To think it's ironic about Niqab and face coverings

[IsntItIronicDontYouThink]

Just thought about this and how ironically, face coverings have become mandatory on public transports and it makes me think of Muslim women (Niqab wearing women specifically) who've had a hard time because of their face coverings to now find that everyone has to cover their faces (for different reasons yes but still ironic, isn't it?)

Googled to see if anyone else mentions this. Here's a piece I found about it (There's more but just picked this one).

www.google.com/amp/s/metro.co.uk/2020/06/12/face-mask-compulsory-muslim-women-12838585/amp/

a bikini is too flimsy and too exposing to do anything other than remain fairly stationary

Bikinis are for swimming (moving) in - what kind have you been wearing?? (missing point of thread, I know).

Not ironic as others have said, but it’s definitely crossed my mind that all the reasons why people were against facial covering also apply to the masks you see now.

Mind you, it’s also brought home to me how uncomfortable these masks are - and that I would find any face covering uncomfortable- and that it is difficult to communicate when wearing one or with someone who is wearing one.

On the other hand, they are worn for v different reasons, which is important.

There are females all over the globe who would love to be able to choose not just how they dress, but who they marry, have sex with, how they live. I stand in solidarity with all females who don't have free will.

Well actually with all people who are not free to make decisions about their own lives.

I'm one of those women who wears niqab on the beach and I don't swim my husband and kids do and it doesn't bother me one bit. To not wear niqab would bother me and make me feel very strange. Niqab has become a big part of my identity and I love wearing it. In restaurants my husband always finds a discreet table where I am not facing anyone so I can lift my niqab up for the duration of the meal and eat comfortably. We live in a villa with a private pool and I swim freely in whatever I wish. As do I wear whatever I wish at home or when around female family members or my male family members (father, brother). This may seem strange to you, but for us this is normal life and how you live to us is strange. So each to their own. Your opinion is because of what your used to and your environment, ours is due to what we are used to and our environment. I respect everyone, all religions, and anyway anyone chooses to live, all I ask in return is to recieve the same respect. That's all. Freedom to all means freedom to live how we want and you how you want.

Cool.

So to get things back on track, and to summarise...

Niqab/Hijabs in France and Denmark were never about having the face uncovered and all about Islamaphobia. HTH.

@Muslimah2020 LOUDER FOR THE PEOPLE AT THE BACK

You do you! Thank you so much for reiterating what I was trying to tell the ignorant posters.

Niqab has become a big part of my identity and I love wearing it

Can I ask, how do you feel about men not wearing it?

You want to wear it, but why don’t men ever choose too?

That is what I don’t understand. But then I feel the same about the western tradition of women taking the man’s name because they are “proud” to be his wife.

I did read that sikh women cover their hair in solidarity with their turban wearing men. I can’t help wonder if that would happen were the sexes reversed...

For me, it’s the inequality. Don’t care what religion or race, I don’t understand the expectation of women to behave in ways men aren’t.

Last question- how do you cope meeting people with hearing loss? As I said upthread, I lip read so any face covering will stop communication...

@Muslimah2020 👏👏👏 thank you for sharing your actual experience as a niqab wearing Muslim woman.

@Bluebluezoo my husband dresses modestly, he doesn't wear tight fitted clothes, shorts above the knee or tshirts above the elbow. He also has a beard which in Islam is a protection for the man and a sign of modesty. In Islam the women has many rights over a man and their status is very high (unlike popular belief that we are below men and subservient to them, this just is not true). However I'm not about to go in to great detail of all this, as you would need to study the quran and texts to truly understand the beauty and significance of covering as a Muslim women, and I don't expect non Muslims to understand this, all I expect is to recieve respect and understanding the same way I give it to your culture and way of life. Even if its alien to me!

As far as a deaf person, If it was a woman I would lift my niqab and talk if there were no men around and it was appropriate to do so.

To not wear niqab would bother me and make me feel very strange.

I find this sad.

@KitKatKit @amijustparanoidorjuststoned you're welcome, I am happy to clarify! 🙂

If it was a woman I would lift my niqab and talk if there were no men around and it was appropriate to do so.

What is it about men seeing your face that makes you feel so uncomfortable?

Doesn't make me feel uncomfortable. I just don't believe I need to show my face for a man that is not my husband or related to me. My right, my freedom, MY choice! Unless I am in an airport or its necessary for ID purposes then I am happy to lift it and show when necessary.

I'm just wondering WHY you'd rather not show your face in front of men that aren't your immediate relative though? It really doesn't sound like a choice to keep yourself covered from 50% of the population. It sounds like successful brainwashing, making you believe it is a choice when really it makes very little sense.

What in the world?! Why are you trying to impose your idea of oppression on people? What is it about claiming they are being oppressed on one hand and somehow oppressing them with your views about their chosen lifestyle as they have said. Where is the live and let live here?

"How did she know? I’ve never worn a burkha, so have no idea on it’s comfort."

Because she was born in Iran and is a Muslim. Whenever she went to a mosque, she had to wear a black chador, which is similar to a burqua apart from the face is not completely covered.

It's a choice because noone has forced me to do it, it was a choice I made on my own because I believe it brings me closer to God and is a good thing to do. This choice makes me happy and now I live in a Muslim country where many women do the same, so not only is it a norm in society it is also something highly regarded. Unlike in the western world where it is clearly very misunderstood as you have confirmed with your statements. You may not understand it, that's fine. Just don't judge others. The western world is all about "Freedom for all" - yet when someone is choosing to freely do something that is seen as indifferent to the norm of your society, you judge and tell them that it is not a freedom of choice? This is pure ignorance.

It sounds like you're trying to brainwash people the other way, making them feel they've been brainwashed when they believe they haven't.

it was a choice I made on my own because I believe it brings me closer to God and is a good thing to do.

But then obviously someone somewhere has given you the idea that it brings you closer to God and is a good thing to do?

So you go to eat in a restaurant you have to find a place facing away from everyone. (so that lists your choices.) Then lift up you vail to eat, which sounds very awkward and will inhibit the enjoyment surely and shows how impractical it is.

You would remove your fail to talk to a deaf women, well what if it was a deaf man? and why would that be an issue? Again highlighting the difficulties. And not everyone will tell you they lip read.

Now people are trying to talk theology and exegesis? Seen it all on here

If I genuinely believed many people on this thread to be interested in the rationale for why a woman would choose to cover, I'd give it a go - as it is, it just seems goady and that no matter what I or others say, it will be interpreted as the product of brainwashing. But isn't so much of what people do grounded in what society deems to be acceptable? If you're going to take such an interest in social conditioning, why not critically examine why women shave their legs or change their surname when they get married? Don't tell me these practices aren't grounded in 'brainwashing', if that's the lens we're applying. (I'm sure someone here is going to bring up Iran, when it's already been clarified - we are not talking about state enforcement here, but women who choose to cover. We do exist.)

So many things women do that are the product of brainwashing (social conditioning) and here some are talking to others about brainwashing because their "brainwashing" is seen as different from yours. Am I allowed to say ironic or is that not it?

Not ironic as others have said, but it’s definitely crossed my mind that all the reasons why people were against facial covering also apply to the masks you see now.

That is what's ironic.

Missed the quote there...

Not ironic as others have said, but it’s definitely crossed my mind that all the reasons why people were against facial covering also apply to the masks you see now.

That is what's ironic.