If I wore a burqa I wouldn't have to hear men on the street make reference to my body parts...If I wore a burqa I wouldn't have to worry about spending money on the latest fashions...
If I wore a burqa I would feel more safe...
If I wore a burqa men would have to look at my eyes when I speak, instead of constantly glancing at my body...
If I wore a Burqa I would be more modest...
If I wore a burqa it would protect me...
If I wore a burqa I would feel more free...
How would your life be different if you decided to wear a burqa? Would you wear one?
Men, do you think you would relate differently to a woman wearing a burqa?
Men, do you think you would relate differently to a woman wearing a burqa?
This post was inspired by a post at the blog Live From Israel by Miriam, read it here.
14 comments:
It's too hot to where on in the South!! LOL
I feel for women that have to cover themselves this way, hiding their beauty.
I'm not sure I'd wear a burqa, but if I could rock the head wrap/drape and other garments the way Benazir Bhutto did, I may consider adding a few pieces to my wardrobe.
Well as you know, there is now a Jewish sect that introduced the burqas to the religious women there. I guess its only a matter of time before it truly becomes a true question for me.
I have been very inspired by the blog Chola, the brown feminist power lady. She claims to be a feminist, but unlike the typical feminist, she writes, every woman has their rights. Even the right to wear a burqa!
I was shocked by this because most feminist promote wearing less! Furthermore most feminist can't understand certain practices that go on in various parts of the world and thus reject it because its not their practice. No asking the women of that group how they feel about it.
sorry this is getting too long. But I guess what i'm trying to say is: I basically cover myself now for religioius reasons past the elbow, past the knees, hair always covered. this -not the extent of burqa, but I respect those who do it. I wouldn't want it imposed on me but I wouldn't sneer at a woman if they choose to wear it.
Men are men and they will wonder what's underneath that burqa. So yes you will hear those comments and it may be even worst.
Burqa fashion is evolving, and many different patterns, colors, and fabrics are being made. You also wear clothes underneath the burga, women and family members are allowed to see each other without the burqa so fashion matters.
Safety is relevant, I don't think women in Iraq and Afghanistan feel safe, rape and domestic abuse is still prevalent.
More than half the women that wear burqas probably don't feel so free.
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If I wore a burqa I would feel empowered knowing it was my choice...
huuummmm, interesting post here....
while i respect other cultures and their practices and i believe in their right to conduct their lives as their religion/traditions/ tell them to; i have no desire to put on more clothes as i need to-
for one= i live in the south--it's hot and i love convience,
2= i am going through menapause and guurrll--let me tell you--i can't strip off my clothes fast enough at times!
and 3= while i understand the women's reasons (religious & historical) for wearing the burqa- it does not fit in with my beliefs and teachings concerning what God wants me to do for Him and what He wants to do through my life.
i personally feel it is a tool of men to keep women "in their places".
just like in some corporate worlds they do not like for women to wear pants suits--see, i don't fit into that either.
or the thinking that women should not cut their hair off into short styles--i don't fit into that mental prison either.
if the women that wear the burqa are fine with it and want to adhere to the old ways of thinking--it is what it is.
but if they want to stop wearing them and dress for their personal comfort and peace of mind--then they should be allowed to do as they see fit for their lives-and not be killed, or cast out because of their choice to enjoy freedoms.
i don't really care about people looking at my body, what i show of it based on how i dress--i'm not hung up on bodies like that--men are men--and women look too--and, it is what it is.
to me, it appears that they are trying to hide temptations from the eye. well, hiding a womans body in a burqa does not seem to have stopped all the rapes and killings that go on toward the women and young girls in these areas.
it is said, that temptations will present themselves to us everyday-but we have been given the abilities to withstand them.
No burqa for me boo! It would never work with my throwback b-ball jersey collection! LOL!
I had a student who wore one and folks treated her funny until she started sparking up their behinds with her superior intellect, then it was on! She was one of my favorite and best students that semester!
To each his own in my book!
I think that the concept behind the burqua places the responsibility on WOMEN to "make" men righteous, which is a dangerous concept. Therefore on idealogical grounds, I would not wear one. Although, I am a very modest woman and would never have my 'stuff' hanging out either.
If a woman truly chooses the burqua, not out of fear of repercussions, and not because of pressure or condemnation, then I would back her 100%.
But coming from a Carribbean island, the idea of covering my face from the kiss of the glorious sun is incomprehensible.
I have on a few occasions, worn a traditional dashiki, and I love wearing ankle length skirts. The rustle of the fabric makes me feel like a queen.
Randi,
Lol, I think that burqas must not be that hot because women in the Middle East and even in area's around the Sahara desert wear them.
I think I'll do some research on that.
Not all women are made to wear them. Many choose to wear them.
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Mango Mama,
I agree, she looked great in her head scarves. I think that's called a hajib. Don't quote me on it though.
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Miriam,
Don't worry about the length of you comment, I love your comments!
I find it really interesting that Jewish women in Israel are wearing them like their Muslimah neighbors.
I hope you'll post more about this.
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Mrs Grapevine,
You make a good point about the evolving fashions. I know for instance that in my area I see women wearing Hajib (head scarf) but regular western clothes with it.
So I guess it's just a matter of choice.
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WTM,
I think that in most places women have a choice. There are of course extreme examples like the Taliban in Afghanistan, etc.
I wouldn't wear a burqa as a religious statement it would be more just a statement of modesty.
I'm not sure if I would wear one, but I've considered it.
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Professor Tracey,
Wow, you should do a post about your throwbacks; I bet that would be interesting.
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SheCodes,
I'm really speaking more of a personal choice to wear one. I like the idea of modesty.
But you're right, in some places they are placing the responsibility on the women instead of where it belongs.
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Actually, in the Middle East and North Africa Jewish women and Arab women have historically dressed real similar.
For example, in Yemen women wore what is called a Gargush. A Gargush is a head-covering. There was one type for married women, and one type for unmarried girls. Before the 1950's Jews in Yemen married young. 15 to 19 for boys, and 12 to 13 for girls. Depending on what region of Yemen they were from there wasn't much distinction between them and Muslim women in dress. Often the Muslim women would cover their faces, and Jewish women wouldn't. There are a few instances I know of where Jewish women had to cover their faces, but that was not from the Jewish community but from the ruling Shi'ia Muslims in the region.
In Judaism the idea of modesty in dress extended to both men and women. For example, Jewish men used to all wear what is called a Matzar. It was similar to a turban, but wrapped differently than the ones Arabs and Singh wear. Often the Matzar was wrapped around a fez like hat on the man's head. The Matzar cover most of the man's hair. In my martial arts class we wear the Matzar.
Ehav,
Wow, thanks for the info.
MDC --> Out of curiousity, do you own a burba?
Villager,
Nope I was just engaging in a hypothetical conversation.
Actually,
I am a 26 year old male who lives in Harlem, NYC. Often, 9 times out of 10 I have witnessed a woman wearing a full Burqa as grabbing more attention instead of shedding it. Not that it is justifiable or correct, but I have witnessed countless time young men making remarks, howling at etc. at woman wearing Burqas-
I believe the Burqa draws more attention to a woman......
Wow this is the most interesting thing I have come across on the internet. I teach History in an inner city in the US and although I respect and teach my students to respect and tolerate others. I find the idea of a Burqa a very difficult thing to accept regardless of their religion. I can not belive that a loving and tolerant god wants women to cover what he himself has created. I do respect the muslim religion but I think that a burqa is something that a male dominated society has created to hold it's power over women. I come from a place where women are respected and we recieve that respect because we have fought long and hard for it. When a man is talking to me and not looking at my face I let him know he is being disrespectful and by doing that I am demanding respect. Maybe because I am an American and maybe others see us as rude or arrogant but I just cannot see women being controlled in that way and find it horrifying and disrespectful. Respect is something American women have fought hard for, for a very long time.
Who do you think actually created/designed the first Burqa, I have a strong feeling it was not a women.
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