You were travelling through a region where men and women routinely experience significant differences in the social, legal and economic environments they inhabit. The doctrine that drives this includes the notion that women should be protected from the prurient attention, while men are protected from sensual distractions and temptation.

You will remember the furore in the west about the potential for lechery when full body scanning was introduced. If similar technology is employed in this region you can expect either separate lines with female teams of technicians inspecting images and conducting any intimate searches; or if that is not practicable (or desirable) women will face less intrusive security.

For you that represents discrimination against women (and that's without considering the issue of self identification of gender!); for others it's a practical approach to security which respects the social and religious norms they live by.

My issue would focus on the security aspects raised by the procedure followed, not the separation on gender lines.

The official approach to gender allocation is avmore simple matter here, not nuanced by self declaration and gender choice.

I'm afraid that's something best accepted, if not embraced, when you visit the country, however fleetingly. Raising the issue locally, directly, in situ, isn't wise: by all complain formally to the airport management, the wider Qatari authorities and involve your embassy - but provoking an official following established procedure will get you absolutely nowhere, except in extreme circumtances, which might see you cooling off in detention.




On racial discrimination, it is widespread and can be brutal when it also involves social and economic status. But that is something you are unlikely to experience.