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.

I'm not sure what's scary about her post - I think she has a very valid point

can you expand a bit

Absolutely the demonisation of Islam after 9/11 led to a closing of ranks, and more women donning the niqab.
I don' t personally think that covering yourself from head to toe so that men can't objectify you is the way to escape oppression, as that puts the burden entirely on the shoulders of women.
Men want to objectify you? Cover up! Rather than putting the onus on men to not objectify women,
Fewer clothes does not equal less respect for women. In Sweden it's much more acceptable to be naked (mixed saunas etc) but they are a more gender equal society than Saudi Arabia.
At the end of the day though, the state should not be dictating what people can and can't wear. If you want to wear a dress made of meat and a balaclava, I might not like it, but it's an important personal freedom to put what you want on your own body.

Haven't read all this thread , so excuse me if what im about to say has already been said. in answer to the op. yabu to feel like that about women in burkas. next time you pass one start a conversation u may be surprised to find she is a previous Anna or Diana etc who has embraced Islam and is covering completely out of choice. No father husband pressurising her at all. And you will find she has great personality and it will help u get over the fear the media has portrayedtoyou .

I take it the height of feminism is to tell other women what they can and cannot do.

No one is asking you to agree with them, no one is asking you to do what they do, just allow them their own opinions and choices.

Btw, it's pointless asking people why they do something in the name of religion if you yourself have no faith, unfortunately you will therefore never get this issue.

urmydarlings

The only Muslim I know on more than a nodding basis who wears a full covering is a convert. None of her family are Muslim, she's not married so the only person forcing her to cover is herself.

Iran actually banned Islamic dress, women had their headscarves torn of them in the street. Personally I think that was as bad as the situation now where Islamic dress is compulsory. It is the force that I object to.

Addicted on more than one occasion it has been pointed out that it is not always a woman's choice to cover.

Also by pure coincidence in the dominant modern religions God told you what 'men' thought was acceptable 1400-2000 years ago. I appreciate that is just a massive coincidence but it is true. Over time in religion 'man' stepped in again and again to interpret what God said and then we end up with God sanctioned longevity to patriarchal society.

I do not believe the west have gotten feminism nearly right and I certainly do not believe that other countries have to aspire to our ideals but certain cultural practices are wrong and we should aspire to abandon them, they include covering up women, sexual objectification of women in the west look at girls toys for example and the sexualisation of them in recent years and FGM to name but a few.

addicted-Btw, it's pointless asking people why they do something in the name of religion if you yourself have no faith, unfortunately you will therefore never get this issue.

So I assume you do 'get this issue' ?

One thing I do know though is that you point blank refuse to even try and see why it is oppressing, degrading, sexist and inferior to women.

Women should be able to wear what they like without condemnation - that includes niqab and burkhas, and minis and bikinis.

The UK is a free country and the niqab / burkha should continue to be included in the clothing that women are free to wear!

well as a western woman I don't really care if people choose to follow any religion. it's all pretty daft to me but each to their own.

what i don't buy is the concept of choice here as many women are expected to veil and have no choice to not. obviously some choose to.

I think the actual face covering is ridiculous and in my opinion has no place in the UK as it prevents inclusion and promotes exclusion. it's not suitable wear for employment as you can't possibly communicate with your face covered.

that's the practicalities. in a personal level of course it's mysoginistic and ridiculous but if women choose it then do be it.

face covering should be banned in the UK in public places in my opinion.

body - great post. Hits the nail on the head.

so you do want it banned? so you think it's okay for the state to dictate what women can wear? and you think that is better than men dictating what women can wear? ...okay then!

I think you are wrong

Gordy- if you think it's acceptable for women to degrade themselves by wearing burqas that's fine.

I don't want anything banned I want the culture supporting it to be challenged by the establishment including educated women. I want a culture change that either takes time or else some other external social trigger maybe a second coming would sort the issue out once and for all.

Crescent nobody doubts some women wear a burka by choice but others wear it by social conditioning or worse yet because they are forced too.

I do but I don't think exercising free will is degrading :)

Who says they are not Crescent? I have seen many of those discussed before on Mumsnet.

jimmy your posts have been excellent throughout this thread.

cresent makeup and high heels do not exclude the face from view do they?

of we ban the niqab we actually become a different country to what we are

we celebrate freedom in this country, we celebrate women having equal rights, we celebrate people being able to choose what religion they follow and how we do not dictate as a state how they religious they choose to be as long as no harm comes to others

Banning a simple piece of material we change that, we are saying well you can be a Muslim but with restrictions, we pander to the far right who celebrate any changes in laws made that effect Muslims, we pander to some that choose to be less tolerant and have an issue with face covering but that is their issue as no one wears a niqab to piss of strangers

so how far do we go, what will be next

if we ban ....

I really don't subscribe to the far right/far left anything really.

I think it's untenable and unacceptable to cover your face as you cannot take an active role in UK society.

nothing to do with religions/culture/creeds or gods.

again on a personal level yes I think it's ridiculous and mysoginistic.

we go round again here don't we.

again cresent the face