Figure 1.--These Qatari boys in Doha are in the pet Souq. They wear Western clothes while their fathers wear traditional garments. It is bird and small pets night. People including the two boys have brought birds to auction. |
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Clothing in Qatar was largely traditional even in mpdern times. To some extent this was the power of tradition in a deeply conservative society. Traditional dress is standard Arab garments. This reflects the origins of Qatrari citizens. We do not know if any specificall Qatari garments. Another factor was the poverty of Arabia and Persian Gulf emirates. This did not begin to change until after World War II when the oil industry developed. Most boys now extensively wear Western dress. They often wear Western-style school uniforms and play clothes. We are not entirely sure why this is. Do boys prefer Western clothes? The fact that Western clothes are more utilitarian for activities seems to be a major factor. You can't very well play sports in traditional clothing. We see boys for special occasions wearing traditional clothing. We are not sure how common this is. Nor are we sure about social-class conventions. Adults are more likely to wear traditional clothing than children. This may be a political/religious statement.
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