androphilia:

The Invisible Women [Saudi Arabia]

“There are tens of thousands mosques in Saudi-Arabia of which most are for men only. Ones that do have a separate section for women are usually larger in size. Sometimes the women’s side will be only a small room in the back or on the side of the mosque which has been totally cut off from the main prayer hall. 
I’ve come across a few mosques like this one that have the women’s section upstairs. They are open to the men’s side which I think is a much better idea and makes the women feel more part of the congregation.
This phenomenon of hiding the women and not allowing them to participate in mosques is not only a Saudi phenomenon, it’s actually a problem in the U.S. too. 
During the time of the Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) women and men prayed together in harmony, women behind men in the same space. The only place I know of in modern day Saudi-Arabia that still has this practice is the Grand Mosque in Mecca.”

— Laylah, November 16, 2011