rationalskepticism.org

Location: Syria, an Arab country bordered on the east by Iraq.
Time: Mid-seventies.

Mini skirts in the Middle East [1966-1975

The short skirt was not really worn by many women until 1966 [when Mary Quant introduced short mini dresses and skirts that were set 6 or 7 inches above the knee] and not nationwide until 1967. The mini skirts reached their hayday in the year 1970. At that time,they were worn worldwide by the vast majority of women ,even in many Islamic, Arab, and Middle Eastern countries.In the Middle East ,women wore mini skirts as their daily apparel. From Kabul in Afghanistan to Iran and Bahrain in the Persian Gulf,Egypt,the Levant,North Africa,etc, mini skirts were the trend and it was generally acceptable for many women to wear them, even in the most religious and conservative families and societies.Among women who wore the mini skirts,were most school and university students , teachers and university staff members ,house wives,working classes,employees in governmental institutions,doctors and nurses in hospitals ,etc.This might be surprising to newer generations who never expected mini skirts to have been, at one point in time [1966-1975], so common in the Middle East.Many of younger generations were really astonished,when I happened to show them old photos of their grandmothers,aunts and other older relatives [above 50 ] wearing mini skirts through out their youth .The quick decline of the mini skirt in the middle East began from late 1975,and was virtually non existent by 1977.Since that date,it never again became a popular fashion among ordinary women in working and middle classes.Today , mini skirts are worn in the middle East by exceptionally few women in private occasions [mostly prominent stars in cinema,music,media and TV,but never again among ordinary women as was the case before].They are generally not seen in public except in very few countries as some urban parts of Syria and Lebanon,mainly in festivals.The question then arises,why was this phenomenon so abundant [ more like an epidemic] among Middle Eastern women in both liberal and conservative countries in the years [1966-1975].Why did this phenomenon fade abruptly from 1975 in particular ,and not before or after? A scientific explanation is still needed.All the theories that were put to explain the [rise and fall ] of the mini skirt in the Middle East are still not convincing. Some might argue that the reason for the demise of the mini skirt is quite clear and simple: In Islamic Middle Eastern societies, women are expected to dress modestly and conservatively. Even women, who choose not to cover up completely, do make the conscious choice of covering as much skin as possible by avoiding, among many other things, short skirts.But the question is still the same.[Why,in spite of the previously stated factor,were mini skirts so abundant between 1966-1975 among ordinary Middle Eastern and Arab women from conservative backgounds?]. Why were mini skirts generally tolerated by the society and most families at that time ? More scientific researches are still needed on this topic,[ mostly in the fields of sociology,psychology and other related aspects] .Doccuments are better than words