aibu to feel slightly on edge when I come across women in the full black burka?

[caroleharolde]

I just always feel slightly threatened, I know the vast majority of Muslims are lovely nonviolent people but.just this sight always unnerve me. Be honest, who hadn't felt a bit uncomfortable when passing by a huddle of the burqa wearers? Not trying to be racist, I'd feel the same if it were Christians or Jews or any other religion wearing it.

Addicted even.

Redshifter - I thought the Quran only told women to cover their hair rather than face. I'm not aware Islam tells women to cover to the extreme of a niqab. Many muslim women wear western clothes, some the hijab and some wear the niqab or burkha. it's not as though there is a blanket decree od you must veil a veil and cover up totally. And I've seen many Muslim men dress more conservatively and "modestly" than some Muslim woman. Just don't think you can talk in absolutes here.

im apprehensive about them because my hearing isnt the best and i rely on body language a lot if i cant see a persons reaction i get nervous and stutter a bit! i find myself peering at there eyes i must look like a loon really!! a friend of mine used to wear one and as soon as we got indoors she took it off i was so much more comfortable with her that way!

feel silly but i dont feel unreasonable?

I find it unnerving as I personally don't like clowns, masks or hiding faces. I also find it sexist, if it wasn't then both male & female would wear. I also think we shouldn't have to cover ourselves, God made us perfect, and if we were meant to be covered we'd be head to to fur like other animals.

Youthecat- were rude and dismissive towards Defuse. And you have an air of sarcasm and superiority towards those who disagree with you for their own valid reasons.

My views are my own. I do not express them because of a desire to be seen as some right on liberal. Very fucking insulting.

You still can't explain how I was rude can you? I'm Aldo intrigued as to how I'm sarcastic

And now you're resorting to swearing - I get a hint that someone's very angry.

i get angry when i see women covered head to toe

yeah but bunny, we wear clothes which means we are covered. fwiw i would feel a bit unsure if i noticed someone strolling around town naked.

Before you go shouting about niqab being incompatible with feminism and liberal democracies, have a quick read of this - broaden your horizons. white feminism

I read it and nope sorry doesn't 'broader my horizons'

What a patronising link defuse.

This sentence is a bit

A common suggestion for white people who want to get a clue is to simply listen

Haven't read the whole thread, thank you to the person who clarified the difference between hijab, niqab and burqa. I actually really like the hijab I think they look very feminine, for me, it's the solid dark colour of the burqa that I find a bit uncomfortable not about who is underneath

Lebanon, Iraq, Syria. Afghanistan, Egypt, Sudan, Pakistan. 6 countries where bombings/mutilation have occurred this week between Muslim communities. Why are are we trying to explain Islam here?

oh sorry, i didnt realise that its ok to be patronising towards muslim women but not the other way round

I don't believe anyone has been patronising to Muslim women - I believe people actually have been supportive of Muslim women

jimmy of course you have. Very supportive...as long as they do what you want them to do.

Defuse do you have values? Any line in the sand you draw after where behaviour is unacceptable. Let's go with fgm do you support it? Eventually we all have to draw that line. Mine extends to a patriarchal need to completely cover women associated with some religions. I make no apologies I understand people have different views. If this was a Christian conversation my line would extend to many, many patriarchal activities associated with Christian religions, there are many.

Jimmy - just because you say you are supporting muslim women doesn't mean that you are. Surely it is up to muslim womem to decide whether they feel supported by you....or then again, maybe they aren't intelligent enough to make that decision either?

Gloria - seriously? The only way to contribute to societyis by being employed? Better let all the SAHM know that they are not being beneficial to society.....

And if they're not mothers that can't 'just be SAHMs' as you so conveniently put it. You do know that burqas restricts women in the women in the workplace don't you?

Any one that does it through choice actually isn't thinking about being inferior/superior to men at all.....funny, some people make decisions without constantly worrying about how others will perceive them in this media obsessed world that constantly dictates how women should look.

And burkha's do not actually restrict women from working....people's perceptions do.

Any one that does it through choice actually isn't thinking about being inferior/superior to men at all.....funny, some people make decisions without constantly worrying about how others will perceive them in this media obsessed world that constantly dictates how women should look.

And burkha's do not actually restrict women from working....people's perceptions do.

The claim that covering yourself up in public is an empowering choice insults the intelligence and dignity of women everywhere, just as the theological claim that the burqa is a necessary defence against predatory male sexuality insults Muslim men insofar as it treats them as fundamentally incapable of responsibility for their sexual behaviour.

The reason Western feminists (male or female) object to seeing women in burqas is not that we can’t tolerate diversity, but that the burqa is a symbol of patriarchal Islam’s intolerance of dissent and desire to contain and repress female sexuality.

farzanahassan.com/Articals/FH0012.htm

Very informative and interesting article.