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.

[specialsubject]

A hijab is just a headscarf . unpleasant to wear in a hot climate ( did it to visit a mosque, lasted five minutes). Niqab is a face mask and we don't wear those in the UK outside protection or robbery.

I also hate seeing hijab on small children.

[UnsuspectedItem]

If people want to live in the U.K. they need to intergrate, speak English and dress like we do - dressing like this is virtue signalling - or more likely forced upon them by men

Surely it is hypocritical to accuse someone of having something forced upon them by someone else's views whilst simultaneously forcing your own views on them?

The issue here is not hijabs, but oppression. If a woman wishes to wear a hijab, she should be able to wear a hijab without anyone trying to force their opinion upon here. If a woman wishes to not wear a hijab, the same applies.

To say that either wearing a hijab or not wearing a hijab is the "right" thing to do, you're just being hypocritical. We need to empower women to make their own choices. The clothing is a red herring.

I know many many many Muslim women who CHOOSE to wear a hijab. I choose to cover my breasts in public because I believe that exposing them is inappropriate. In their culture, exposing their hair is seen as such.
I'm not doubting their are many women who are not given freedom, but thats the issue that needs to be addressed - the hijab is distracting from the true issue.

[UnsuspectedItem]

A hijab is just a headscarf . unpleasant to wear in a hot climate I think that depends on the hijab and how you wear it, I actually prefer to have mine on when I'm out (in Saudi Arabia) as it keeps my head and neck out of the sun.

An ABAYA however, is absolutely sweltering. I couldn't wear a niqab as I hate having my mouth covered.

[crispsandgin]

Utterly ridiculous claims being made about a black shroud

You shouldn't be commenting when you don't understand the topic.

[ReanimatedSGB]

The main problem is: many women are compelled to cover themselves and resent this, while other women are mocked or harassed for covering themselves, and resent that.
'Celebrating' modest dress angers the women who are forced into it and hate it (along with those who sympathise with women in this position, and women who have been abused for not covering up)
Banning hijab, burqua, niquab etc often feels (to women who do believe that such things are a religious/cultural requirement that they will willingly meet) like a racist attack on them, their family, their myth system and their heritage.

And, in the meantime, men go on abusing and attacking women, whatever they are wearing.

[WannaBeWonderWoman]

YANBU. I would say the majority of Muslim women who have the luxury of wearing the hijab freely are delusional and ignorant about what it signifies for women as a whole.

Islam is not a race either so can the hysterical harpies shouting racism just shut up.

[Tapandgo]

Identifying some clothes as ‘modest’ suggest other clothes are immodest. Ridiculous to imagine only a shroud covering the body from the head to the ankles is ‘modest’ dress, and oddly enough, is a standard that only is applied to females.
If the men have a problem ‘oggling’ Women, being offended by the appearance of women, or wanting their women ‘invisible’, then the sooner men get themselves shrouded up the better.

[ApacheEchidna]

My only issue is, as a couple of pp have said, that the use of the word 'modest' to describe this style of dress automatically defines me and others who choose western dress as immodest - and that is pejorative and insulting.

However of course everyone should have the free choice how to dress. Different cultures have different parts of the body that are thought of as normal to cover up. If I went to live with an entirely isolated amazonian tribe where all the women went around bare breasted I would still keep my breasts covered. Each to their own is fine.

Our focus should not be on anyone's clothes but we should make sure that every woman and girl of any cultural background has the freedom and education and opportunities to make that choice without any fear of what might happen if they made a different choice.

[crunchymint]

Have you seen photos of the brave women in Iran taking their Hijab off in public?

[Lucymek]

I'm a white young woman and I can appreciate this. I have often thought I would like to wear a burka.

I hate the way people look at me sometimes. I always dress covered up but I hate the looks some men give me. I don't do anything to draw attention to myself but still get them.


I think it would be liberating to try it for a day just to see if it's any different or the pervs just cannot be stopped!

[crunchymint]

And when I have been to the Middle East I have always worn a head covering away from tourist areas. Not as a "choice" but to avoid hassle and sexual harassment.

[crunchymint]

Agree that Abayas must be hell to wear when it is hot. Worked with a woman who wore one even when it was very hot.

A head covering can actually be better to wear when it is very hot. It is the equivalent of wearing a hat or cap to keep the sun off your head. But it is rarely worn for those practical reasons.

[Viviennemary]

As far as I am concerned the wearing of the hijab is to do with the women who choose to wear it. But in a way it is dangerous territory to think a woman is making a statement about her morals by the way she dresses. This has been said many times on MN that women in skimpy revealing outfits should not be judged.

[GlitterUnicornsAndAllThatJazz]

Wearing the hijab may be choice, but I believe it to be a fucked up one.

It isnt a religious garment, its a cultural one.

Its worn to protect the wearer from the male gaze. I dont think women should have to do that in a western culture.

And to the PP who said they would keep their top on if they went to live in a tribe where being topless was the norm - why? In that setting the breasts have been sexualised. Consequently your own breasts would have no sexual value. There would be no reason to cover them.

[GlitterUnicornsAndAllThatJazz]

Desexualised sorry

[ZBIsabella]

Lucy, I've tried it in Iran and it's ot liberating. It is a constant reminder you are not just a human there on business but a totally separate differently treated person with a massive gulf between men and women, a constant reminder of that issue - in a sense it sexualises. Also it is hot and uncomfortable. you lose the vision at the side of your face and cannot even hear properly. It was not liberating at all for me. Also the women wore loads of face make up! I felt like some kind of non make up wearing alien too - so I was not even liberated from freedom to bother how you look in that respect, not that I am too bothered.

It certainly should not be celebrated as something that keeps women safe. If men canont avoid raping women unless women are covered up then the solution is confine men to the home only and let only women work surely not restrain what women wear,.

[ScaryMary81]

Hijab in Islam doesn't just refer to the female head covering it is yet another misinterpretation that many muslims don't understand themselves fully. The link below explains the concept in full

www.google.co.uk/amp/www.independent.co.uk/voices/muslim-men-hijab-forcing-women-islam-teaching-mohammed-quran-modesty-a7655191.html%3famp

[GlitterUnicornsAndAllThatJazz]

And the women on here saying its liberating because they dont have to worry about doing their hair etc. Not only ridiculous but absolutely pathetic too.

You can tie your hair up in a scruffy ponytail, leave it unbrushed, wear a baggy t-shirt and loose jeans, nobody gives a shit.

[IfyouseeRitaMoreno]

I think it would be liberating to try it for a day just to see if it's any different or the pervs just cannot be stopped!

What would be really liberating is to live in a world where you can go about your day without being judged or harassed based on the clothes you’re wearing.

Or is that just a dream that men get to realise?

[BarrackerBarmer]

If people believe something positive happens when it is put on, then they also believe something negative happens when it is taken off.

THAT is the problem.

When women NOT wearing it is a free choice, treted positively with no negative repercussions, or moral judgement, then it will be just a piece of cloth.

When men start choosing to wear it too because they feel it's lovely for them, then it might just be a piece of cloth.

Right now, it isn't just a piece of cloth.

[BarrackerBarmer]

*treated

[specialsubject]

Yes, worrying about a bad hair day ( like no man ever does) also makes me think that isn't what feminism is about.

[thornyhousewife]

I agree with your sentiment OP.

I find it massively disingenuous to hear the hijab described in these positive terms when for tens of millions of women it is enforced on them as a tool of oppression.

I'm proud of the western Muslim women who acknowledge that lack of choice for their sisters in the Middle East.

[lucylouuu]

The Foreign Office said that the headscarf is worn by some women who see it as representing “liberation, respect and security. Not " all women who don't wear hijabs should be disrespected and are less of a woman "

[UnsuspectedItem]

I would say the majority of Muslim women who have the luxury of wearing the hijab freely are delusional and ignorant about what it signifies for women as a whole.

How incredibly insulting.