at least in Sana’a, are converting to the  all encompassing black balto   http://www.yobserver.com/news-varieties/10012842.html

 

Medina in black enjoying the view from the remains of a stone fort in Wadi Hadramawt (Sept, 2010)

As the above photos indicate, women in Yemen cover themselves, in an extreme way. No flesh visible aside from the eyes and the bridge of the nose. Sometimes the hands, though these can be tucked inside the balto. Sometimes the eyes are covered as well.

David’s wife Intesar is a traditional village woman, reluctant to be seen unveiled anywhere at anytime by any man aside from her husband.

Sam’s wife is different. She was born in Vietnam, to a Yemeni father and Vietnamese mother and was raised mostly in Yemen. Their 21 year old daughter translates US security documents at home. Sam is reluctant to let her interact with the huge contingent of young marines at the embassy. However, when the driver delivers packages, she can walk out to the street to meet him, uncovered. She and her mother sit comfortably on the mufraj at home, with unrelated men present (such as my friend David, above), uncovered.  Intesar could visit Sam’s home, but by her own choice would be in a back room . It is unlikely that she will ever meet Sam.  She is 24.