World Hijab Day

[Marzipanface]

AIBU to feel uncomfortable with this day and also really irritated at the lack of discussion over this event from a feminist perspective. There seems to be a wholesale silence from the Feminist blogs and papers I subscribe to, and I can't find any discussion on here. No-one wants to talk to about it.

Just that really.

[iPaid]

I hadn't heard about it. Are we all supposed to wear one?

[iPaid]

Like Red Nose Day?

[GeekLove]

YANBU. To me it's a reflection of double standards again. Why on earth don't men cover up in public if they apparently cannot handle the sight of half of humanity?

[araiba]

what the fuck is world hijab day?

[SweetieDrops]

This thread is the first time I've heard of it, just had a quick search and found this article which explains it a bit more.

[Hihohoho1]

Never heard of it.

Find it very conflicting because part of me feels women should dress how the bloody hell they like and bugger anyone else but I find the premise of women covering up to assist men to control their desires stomach churning.

[Lottapianos]

Absolutely Geek. I believe 'modesty' is required of both men and women in Islam so why are there never any men who choose to cover their face or hair in order to feel 'more spiritual' or 'closer to god'? Its a male problem but women who suffer for it

[LurkingHusband]

Find it very conflicting because part of me feels women should dress how the bloody hell they like and bugger anyone else but I find the premise of women covering up to assist men to control their desires stomach churning

You know the old adage about the cleverest thing the devil did was to make men believe he didn't exist ? It seems equally applicable to the way women have been deluded into obeying mens wishes under the guise of empowerment ...

[ScOffasDyke]

It's a marketing thing, the organiser owns an online hijab shop!

[Hihohoho1]

LurkingHusband

Absolutely spot on. That's a very interesting point and exactly how I feel.

[nonviscousgul]

I wonder if China partakes.

[nonviscousgul]

more information here if anyone wants to try.

"I am so glad to hear that you have discovered wearing hijab. It is a big step towards a proper modest and honorable life. I hope that all Christian women will consider wearing." says one poster.

clever social media campaign, innit?

[LurkingHusband]

I hope that all Christian women will consider wearing

Not sure what religion has to do with it ?

[YoungGirlGrowingOld]

YANBU OP. I am a Muslim convert married to a non-practicing Muslim chap who immigrated to the UK. I don't wear hijab and my husband is appalled at how popular it is becoming.

In my husband's home country girls have to wear mandatory hijab from the age of 7. 7!!! Never mind female modesty, surely any man who is sexually aroused by the sight of a 7 year old's hair should be behind bars? If we have a DD, we will will be going there again.

[YoungGirlGrowingOld]

Argh - will NOT!!

[GeekLove]

Also isn't the whole point of modesty being able to see people as people and not sex objects? If you can't do that anyway, then no amount of dressing up is going to make a difference.

Cultures who don't wear much clothing seem to manage fine without doing so.

[zeromessagesnone]

It doesn't stop with the hijab does it? Some Muslim men refuse shaking hands with women, or sharing the same space with women or talking to female teachers as it's not haram. Will we end up with a different form of apartheid? One where women and men are encouraged to sit apart on public transport, maybe checkouts at the supermarket could be segregated too, and boys and girls no longer taught in school together? What's all this nonsense about modesty anyway? People in the West are getting fed up with all this.

[goodnightdarthvader1]

Feminists don't want to talk about it because they'll be branded as racist.

I personally find nothing empowering about it whatsoever. It's along the same lines as those books that encourage women to "surrender" to their husbands in order to make themselves happier. Yes, by stuffing all negative feelings and resentments deep down inside to avoid arguments

[zeromessagesnone]

much prefer mad hair day

[LurkingHusband]

Feminists don't want to talk about it because they'll be branded as racist.

What's religion got to do with it ?

What's race got to do with it ?

"Culturalist", maybe ? But then some cultures deserve to be called out on misogyny and intolerance. Or am I a tad too radical ?

[Veritat]

I'm quite conflicted about this one. I'm very much in favour of the general principle of showing solidarity against idiots who demonise Muslims routinely and assume they're all bombers. I also fully accept the principle that if you choose to wear the hijab you should be able to do so unmolested. But, on the other hand, if an apparently articulate, empowered woman like the one behind this initiative decides that she wants to wear the hijab, she is essentially endorsing a position that says woman should cover up to preserve their modesty, and that is completely unacceptable.

So, on balance, I'm not going to be taking any part in this. If there's a compromise which allows me to show solidarity against persecution on racial and religious grounds without covering up, I'd rethink.

[Lottapianos]

Zero, I celebrate that every day

I also feel torn at times because I imagine how I would feel if someone told me I had no right to wear my denim shorts or thigh high boots or red lipstick. And yet, I can't help but go back to Caitlin Moran's sexism test - if women are being told to do a thing, and men are not, then that's probably some sexist bullshit!

[fakenamefornow]

Cultures who don't wear much clothing seem to manage fine without doing so.

Actually don't they manage much better. I'm thinking about Scandinavia, aren't they all naked whenever they get the chance.