Here is a photo I posted to Instagram on the weekend that has been generating a lot of response on social media these past few days:
The man who made the suggestion we ban men from wearing suits rather than women wearing hijab or burkinis was obviously joking but he made a clever point.
Let's be honest about the burkini ban in particular, and the more general discomfort we have with women who chose to cover themselves for religious reasons. It's not about harm or the likelihood of harm coming from someone covering themselves up. It's about the fear of Muslim extremists being amplified to unfairly include all Muslims.
Particularly Muslim women. Women at the beach. Women at the supermarket. Women in the workplace or picking their kids up at school or buying a coffee (or 14 coffees if you're a Muslim woman called Susan Carland who is a notorious self-confessed caffeine addict and who rocks a headscarf like nobody's business).
Because these women and their covered hair and bodies are the REAL threat to security and way of Western life, right?
Shameful — Armed French police order Muslim woman to remove burkini on Nice beach, threatening her with pepper spray pic.twitter.com/BgYm9iOlfv
— سلطان سعود القاسمي (@SultanAlQassemi) August 24, 2016
Top Comments
Please consider the direct impact the forcing of women covering up has on feminism. I find it quite unnerving that someone can trivialise the domination of women. A burka is not an innocent thing and women in the Muslim populations have very strong opinions against its introduction. They deserve respect and consideration and a little education on the matter is essential. The constant comparisons of burkas, suits, bikinis, etc is irrelevant and bordering on propaganda.
But if they WANT to wear a burka shouldn't they be allowed? Shouldn't feminism be about allowing women the CHOICE to dress how they want? (in this case a burkini is much more similar to a hijab than a burka as it doesn't cover the face)
Forcing someone to cover up is s*****. Forcing someone not to cover up is s*****. Neither is required under Islamic law.
You're right, they do deserve respect and consideration. Have you asked any Muslim women in Western countries how they feel about wearing a burqua or a hijab? If they choose to do it for themselves, or if they are forced to do so? Some women, believe it or not, do choose to wear coverings.
Well the origins of the modern business suit can be traced back to the middle ages of the Muslim Ottoman Empire. So banning suits could also constitute an act Islamophobia.