Women after chemotherapy wear a headscarf to cover up their baldness out of modesty. So do muslim women....?

Question

.....why do we get offended by a scarf worn on the head for the sake of modesty by muslims but we have no problem with western women doing exactly the same thing out of modesty after surviving cancer out of sheer vanity?

After Melissa Etheridge had chemotherapy and her hair fell out, she chose NOT to wear a scarf - she had no shame or vanity in becoming bald.

Answer 1

I don't know why people have a problem with muslim women's head covering--a nun's habit is the same thing, used for the same reason

Answer 2

I think it all stems from the level of covering worn by the women. I've noticed that most people are quite comfortable with the head scarf (I've worked with Muslim women) yet the hijab that fully covers the face and only reveals the eyes seems disturbing to westerners (it doesn't help that they are generally black...although I have met one Muslim woman who wore this version but had various colors that matched her dresses). Sikh women also often cover their heads (and Sikh men wear turbans). It is part of their religious dress code. Again, though, it is usually just the simple scarf and not the full hijab that covers the eyes. There is something that seems to bother westerners about not being able to see one's face and only limited to the eyes. I'm not sure I understand it as I have no problem in any of my encounters with Muslim women wearing the full hijab (though there are few here who do). Sometimes, out of courtesy, they will remove the lower part covering the rest of the face when indoors and thus it looks like a head scarf and when going outdoors will, perhaps out of habit, place the lower portion back over their nose and mouths. The only thing I guess is that the extreme concealment bothers many westerners because we do not like things hidden from us. We expect to see the face because we respond to body language through facial expressions. When this is limited to just the eyes we are not trained to read the expressions as well. Thus we feel uncomfortable because we cannot see the smile, the frown, the confusion. We seem to notice these responses through the mouth (just look at the smiley faces used on the internet :-) :-/ :-( >:-( the main expression is the mouth which the full hijab covers..perhaps that is where the nervousness comes from...although you'd think voice tone would count for something). I've noticed that westerners don't have a problem with the gloves that many Muslim women wear on their hands.

Answer 3

Their discriminating against the veil and not the head scarf so what you on about my friend?

What is the point of being vein? Why don’t they just wear a wig instead of a scarf, surely you will be able to notice that a person hasn’t got hair. Muslim women wear the Headscarf so that PERVERTS don’t look at them. Maybe you like someone perving on you sister, mother, daughter etc.

Answer 4

It's refreshing to see a non Muslim who understands our point of view :)

I'm a Muslim but I don't wear the headscarf. I don't think anyone should have a problem with a woman who wants to cover up though. I think it is less offensive than a woman who wants to flash her boobs around!

People should pay the modest Muslim women more respect for standing up for her beliefs instead of submitting to social pressure like so many others have.

Answer 5

I think you are asking two different questions. And we are not offended. Whoever 'we' are.

Women, after chemotherapy, sometimes feel nude without their hair and choose to wear a scarf or wig to cover themselves. Not out of shame or modesty. Perhaps a sense of comfort would be better considered.

Other women, in different cultures, cover their heads out of teaching. Catholic women covered their heads, Episcopal women covered their heads, Puritans covered their heads and other women covered their heads from teaching.

It would be wrong of you to decipher any vanity from these practices.

I suspect a bit of bias here.

Answer 6

Regards for your question!!
yes u are absolutly right, i'm always wondering the same things, they don't tolerate that muslim women practice them religion freely as they want.
let's forget religion, and speak them language, they are always talking about women rights, to do whatever they want, to wear whatever they want, are muslim women out of this rule?!!
i was reading answers, the 1st one said that the difference is that muslim women don't choose to wear it!let me cllirify thsi point please:
in Islam the veil is an obligation for all women(not children), but what poeple do not understand, is that IT IS NOT AN OBLIGATION BY THE HUSBAND OR THE FATHER OR THE MAN, IT IS A RELIGIOUS OBLIGATION, BY GOD THEY BELIEVE ON, WHEN A MUSLIM GIRL FEEL THAT SHE IS A WOMAN AND THAT SHE SEDUCE MEN, THEN SHE DECIDE TO WEAR THE HAIRSCARF IF HER FAITH IS STRONG, IF IT IS NOT SHE DOES NOT,
that's why many muslim girls wear same clothes as nin muslim, and don't cover them heads!

Answer 7

Ermm, I've rarely encountered topless women on a beach, and I rarely encounter anyone preaching from the Bible - when I do, they tend to be older guys bellowing it out in a city-centre, being studiously-ignored and avidly-avoided by everyone, myself included. WHERE IS this beach, where Sister Mary D-cup tells us how we should live our lives? I might stroll-along for a listen! After that, your question sure covers a lot of ground. In the final analysis, are you condoning the attitude that the BEAUTIFUL WORK OF GOD, i.e. HUMANITY, naked and natural, somehow offends and disgusts you? On a personal level, I find tan-lines very hot, and I don't recommend anyone should bask in the sun - AND I'm more into red-heads. I find 'pale & interesting' to be VERY interesting. ;-)

Answer 8

The women I work with do not wear headscarves after chemo for modesty. They wear them because they are certain that people will stare at them and call attention to them because they have lost most, if not all, of their hair. They wear them because they are embarrassed, or to gain confidance in their self image. Modesty has nothing to do with it.

Answer 9

Muslim women have that choice, and I know two who are my sis in laws who do not. I, however, LOVE it. It makes a woman mysterious and doens't show off what is most valuable.

Answer 10

i think you're right..... whatever the reason a woman has the right to choose how modestly or how immodestly she wants to dress....

especially in a country that is based on religious freedom


farhan: i live in America and i wear a headscarf and whether or not you like to believe it they DEFINITELY discriminate against the headscarf