AIBU?
To be Disturbed by this woman in a Burka? ......
Gingefringe · 11/04/2011 16:45
I saw a very strange event in Debenhams make-up counter this week-end which on reflection, I found very disturbing.
A woman in a full burka (including her eyes covered in thin veil) came up to the make-up counter with a man (presumably DH). The man then proceeded to ask about foundation for the woman and had a conversation with the sales assistant which rarely included the woman at all (apart from trying on a sample colour on her hand).
I felt so sorry for the poor woman - not only to be forced to wear this ridiculous veil but she wasn't allowed even to chose her own make-up!
I did give the man my best evil looks but he didn't seem to notice - perhaps because I was a woman!! I was too cowardly to say anything.
On the day that France bans the burka I wonder whether you would have said anything?
squeakytoy · 11/04/2011 16:47
She may not have spoken English. Why on earth would you give him evil looks? She may be happy to wear the full burka, many women who do so are.
She obviously wears make-up in the privacy of her own home, and has told her husband what he needs to ask the assistant.
justpaddling · 11/04/2011 16:50
This reply has been deleted
Message withdrawn at poster's request.
jesuswhatnext · 11/04/2011 16:52
ime a lot of women who cover up like this have the most fantastic wardrobe of designer clothes that they enjoy wearing in the privacy of their homes, have you never seen the ladies in selfridges and harrods - why on earth would they buy all that stuff if they wernt then allowed to wear it? 
and as for giving him 'evils', he proberbly thought you were an ignorant racist and ignored you!
BleachedWhale · 11/04/2011 17:15
I wouldn't cover up, I wouldn't marry or stay with anyone who tried to make me cover up. I would go to the police if I was threatened as a result of not agreeing to wear a burka.
But if our gvt introduces legislation criminalising women who choose to wear cloth over their head I shall take to wearing a burka in protest.
So will DH. (who is a muslim who believes that women should wear or not wear what they like)
spongefingerssavedmylife · 11/04/2011 17:18
Ah, the we-are-so-fantastically-liberal-and-tolerant brigade are here. Never mind that OP was actually there and presumably able to tell if the man was kind and helpful or just wanted his wife to be made up for his eyes only.
'She may not have spoken English' - oh, well that's fine then, obviously not at all restrictive not to be able to speak with most people!
How odd that people who see someone in a Burka assume that they have a designer wardrobe. Statistically aren't they likely to be less wealthy than average?
nijinsky · 11/04/2011 17:24
BleachedWhale your husband will wear a burka in protest? All the time, when he goes out of the house. Fair dos then. My main reason for finding them offensive to me as a woman, because of the connotations that go along with them, is that men don't wear them. If men wear them equally to women, I will drop any objections I have to them.
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