To think to say wearing the hijab brings you 'respect' and 'security'.

[Eltonjohnssyrup]

Just to start off - this is not a 'ban the burka' thread. I respect the right of all women to wear exactly what they want be that a burka, a bivouac, a hijab, short shorts or a bikini.

It was World Hijab Day yesterday. An event which was promoted by government agencies including the Home Office.

The organisation promoting this event has claimed that the hijab brings you 'liberation'. I'm fine with that. I can see how it would feel liberating not to have to worry about bad hair days or styling every day. And feeling liberated is a personal thing. One woman might feel liberated wearing a full length skirt and long sleeves, one might feel liberated in a bodycon dress and bikini.

But then they went on to say that the hijab brings you 'respect and security'. I feel really uncomfortable about this. It implies that there is a type of respect which women who do not wear the hijab are unworthy of. That showing our hair makes us unworthy of automatic respect.

And 'security', security from what? Harassment? Rape? Terror attacks? This sort of language is moving the responsibility for women's security onto women by saying 'wear this and you'll be secure'. In other words, don't wear it and you're taking risks, asking for it, sending out a signal it is okay to grope or harrass you.

This makes me really uncomfortable, especially in the era of me too. AIBU to think that this campaign should be moderating it's language to avoid tarring those who don't wear it with negative associations? And that the government and Home Office shouldn't be endorsing an organisation that uses it? It's not sending a message of 'women are free to wear what they like' and instead is sending a message that if women want to safe and respected they must cover up.

[Tapandgo]

The hijab does not bring a person respect, security or liberation. A bullet proof vest, huge bank balance and independent life could give you that more than a hijab. Utterly ridiculous claims being made about a black shroud.

I’m sure most of us feel respected, secure and liberated regardless of what we put on that day.

[crunchymint]

Totally agree OP and is based on the concept that women who are "modest" deserve more respect and are safer from sexual harassment. Very misogynistic.

[stopfuckingshoutingatme]

It’s some Words to make the many decent women that wear hijab feel more
Comfortable

Let it lie OP sheesh

[ThreeFish]

The home office supported this view? Links please.

[Guavaf1sh]

Absolutely spot on OP

[crunchymint]

Yes please link what the Home Office said OP. Because this deserves to be protested

[lucylouuu]

you say feeling liberated is a personal thing, perhaps feeling secure can be a personal thing to?

[lucylouuu]

deserves to be protested?! because there's a day to make women who wear hijabs feel supported? wow

[shakeyourcaboose]

Emmm so its only 'decent' woman who wear one? Are those of us who don't then indecent??

[crunchymint]

lucy Yes the Home Office should not be saying that women who wear the Hijab are more respected or safer.

[Red2017]

everyone has the right to be respected regardless of how they are dressed

just to clarify hijab is not a head covering it's more than that... loose clothing.. mannerisms etc ...

[Turkkadin]

Again this is a Muslim thing. The scarf is worn by Muslim women.
A women wearing the hijab scarf is seen by Muslim men as pious, devout, not to be leered at in a sexual way. Virtuous, virginal if unmarried, family orientated, unavailable for anything other than a serious relationship if not yet married.

[Turkkadin]

All these things make her worthy of a mans respect.

[SersioulycanitgetWORSE]

It's tricky when we have women being disappeared and thrown in jail right now as a protest against being forced to wear one.

[echt]

shit stirring as usual Elton

????

[MissionItsPossible]

I personally don't mind a hijab if that's what a woman wants to wear but I really don't like the niqab and don't agree with its usage in this country.

[ReanimatedSGB]

It's a tricky one. Women should, obviously, wear what they want, for whatever reason they want (as should everyone) and I have certainly read enough stuff from women who choose to wear hijab or dress in 'modest' clothes as a kind of loyalty-to-their-culture stance rather than being coerced into it. And there are also women who are forced to cover themselves, along with being subjected to other forms of misogynistic mistreatment.
Then again, women wearing hijab in the UK and some parts of Europe are sometimes attacked in the street by racists. So I think the idea of 'National Hijab Day' is well-intentioned but... not getting it quite right.

[crunchymint]

My issue is if the Home Office said that the hijab brought security and respectability.

[echt]

Here's a link to the Evening Standard which mentions the role of the FO:
www.standard.co.uk/news/world/foreign-office-employees-invited-to-wear-headscarves-to-work-to-mark-world-hijab-day-a3761146.html

And here's Al Jazeera:
www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/01/women-unite-world-hijab-day-180130075615413.html

[RunningOutOfCharge]

Well the home office might like to think that

Majority clearly don't though

[BonnieF]

Turkaddin

ALL women are ‘worthy of a man’s respect’, and if he does not respect a woman wearing a short skirt or a low-cut top, the fault is with him, not her.

[InionEile]

If it confers 'respect' and 'security' on women who wear it, then someone better tell that to men in Egypt where there is an 'unparalleled scale of sexual violence in the country' according to a government report covered in Al Jazeera. The majority of women in Egypt wear hijab but it doesn't seem protect them from sexual assault and harassment and that's not even counting rates of sexual harassment and assault in countries like Iran and Saudi Arabia where all women are obliged to wear hijab. Of course, officially, their governments claim they don't have problems with sexual assault because women are forced to dress 'modestly'...

Outside of Muslim countries, I think the hijab issue should be left to Muslim communities to deal with and spend their own resources on. Sure, bolster women's self esteem who wear it but why involve the Home Office and the broader society, which is 95% non-Muslim? Leave it to private individuals to figure out for themselves rather than having the government involving itself in people's religious choices, in either a negative or positive way.