To think I'm not being narrow minded?

[Birdylade]

A few days ago a friend and I were talking and I said that burkhas make me feel uneasy because I can't see the persons face, in fact I find them quite frightening. This is not anything to do with the religious connotations and I don't feel they should be banned by the way. I feel exactly the same about balaclavas and when people wear scarves around there mouths with their hoods up and even when people have big sunglasses on and I can't see their eyes.

My friend told me I was narrow minded which upset me as I don't think I am at all, I just feel uneasy when I can't see someones face. Aibu?

Of course with a close friend you wouldn't need to see them smiling to know whether they are being friendly or not. But with people you are just on nodding terms with or strangers you do. I have no idea if I can't see someone's face if they are friendly and open to conversation, aggressive, shy, etc.

I can see this with other women in my neighbourhood and so will think, she looks friendly so I will chat to her. Or she looks angry I will keep my distance.

And of course someone wearing a burkha is like anyone else. And like any other woman some will be friendly and some will not be.

So I will be perfectly friendly in a work situationw ith someone wearing a burkha and outside if someone wearing a burkha was friendly I would be friendly back. But tbh if it was a woman in my neighbourhood who I didn't know, I probably wouldn't say anything.

Also in terms of recognising women in burkhas - I can recognise friends and family from a long way away just by the way they walk - I don't need to see their face. For acquaintances and peopel I am on nodding tersm with, I can find it hard enough to recognise them when I can see their face. I have no chance if their face is covered tbh.

yes lesley, we all need to stay away from those angry looking women :o

DIdn't Jack Straw say something similar and get in a whole heap of trouble?

OP I think yanbu. I don't like burkhas for a whole heap of reasons too, but bear in mind that some people will call you 'narrow minded' just because you are disagreeing with them.

You haven't seen some of the women I see! Some are serious scary .

Although in fairness I guess it is more likely that some will be unfriendly rather than angry.

Whole heap? whole heap of everything!