Burkinis

[TaterTots]

We've all seen the fuss about them, but last night I saw my first one in 'real life', which got me thinking. Also today two of my friends were arguing about them on FB - one against any ban, the other claiming they are a symbol of oppression.

My view has pretty much always been that it's just a different type of swimsuit; no different to some women wearing bikinis and others wearing one-pieces. I'd always thought the bans in places like Cannes were all about the culture/assimilation issue; it hadn't really crossed my mind that the 'modesty' might be being forced on women.

What do you think?

Sorry but I find the cultural appropriation thing bullshit. Many Russian women and some elderly people of British Christian descent cover their heads. It is not an Islamic only tradition.

Further more - how would anyone know you weren't Muslim? Noone would unless you told them. Muslims come in all nationalities and ethnicities.

Seriously - lets all just wear what we want.

I personally don't have a problem with them.

Truthfully I would love to wear the al amira or niqab they wear too. I look pretty bad and I think they very good at covering that up, would it be weird a white English person wearing one, like would a Muslim be upset to see me drinking and eating a bacon butty in one?

Also yes it is a safety problem as if suddenly you got into difficulty the facial covering could obstruct breathing.

I agree with the French ban them. I think if you are living in the west you should follow western ways. No one is saying go in a bikini no one is even saying swimsuit. Plenty of strong Christians who will also like to be extremely modest and wear as others are saying t-shirt and shorts. Why does a small radical proportion of the population think that it is in any way acceptable to cover woman up. I reject the whole idea that men can't control their urges if they see a woman's hair it's stone age. It's absolutely horrible the burka and burkini.

Truthfully I would love to wear the al amira or niqab they wear too. I look pretty bad and I think they very good at covering that up, would it be weird a white English person wearing one, like would a Muslim be upset to see me drinking and eating a bacon butty in one?

What a ridiculous statement.

The burkini doesn't have a face covering !

That's the niqab.

Burkini is a lot like the Al Amira, I have looked into the types as I am really thinking of getting one to cover my self so I can be less noticed and hide my body.

AmandaIsHere

Why I know they very against Alcohol and Pork, two things I won't give up. I am guessing they would be upset to see someone in a Niqab doing something very against the faith.

I agree with what the head of Yves Saint Learnt said about the burkini.

‘I am scandalised,’ he told French radio station Europe 1. ‘Creators should have nothing to do with Islamic fashion.
‘Designers are there to make women more beautiful, to give them their freedom, not to collaborate with this dictatorship which imposes this abominable thing by which we hide women and make them live a hidden life.'

I know I am fat and disgusting no need to be pissy about it. I am looking for a way to cover it so other people don't need to see how disgusting I am.

But Food and Alcohol are the only good things about my life, I would kill myself before giving them up. They might lead me to an early death but who cares.

I want to cover myself without offending others.

Australians manage to wear stinger suits that are petty much indistinguishable from burkinis and no one thinks they're uncomfortable, dangerous or weird. They only become so when Muslims wear them. It's like a super power. Muslim Power - the power to turn fabric into oppression!

I haven't seen anyone in one yet in real life but that is probably because I don't even feel comfortable in a one-piece, so can't remember the last time I took a dip at my local pool. I am hoping they catch on in the UK, there are really nice ones available where the headpiece is separate. The comparison with wet suits doesn't take into account that the burkini suit does not cling to your body.
I love France but honestly this is so wrong!
They also require men to wear tight fitting shorts too though btw

user if there are muslim women on this thread saying it isn't offensive and isn't cultural appropriation then I'm genuinely going to buy one of those swim dress/legging things (not sure if they're burkinis as no head covering) that 80smum linked to. They're also cheaper than swimsuits for more material! I totally sympathise with feeling the way you do (I'm the same except it's being too thin and having a lot of self harm scars that are my issues) and this seems like a great way of being able to swim happily.

Its arrogant to think Muslim women are voiceless and cannot decide for ourselves how to dress. We do have choice. I cannot speak for every Muslim, but it is an act of faith, nothing to do with being made to or forced to. We want to cover and believe it is a right for us to do so. Live and let live. Where women are forced to cover by men, it is wrong - but it is the vast minority, in Europe at least. We dont need anyone to feel sorry for us because we cover, we would like women to stand in solidarity with us, supporting us to have a freedom of CHOICE

This is really interesting. Maybe I was wrong to say that there are some women who won't be allowed out if they aren't wearing a burka. I admit I did think it was at least encouraged by men, if not enforced. Do you mind if I ask why you feel it is important to your faith to cover up? What is the reasoning behind it? And do you also feel it's important for men to dress modestly? Sorry for the questions, don't answer if you don't want to.

I'm a practising Christian and I know there are Christians who feel that women dressing modestly is a requirement from the Bible (or at least the right thing to do). However, I see the Bible as partly a document of its time and culture and reject the gender inequality in it as being specific to Biblical times and not something that has a place in the modern world. But maybe that just makes me a rubbish CHristian!

YSL quote was made by a person who oversees designs for 'model women', and therefore his comments do not apply to real women whatever their beliefs are.
Just a thought but I believe he would struggle to make the majority of real women look more beautiful, especially if they don't have the confidence to carry it off.

Manic, I think people are wrong to assume anything about faith, but it can be confusing for many. When differences come up people rightly or wrongly try to make sense of them and within the learning process make conclusions. I think it is highly offensive to presume Muslim women are forced to dress in a certain way. It is obvious that if you relate to another woman of any culture or faith and they tell you they are being oppressed this should never be ignored. However, the woman at the baby club who is a Jeremy Kyle candidate with a screaming baby is probably more oppressed than the Muslim woman who is wearing a hijab, appears to be happy, and baby does too.

I think safety is an issue with these as if someone is swimming in one of these and they get into difficulty they would have fabric covering their mouth

Nonsense.

Tbh I would be uncomfortable with the man partnered with a Burkina wearer looking at me

I think you'd find he'd go out of his way not to.

And To say the people in Burkinis don't give two hoots what other people are wearing is ridiculous. There is almost certainly a moral judgement involved

No, there is not.( Not universally, I'm sure some individuals judge). That is entirely your projection, because you are judging them for not showing flesh

No, there is not.( Not universally, I'm sure some individuals judge). That is entirely your projection, because you are judging them for not showing flesh

Very true.