The arguments are easily summed up on both sides, but equality can be claimed by either. Should women have the religious freedom to cover themselves in public, even at the expense of ridicule and contemptuous glances? Or should they be "liberated" and dress casually as men do, without having to hide their bodies? Some would say they should be able to choose for themselves while others believe that the social discord and paranoia that is often caused should be avoided entirely through government intervention like the burqa ban in France.
A burqa is a head-to-toe covering worn by many Muslim women when outside the home. In many countries, it is necessary, but in the West it has led to great controversy. France passed a burqa ban with a Senate vote of 246 to 1 (1), with public support of more than 4 to 1. A poll taken in the United Kingdom shows that 67% of Brits are in favor of a burqa ban. (2) It is important to note that there are many many Muslim women who do not wear burqas or scarves at all, but that will not stop the debate from crossing the Atlantic.
I would encourage everyone who is interested to read the articles below and ask themselves: "How would I respond if I saw a woman wearing a traditional hijab scarf, or a burqa? Would I agree with her, disagree, or respect her right to make her own decisions and stay neutral? If I were offended, should the government get involved? Does it rob her of her identity? If so, should measures be taken?"
From a Muslim woman's viewpoint:
Religious background of veils and how it fits into Muslim beliefs:
http://www.islam101.com/women/hijbene.html
Statistics and articles cited:
Abby,
ReplyDeleteThis is a really intriguing post. Thank you! What do you think? Its a tough issue for me. On the one hand I think that its not the governments job to control clothing choices( Whats next? Head coverings? Religious robes? etc.) but on the other hand, I also understand the women's rights side of the issue... Very confusing. Does anybody have any insight?
Just a couple quotes regarding the French ban.
ReplyDeleteHenry Samuel, in a March 31, 2010 article in the The Telegraph notes that, "France has an estimated six million Muslims, Europe’s largest minority, but as few as 2,000 women are believed to wear the burka in France." At the very end of this article he mentions that the French furor over burqas came about in a lead up to elections.
In an article from June of 2009 on Time.com, Bruce Crumley observed the following:
"But what about the rights of Muslim women who honestly feel faith-bound to voluntarily don a burka? Or those prohibited by law from attending public school with the headscarves they wear everywhere else? Why is no one ranting about nuns' habits being "degrading" (as Gerin called the burqa), just as no one lashed out at creeping extremism when then–First Lady Bernadette Chirac covered her head during Vatican visits?
Probably because Catholicism has deep roots in French history and culture and is not viewed as a foreign faith the way Islam is, which, with about 6 million practitioners, is the second largest religion in France. Its practitioners are also growing at a faster rate than Catholics. Indeed, the expanding size of Islam and fears about spreading extremism seem to have emboldened pundits and policy-makers to wade in and legislate aspects of Muslim observance and life in ways that they would be wary of doing with Catholics, Protestants or Jews."
While there are definite human rights issues involving the treatment of some Muslim women, I'm not certain that the kind of legislation recently passed in France will solve those issues, and it seems that the legislation could perhaps have unintended consequences if the law stands and sets a new precedent.
Mary, I am also on both sides of the issue when it comes to women's rights. Women should be able to choose what they wear or don't wear, but hiding under a mask is no way to free yourself from the societal pressures the woman in the article cites as reason to wear a covering.
ReplyDeleteThis, however, has nothing to do with the real reasons for bans. Many in France that the burqa represents violence and repression, thus causing civil unrest. Aside from religious bias, that is the reason why they accept Catholic women who cover themselves but not Muslim women who do the same. So the government's beef does not protect the women at all, or even claim to, it just helps to get people on their side.
Paula, I couldn't agree more with your ending statement. As far as legislation solving the issue, I think the solution is more likely to lie with the hearts and minds of the people, whether the women in question need to liberate themselves or, more probably, everyone else just needs to learn to accept their differences.