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.

Er, no.

I have no problems with showing breasts in pubilc when it's warm enough. My parents often took us nude swimming and the like. I have never so far taken part in any kind of protest to break a local norm that most people where I live are not topless but lead me to a topless beach and I am more than happy or a nudist beach even better..... However I obey the law and sadly I am not allowed to walk down my local high street without my top on even on very hot days as the UK uses a "breach of the peace"rule.

So are all women who ware eye make up being deliberately suggestive with their eyes or just those who chose to wear hijab?
does the fact that a women wears a hijab mean that she’s negating her idea of modesty because of the make up she chooses to wear?

Either is ridiculous, offensive and rude.

Wear*

Men from such ‘communities’ need to be educated about women’s rights - it seems the UK lets them walk over UK law because government is afraid to stand up to 7th century attitudes. If METoo applies to film stars etc it should apply to immigrants no matter where they are from

I have no respect for a religion that tells women they have to cover themselves

Precisely. Hijabs etc are a sign of women's oppression and have no place in a civilised society.

This may be controversial, but I have lived in 2 Muslim countries in the last 7 years and I disagree with the hijab and thar they make 5 year old girls wear it.

Not all Muslim women wear the hijab. It is a relatively new development in Muslim groups in the UK. I am in my 40s, from a middle class, Muslim background and none of the women I grew up with wear them. I think everyone should wear what they want to, but it is not the case that wearing a hijab is inseparable from being a practicing Muslim woman.

It's disgusting when people try to blame bad behaviour and disrespect on what a woman is wearing. It's true though. Wearing a hijab does bring you respect and security from hardline Muslim misogynistic bastards. It protects you from their judgement, from their ogling, sometimes from harassment and assault. Instead of celebrating this they should have a world 'fuck people (it's not just men) who equate a woman's dress to her moral character and worth' day.

@Themsthstrainee the whole making 5 year olds wear Hijabs thing is really gross. The rationale behind hijabs is to prevent men from being distracted by your sexy hair while they are praying (Islam only compels women to wear hijabs during prayer, women being defined as females over the age of eight-also gross). It's sexuality children. Most Muslims I know, even the hijabis disagree with this.

thestickereconomy
This is very noticeable in some areas, and I think there is a class/education element to it. More and more younger women wearing hijabs and Niqabs. Very noticeable in Dewsbury, Oldham and some other northern towns. Small wonder there is very little integration in some places.
I recall a young woman turning up for a TA interview in a school without a niqab. She got the job, then turned up to work in the primary classroom in a niqab. The Head objected as the children could not be helped to read, or form a relationship, with someone whose face was shrouded!
It went to industrial tribunal ~ she lost and was sacked (and she had little support from the Muslim community at large).
Ridiculous woman stirred up a heap of trouble all round ~ and for what exactly?

outymyface
We have laws to protect women from harassment and assault ~ if women just ‘don the shroud’ these oggling sexual harassers presumably assume women not wearing one are fair game.

All these threads seem to do is bring out the anti Muslim brigade (as I’m sure the intention was). First reply to the op describes hijab as a ‘black shroud’. Hmmm. Ok.
I also wonder how many times the word ‘burka’ comes up in this threads. And then I wonder how many people in the UK and even the world even wear a burka. A tiny percentage worldwide I would say and I would even be so brave as to say none in the UK.

Disappointing that the Foreign office is condoning that symbol of female suppression.

I would say and I would even be so brave as to say none in the UK.

I agree with the tone of what you say, but you obviously have no clue about the UK to say that.

I wonder how many people in the UK and even the world even wear a burka

A minority, but a pretty large minority is some towns! Take a trip to Dewsbury or Bradford.

No anti Muslim stuff on this thread overall ~ just views on women in hijabs and other clothing that covers them up. Saying it’s anti Muslim is just saying it can’t be talked about ~ very unhealthy.

I grew up in Slough 30 years and went to school with Muslims , mainly Pakistani, and none of them covered their hair.

What i’ve Noticed is that integration seems to have gone backwards since then.

Wearing Hijab in Britain and Sharia courts are all more recent developments. It used to be if you saw a woman wearing a Hijab it meant that she had only recently come to Britain, usually from a rural area.That is no longer the case.

And it is being excused on the grounds of or in the name/pretence of religion.

Its not true anyway. I've walked down the street with my friend who used to wear the hijjab and the nikkab {face covering) and she drew so much negativity, people giving her the evil eye. She also had no street awareness and acted as if she was inside a protective tent- I had to stop her walking out into the road a couple of times. She doesn't wear either garment any more and always told me covering up wasn't required in the Quran, it was just cultural.

It is cultural. Th8ng is people do get swept up in arguments about respecting religion and islamaphobia

If people want to live in the U.K. they need to integrate, speak English and dress like we do

Wow. Ignorance at it's best.
People can dress how they want and white British people do not all dress the same way.

Living in the UK does not mean one has to wear western clothing.

I'm of African origin...so I can't wear my traditional clothes according to you. SMH

Just look at this thread.

crunchymint
Correct ~ recent and increasing, and flying in the opposite direction of integration. Not exactly conducive to striking up a conversation.

How is objecting to a symbol of female oppression "anti-Muslim" when the women in question are Muslim?

Bizarre.

The problem with this issue, for me, is that there are as many reasons for wearing the hijab as there are Muslim women to wear them.

For some women it's a proudful symbol of a religion that means a lot to them, for others it's to appease men by conforming to their medieval notions of "decency".

All we can reasonably do is ensure support is in place for those who are opting out of wearing it in the face of family/community pressure rather than make those who do wear it feel like they shouldn't...since we don't know, just by looking, why they are.