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.

FFS there is nothing racist about what the OP has said.

I agree with Caitlin17.
I cannot understand why any woman would choose to wear it.

Although I am aware of a few who have (I live in the North West and there's a large Muslem community here) and have listened to their reasons (argued eloquently) as to why they choose to wear it, for me the fact that in many parts of the world there are women forced to wear it and the fact that there may be many women here under substantial cultural pressure to wear it make it something that I see as a symbol of oppression and patriarchy.
therefore whilst I don't feel threatened or nervous around women wearing the burqa it makes me think about the women who have no choice but to wear it and that does make me feel uncomfortable.
I don't get the parallels being drawn between see through Primark leggings and more provocative Western attire causing offence.
No-one has ever been forced to wear those items or punished for not wearing them and the pressure to conform to The more provocative forms of 'Western' clothing is not comparable at all to the pressure in some communities for women to wear the burqa.

seriously, a mere mention of race (and in this case, not even that!) and some people immediately cry racist. i bet most of you don't even truly believe that op is actually prejudiced .

My objection to the burka is from a feminist viewpoint. Saying I am racist is quite insulting. I find the thinking behind the idea of dressing modestly lest it provoke desire in men really offensive, to men as well as women.

I am really failing to see how someone being intimidated by something is racist or ignorant. Irrational - yes. A lot of things like that are.

Do you all go around ripping people for being scared of spiders too?

Indigo i know of at least one company who won't employ anyone with visible tattoos. is that the same as racism?

Under thinking and bandwagon-jumping is nothing to be proud of and is just as bad as being racist.

As I said originally, I'm not targeting Muslims, I'm just questioning their burqa wearing, as I similarly would regardless of their religion. Does this make me racist?

and why do people find masks intimidating? i'm not bothered about burkas for the record, before i get accused of racism, but an irrational fear does not make a person an evil prejudiced bastard!

It is about modesty. No, you do not have to wear a burqa, niqab or hijab, however it does say that you should be modest if you are following the religion. Coverings are a traditional way of protecting that modesty and have been for centuries and centuries.

And as for choice, here's an story for you. My friend, who I mentioned before, was brought up in a Muslim family. None of her sisters cover up, her mother doesn't cover up, and she and I spent our teenage years sneaking out to house parties and going to nightclubs as we got older. When she was in her twenties she decided to start practicing Islam more and cover up completely. She is now a happy, Muslim, feminist student.

Oh bloody hell. This is the 21st Century. Are we still having this boring discussion?

Let me give you some bricks, build a bridge and get over it..

I find whole face covering ridiculous to be honest and don't understand why anyone would want to do it. Each to their own I suppose, it's their life, their beliefs, their choice, let 'em get on with it. I apply that to all religions and the queer things it makes people do.

Re being scary and all that, I was quite alarmed when I first saw a burka wearer. I don't bat an eyelid now, so many people wear them in my neck of the woods.

I do feel uncomfortable around anyone who doesn't show their face. That goes for hoodie & scarf wearers. I just like to see facial expression that's all.

But talking, you are aware that if a woman chose to not wear a burqa in Saudi Arabia for example, she'd most likely be stoned, how is that not oppression?

so you really think there is no debate about whether women in some Muslim countries lack equality?

Why do men following Islam never choose to cover up, takingthathometomomma?

I lived in SaudI Arabia and at first it was a bit unsettling seeing ladies dressed head to toe in black.

I don't know why some women bleach their bums, rip their fanjo hair out with wax, have plastic surgery and get a toxin injected into their faces. However, they do and I accept it is their choice. The patriarchy is where we ALL live, not just Muslim women.

carole we are not in Saudi Arabia, we are in the UK. You cannot simply assume that Muslim women are all forced to cover up. I can assure you, that is not the case. I'm sure Muslim women across the country are thanking you for your concern, but they don't need a Captain Save-A-Muslim.

i think it's hypocritical as fuck for some of the people on this thread to insult the op based on her dislike of burkas when i suspect a lot of them wouldn't have a problem questioning the choice of an overweight woman to wear crap quality leggings .

It's not racist to have a discussion, op was not being racist, just because one disagrees with the break does nit make them racist. Fair play to your friend talking, she is wearing it for her own choice, but fir some Muslim women it is not a choice.

Yet if you chose to not do those things you would most likely not be met with violentce and be made a social outcast

21st century... yes I know, it's shocking that women are still being treated like this. The fact that they are is pretty bloody worthy of discussion.

Good post salvadory

Vampyre obviously not, with these women being all empowered with their choice whether to cover themselves up or not. Nope, no inequality in them there hills.