Bear with me as I jump around in my brain with my thoughts on the French ban on Burqa style veils.
Bear with me, as this is a subject I am not comfortable writing on. I'll make mistakes, so please correct me if I'm factually wrong about something. I have to tried to be clear about what is my opinion.
To Start
I very strongly disagree with the multiple religions that require modesty in women, whether the sleeves and longer skirts required by Mormons or the full head to toe, face covering Burqa of Islam. I feel modesty is a good thing, but something an individual should be able to control.
And how can we draw those lines? My most modest dress is in fact sleeveless. So why create an often arbitrary religious rule or guideline? No sleeve can hide human sexuality, its what we're made of! Its how we got here! And it will come out regardless. Covering a body part does not hinder the brain, if anything it stimulates it! After all, there is fantasy.
(Broadly) On America's understanding of Islam
When it comes to Islam, I think westerners like myself are generally unsure (although some are far too sure Muslims are terrible people-they started in the old testament too you know). When I first learned of the proposed ban on Islamic headscarves in France, I thought it was insane and would never pass. To think millions of French Muslim women just going without (what I see as) a very essential part of their Islamic identity! Then I learned that there are many kinds of veils in Islam, and most of them are not included in this ban. This link explains the different types of veils that the diverse women of Islam wear. If you haven't looked at and thought about these different styles, I strongly urge you to read the descriptions of each style or at the very least look at the pictures. Muslim Veils
I have seen women wearing the Hijab, Al-Amira and Shayla in beautifully feminine ways.
I have seen Mizzou students wearing Mizzou tshirts, jeans, and north pole jackets with Hijabs who blend in with all the other MU students in nearly the same outfit.
I have seen women in the Khimar veils at the store, and the thing I always notice about them is the gorgeous patterns and individuality that each woman displays through her covering.
The very same way women who don't wear veils create individuality through a dress, shirt, or jewelry.
I think its beautiful (although I'm sure an aspect of the beauty for me is the foreignness of the garments and patterns).
That being said, as a non-Islamic woman I find the Niqab, but especially the Burqa to be dehumanizing. I choose not to wear one, but still it tugs at my heart.
I think if I ever travel abroad, it would take the threat of being arrested for me to even consider wearing any scarf. Even one like Ann Curry wore in her interview with the Iranian president that showed her face and much of her hair. Not to mention it was not pinned or tucked in, but laid loosely on her shoulder.
On the choice
I respect a woman's right to choose what she believes about what is best for herself, including a decision to wear a burqa. But I myself cannot comprehend the emotional weight of wearing such a garment.
I have issue with what it could to do to my self-worth and the ownership of my own body. Not to mention the incredibly complex social ideas about gender roles which I will not even attempt to go into.
I do consider the fact that I have not been raised in a culture where these garments are a common option for women.
Possibly as a result of this and surely as a result of my feminist views (you know that radical idea that women are people too) the idea of wearing this garment makes my stomach sink.
It really tugs at my heart.
I have read women who say it allows them to be more confident because they are not subject to men's judgement (*is it really just men?? I think women in our culture dress up for other women) and that they are judged based on their personality and character content instead.
The problem here is that it places gender roles on men, expecting them to behave in this way. Dare I suggest affirming that its acceptable for them to have these thoughts, that really its our fault, we should cover up.
Can we not hold them responsible and require them to move past objectifying someone's body? Can we say no, it is not my fault?
Around the world
Turkey has a ban on scarves in civic spaces like school and universities, as do German states who have varying bans on the veils for teachers and civil servants.
The problem is that these bans cause problems for Islamic women's education and job prospects.
Yet I think the ban that is passing through the French government on burqas and niqabs is disturbing. I think it may be a result of being American that I could think so automatically, so quickly decided that this is wrong on such a basic level. I'm accustomed to having complete religious freedom (aside from killing people and what not) which means in America (I pray!) that we would never be able to pass such a law through any one tiny piece of the government.
To make something some Muslim women have worn for their entire lives illegal, I just cannot comprehend it. This NPR article discusses it, and something I found interesting was that they mention that out of the 5 million Muslims in France, roughly 1900 women are believed to wear theseface covering styles.
I understand that these styles are seen as radical Islamic coverings, and that the Quran's meaning on the subject is debated, as many things in the Bible are. And that many Muslims find them unacceptable, particularly in European culture.
But its just not right to me. If that woman chooses a religion that involves her wearing that veil, the law takes away her ability to choose for herself, and instead decides what is best for her. This is the very simple but common problem with sexism. It may be veiled (no pun intended) as a way to create tolerance or secularism or whatever, but all it does is take away a woman's right to choose.
I know that I have not fully discussed, mentioned, or even realized all of the assumptions, guesses, judgements and arguments I have made on this subject. I can't do it justice because its beyond me, and thats fine. However, I want people to think about it, I want people to read the articles. I want to place this little smidgen of an idea in your head. Because I don't want to leave that job up to someone else if I can attempt it.
And here are some beautiful women, whose religious ideas I do not now.
This first one is from the Sartoralist, a fashion blog, whose author asks for discussion on her style and self expression, not her religious or political views.
