Should Michelle Obama (and others) have worn a head scarf?

[CrazyTights]

www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2015/01/27/michelle-obama-forgoes-a-headscarf-and-sparks-a-backlash-in-saudi-arabia/

Should she (and other females from the west) have worn a head scarf in Saudi or was going without one acceptable?

[Ubik1]

And actually it's a lot of hypocritical rubbish. The Saudis are extremely rich men and I'm sure they enjoy the lifestyle that goes along with it . Much of that will be enjoying western freedoms - fast cars, yachts, women etc

[ihatethecold]

marmite

I am not Muslim, but I think that adults know the law and if they choose to break it, they should suffer the consequences, whatever those maybe.

REALLY???

[Ubik1]

Travelling in the Middle East 15 years ago I was not asked to cover my head entering a mosque. I was expected to dress respectfully though - legs and arms covered .

We went to the holocaust museum in Israel and DP was asked to wear a little hat (don't know proper name for it) and gladly wore it.

But the point is that women covering their heads was not enforced with such gusto 15 years ago as it is now.

[CaffeLatteIceCream]

Disgusted at the women on this thread saying that she should have "respected" the customs of Saudi Arabia.

Should she?

Do you?

It's also custom to remove women's heads from their bodies, stone them for being raped, refuse them the right to drive or leave home without a "guardians" permission and to insist that they wear tents in public.

Saudi Arabia is a moral cess pit. The last thing we should be showing it is respect.

I am very, very glad that Michelle Obama refused to lick the arses of men who believe a woman showing her hair is "immodest".

[Chocolateteacake]

Places or worship, then go with the flow, but as long as she wasn't wearing a see through frock (a la Lady Gaga) then there ought to be no offence. I've been to catholic churches where there have been shawls provided for people with bare shoulders.

I was at a mosque recently and did cover my hair, although there were some women without (they seemed to be regular attenders).

It really is a non issue. She wasn't in a mosque, she didn't flash her boobage or give anyone a big sloppy kiss.

[ihatethecold]

caffe
I wish there was a like button.

[HesterShaw]

Good for Michelle. Good for Angela. Fantastic.

Why the fuck should any women be compelled to "respect" the customs of Saudi Arabia when Saudi Arabia clearly has no respect at all for half the world's population|?

[TheWomanTheyCallJayne]

Well said Caffe

[BreakingDad77]

Didn't she got photoshopped out?

As she can get away with not wearing one I'm glad she didn't. They shouldn't be giving quarter to countries that fund and promote fundamentalism, but that's another thread.

[SantasLittleMonkeyButler]

I was trying to think of a way to express my true feelings on this topic. Luckily, I don't need to as Caffe got there first.

We should all respect the customs of SA should we? All of them? Pah.

[GraysAnalogy]

I do believe in following local customs when you're in a different place, however I think women forced to cover is abhorrent. It should be a decision, and she decided not to. Good for her.

[Want2bSupermum]

More to the point, Obama brought Condy Rice with him. Says a lot and quite frankly Condy Rice has been the best thing to happen to America since Albright.

MO was perfectly fine not wearing a headscarf and I think the story was run to detract from the fact that Obama took Rice with him because she is the only person right now from America with a good relationship with SA.

[sourdrawers]

Agree with bonsoir It's customary in that country and it would be incredibly disrespectful and arrogant not to observe it. It's got f* all to do with religion. What if a Muslim Saudi woman visiting France didn't wear her Burka? Would you be asking us is that right?

[CaffeLatteIceCream]

It's got fuck all to do with religion?

Right, right...as evidenced by all the atheists, Christians, Hindus, Sikhs etc wearing headscarfs?

Oh wait......



It's got everything to do with religion. When a Muslim person says it's because of their religion (and they do) believe them.

And your "Muslim/Saudi woman" not wearing a burka in France is a ridiculous comparison.

[ihatethecold]

What's France got to do with it?

[sourdrawers]

It's a bit of a daft question anyway don't you think? Of course we're going to feel that it's acceptable for M Obama not to wear a headscarf.. Why is my comparison so ridiculous. Isn't part of this discussion about cultural acceptance and tradition? If Michelle Obama chooses to acknowledge the acceptable dress code customs of the county she's visiting, and wear a headscarf, whether she staunchly disagrees with them or not, is that letting women down some how?

I'm using France as an example, there they have laws banning head scarfs in public places as well as against face-veils, saying: “the dissimulation of the face.” is illegal. Muslim women visiting France observe that do they not?

[Ubik1]

Out of interest - would you have followed the 'customs' of apartheid South Africa?

[CaffeLatteIceCream]

Sourdrawers

Not all traditions are equal.

Have a garland put around your neck in Hawaii...lovely.

Have to wear a headscarf in Saudi because all the men there think women not doing so are obscene and immodest? Not lovely. Absolutely despicable.

Is Michelle Obama expected to tacitly agree that showing her hair is "immodest" and cover it up?

Anyone who would be offended by the sight of female hair in this day and age should fuck off back to the 14th century where they belong.

I respect the about as much as they respect me. Which is zilch.

[Bonsoir]

It's very straightforward: you follow the laws and customs of the country you visit or you stay away.

[lem73]

Bonsoir it was explained by someone upthread that foreigners in SA don't have to wear a scarf so she wasn't breaking any law. Even if she was I'm sure she could use diplomatic immunity ??. The Saudis make plenty use of that in London to park their expensive cars on double yellow lines.

[CaffeLatteIceCream]

France has not banned headscarfs.

It has banned anyone from covering their face in any way in public places. Quite right too. We should have that here.

Headscarfs and any other religious adornment has been banned from public arena jobs in order to maintain complete secularism. I think this is a step too far and would not support that here, btw.

[SconeRhymesWithGone]

It is "customary" for Saudi women in Saudi Arabia to wear an abaya and niqab. Should MO have been expected to do that?

She followed "customary" protocol, which makes the headscarf optional for official foreign visitors.

[CaffeLatteIceCream]

It's not about breaking the law...it's about people claiming she's being "disrespectful". Quite different.

You can respect misogynistic bullshit if you want to, but you don't have any business telling anyone else to.
,

[ladydepp]

I want to press the "Like" button on Caffe too - I totally agree.