To think to say wearing the hijab brings you 'respect' and 'security'.

[Eltonjohnssyrup]

Just to start off - this is not a 'ban the burka' thread. I respect the right of all women to wear exactly what they want be that a burka, a bivouac, a hijab, short shorts or a bikini.

It was World Hijab Day yesterday. An event which was promoted by government agencies including the Home Office.

The organisation promoting this event has claimed that the hijab brings you 'liberation'. I'm fine with that. I can see how it would feel liberating not to have to worry about bad hair days or styling every day. And feeling liberated is a personal thing. One woman might feel liberated wearing a full length skirt and long sleeves, one might feel liberated in a bodycon dress and bikini.

But then they went on to say that the hijab brings you 'respect and security'. I feel really uncomfortable about this. It implies that there is a type of respect which women who do not wear the hijab are unworthy of. That showing our hair makes us unworthy of automatic respect.

And 'security', security from what? Harassment? Rape? Terror attacks? This sort of language is moving the responsibility for women's security onto women by saying 'wear this and you'll be secure'. In other words, don't wear it and you're taking risks, asking for it, sending out a signal it is okay to grope or harrass you.

This makes me really uncomfortable, especially in the era of me too. AIBU to think that this campaign should be moderating it's language to avoid tarring those who don't wear it with negative associations? And that the government and Home Office shouldn't be endorsing an organisation that uses it? It's not sending a message of 'women are free to wear what they like' and instead is sending a message that if women want to safe and respected they must cover up.

My son and daughter are half Turkish. To help them keep up with learning their fathers language we recently sent them to Saturday morning lessons at our local central mosque.

On arriving at the lesson my 13 year old son and 12 year old daughter were told they were required to study separately. Boys in one room taught by a male teacher and girls in another room taught by his wife.
The female teacher came out to meet my daughter dressed in a full black head to toe burkha. We were shocked at seeing her dressed like this and my daughter was actually frightened and didn't want to be separated from her brother. We voiced our concerns and were assured that the teacher would lower her face veil when all men had left the room and she was only with females. Despite wearing such radical clothing the teacher was pleasant and kind and a good teacher.
Aswell as lessons in the Turkish language, all the female students were subjected to this lady's interpretation of how a good female Muslim should behave. My daughter was told not to look at or smile at boys. To keep her eyes lowered around men and not to laugh loudly and act in an animated way outside the home.
The lovely neighbouring Pakistani community would bring wonderful gifts of hot food into the mosque on a Saturday for any Muslim people to come and enjoy. It was freely offered and very generous. The boys in my sons group were always invited first to take whatever of the food they wanted. The girls were expected to take what was left. My daughter wasn't impressed! They don't attend these lessons anymore.

I agree, it doesn't. But for women who do wear it (willingly) and feel it does bring them respect and security - it's their prerogative. I think there's a propensity to aim to talk for and over women who make cultural choices outside the western norm. Whilst I don't agree with it, I don't actually think the western way is better. It's just different.

Easier to get away from a man if you need to, more opportunities outside the home - but the Relationships board is choc full of women in outstandingly awful situations. So I'm inclined to feel whether you wear the Hijab or not is a moot point nowadays in terms of respect etc or not.

Nuns are covered....

Are you visiting us from the 1940s?

The vanishingly few remaining nuns dress just like any sensible woman does.

Catholic women used to cover their head in church TIL the change (enlightenment) came in the 1980’s. Many Christian nuns have dispensed with the veil now.
Until the 20th century most women in the West wore head coverings (indeed had long hair as a rule) until work outside the home became normal.
Women who are Orthodox Christians and Jews still have their heads covered (the latter often choosing to wear wigs instead of hats.
It’s be no means an exclusive Muslim ‘thing’.
orthodox Christians only cover their heads at church yes it is a muslim sense that only Muslim women have head coverings outside of their place of worship