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While women in Mauritanian society can be found running boutiques by themselves, selling at their own stalls in the market place, and serving in positions within the government, they must conform to a different set of behavioral standards.
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Women seldom travel alone between cities, and if they do a male relative generally escorts them to the garage and arranges their fare and car with the samsaar (the head of the garage) himself.
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Women cover their head, either by wearing a mulafa, a full body veil a little like a sari which covers the head but not the face (although the free end may be used to wrap around the face during sandstorms or if a woman is in the presence of many men and feels the need to cover her face), or by wearing a head wrap, typical of the Woloof, Sonnika, and Pulaar women, a colorful piece of fabric that matches the rest of their outfit.
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When in the company of women, moors may let the head cover part of their mulafa fall back, but they always adjust it before leaving the home.
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Foreign women are not expected to cover their heads, but those that choose to wear tank tops that reveal their shoulders, tight clothes, pants, and skirts that are not full length risk being dubbed “disquette”. In some circumstances this means “pretty young girl” but it is not a word men will use to describe a respected Mauritanian woman.
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Women traveling will be better respected if they wear clothes that cover their shoulders, knees, and ankles. If pants are worn, the shirt should be longer, falling halfway to the knees. Headcovering is not mandatory, but may be a good idea when meeting higher level officials, as they will respond positively to the gesture.
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