To be Disturbed by this woman in a Burka? ......

[Gingefringe]

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?

nijinsky you are the hypocrite. You denounce another country for not allowing women to dress in the way they choose....but what are you advocating regarding the face veil van? Ummmm....that's right, exactly the same thing.

It's not right that women in Saudi can be arrested for dressing in a non socially acceptable way. Nor is it right that women in France can be arrested for the same thing. The difference is only in what is socially acceptable.

mama2plus bump - thank you for explaining

Oh very good nijinsky, it seems to be a security issue with all these anonymous people around, like masked assasins. I think this is a large part of the issue in much of Europe - eg in Italy they had laws against the wearing of masks because people would use anonymity to commit crimes. We always expect people to remove their motorbike helmet for example.

These costumes were intended for life in the dessert - the men wore teatowels on their heads to stop sand getting everywhere is how I think of it. But we dont have sandstorms in this country much, so the outfit is redundant.

Unfortunately, some religious sects have adopted it as a (nother) way to control and limit women :( and some women will wear it in a desperately misguided attempt to gain their approval :(

Wht do you not have any male friends....how is it possible to live in England in the normal way and not have any male friends?

Nijinsky: maybe you didnt understand earlier im choosing to ignore you! I dont have time for people like you. You seem
To associate what muslims/asians do with islaam. I really dont have time for you.and to b honest i dont give a damn abiut running in any shape or form so i know next to nothing about it,one might say how you actually know nothong about islaam just things about muslims? Or was it asians?

I despair that all women you describe are without reason or opinion...

Is having male friends a prerec for being healthy and well adjusted?

Glad its not just me going at the teatowels comment, well i suppose if you give an ignorant racist a platform there own mouth will soon expose them!

Am also LOL that you can't work if you don't socialise with the other sex.
DH doesnt socialise with women, he works alot to support our family. I dont socialise with men but have worked, only reason I dont know is because I'm studying for a profession qualification so that I can work.......

Can anyone tell me when the wearing of the burqa by Muslim women became so fashionable, and why?

Is having male friends a prerec for being healthy and well adjusted?

NO but I would think impossible if you study at uni or work.

My DH often wears oneof these and also wears a turban like this one

and he wears ne of these insteadof a coat (not a white one tho that's for weddings)

Muslim men are supposed to dress modestly and in some areas cover their heads.

Sorry - but surely a woman ought to be able to go out and buy her own foundation - all by herself. No amount of rationalisation will convince me otherwise.

DH doesnt socialise with women

I wonder why?

"Wht do you not have any male friends....how is it possible to live in England in the normal way and not have any male friends?"

What the fuck is the 'normal way'?

I don't have any male friends, yet here I am, living in England.

I have worn jodphurs. I have worn pyjamas. I have worn kilts. I have worn sarong.
I have worn various non-English-traditional pieces of clothing because they seemed nifty and practical.
Has any non-Muslim ever looked at a burqua and thought "brilliant. that's what my life needs".

neither you or dh has any male friends?

YES that is weird.

are you saying muslim women cannot converse with the opposite sex?...I'm not...can they be friends?..I'm not...

mama2plusbump well thats really open minded of you, isn't it??

You also said that if I came into your home, I would surprised to see beyond the veil. I don't personally think the veil is the problem. The problem is that I just don't meet any Muslim women. I would hardly be invited into their homes if I don't know them, so this is an unlikely thing to happen unless there is some great effort made to get to know people better.

When I lived abroad, I made efforts to meet the natives, otherwise I would have been very lonely and got little out of the experience. I joined sports clubs, met them through work and through DP's work and spoke to them when out and about.

How do you go about meeting Muslim women who live in this country? It seems well nigh impossible.

littleducks what if your DH is in a job which requires socialisation with women in order to "fit in" and bring in new custom? What if you were in such a job?

How can you not have any male friends I find that most strange. Unless of course...............................ah I get it YOUR NOT ALLOWED.

I'm struggling to think of one of my female friends who has male friends who they'd meet for a coffee. How could such such a thing happen, here, in England?