Question for the Arab comunity?

Question

If I am a woman travelling to Arab countries I am expected to dress modestly. On the other hand, why cant we ask the same things out of Arabs travelling to Europe? If I had the power, I too would demand that Arab women wore miniskirts and skimpy tops when in Europe.

If we go by the saying, when in Rome, dont you think its only natural that it is applied both ways?

Krimzin Rabia - You completely missed my point. Its about the fact that we, Europeans, allow Arab women to dress anyway they like, while the Arabs dont do the same for us.

Yeah, my fiance is from Lebanon, too, and I have absolutely no problem - I dress however I want.

Honey, i am a European pure blood as well. I was merely exagerating, for the sake of demonstration. Do you know what you have to go through if you walk down the street wearing a knee-lenght skirt?

http://www.qatarliving.com/

Hehe, I could care less about Arabs and their view on women, what I want is for the European to be more solidar one to another. Lets make out own rules! And yes, two wrong do make a right! This is why we have prisons!

Rabbityama - I do respect cultural diffrences, as long as they do not maim me as a human begin. The choice of one clothing is an experssin of one's personality, hence a very personal choice. I don not enjoy the fact that this choice is taken away from me, aka that I have to renounce to a part of my cultural identitu in order to please those of someone else.

To be more clear: the question doesn not address attire per se, but as a means of pointing out the double standards. Do you know about the argument in France when the secular society imposed a dress code in schools that the Arabs protested against? Why dont they respect our believes?

To be more clear: the question doesn not address attire per se, but as a means of pointing out the double standards. Do you know about the argument in France when the secular society imposed a dress code in schools that the Arabs protested against? Why dont they respect our believes?

fleur581 - Would it kill you to show some skin when in my contry? If i have to follow the rules when I am there, why should you have the right to choose when here. If I cant make a choise, why should you be allowed to?

Answer 1

Ok, I see no one got your point! Some people are really brainwashed...
I would still go the other way: if West allows Arabic people (particularly women) to dress as they like when they are in Western countries, shouldn't Western ladies be allowed to wear what they want in Arabic countries? That is, isn't it hypocrite to demand the right to stick to your own style when in West while deprive Western women of the same right? Hell, YES! A pure example of double standards.
I agree the same thing should apply in both ways. But I don't think it should be a demand for changing your style when you travel, but a freedom to wear whatever you want wherever you go. BOTH WAYS!!!

EDIT: I would really like to hear the explanation of people that gave me thumbs down, as I only asked for EQUALITY, that is, for EQUAL RIGHTS. And then somebody will get offended when I say that certain people are brainwashed... Well, here's one more proof for such a claim.

To everybody who did not understand: I wasn't talking against somebody's style or something, I even tried to say that EVERYBODY should be entitled to their own style. You missed the point completely. This is not a discussion about different (life and clothing) styles, but a discussion about equal or not equal rights concerning practising those styles.

To Leonarda: So, you are saying that European culture and societies allows everybody to wear whatever they want, while Arabic (more or less) don't. I say so, too. But I am also saying that is NOT FAIR. European societies could also state they have their own "status" (as you said) and require others to obey to it. But no, Europe is open and tolerant and gives freedom to all people. I believe every society should do the same, especially if its members enjoy freedom elsewhere.

Oh, and Leonarda, I suppose you are educated enough to know there are Islamic countries where you are NOT allowed to wear cross. Saudi Arabia, for example.

Answer 2

1)In most Arab and Middle Eastern countries you are free to wear what you want. You are not forced to wear a head scarf. In fact most Non -Muslim women and alot of Muslim women don't. If you go to the beaches of Sharm or Lebanon you will find women in bikinis.
Only Saudi Arabia and Iran have rules on dressing.
So your first point is wrong.

2)Who says that European dress is skimpy tops and mini skirts!!! I'm 100% European born, and bred and I know that is false.
European dress is FREEDOM to wear what you choose. This is not North Korea where there is a uniform.
There are many WHITE EUROPEAN women who would hate to be FORCED to wear skimpy clothes. Much of the year it is too cold anyway!!!
My best friend is white native European who thinks she is fat. She loves to wear baggy modest clothes to cover her supposed fatness. She would refuse to leave the house if someone made her wear a mini skirt. I'm sure there are many others like her.



3)OK.. To your other point.. you seem to be suggesting hypocrisy. Well, you know two wrongs don't make a right. Just because somewhere forces dresscodes doesn't mean Europe has to, too

4)When traveling to Muslim countries most people like to show respect by dressing modestly. Because there is nothing in their religion that says that they can NOT be modest. It is about respect. And anyway the weather in these countries suit lose modest clothes.
But for Muslim women an important part of their religion is wearing Hijab.. So it is cruel to force them to uncover. You are not comparing like with like.

5)I say live and let live.. Muslim women in hijab are hurting no one. Let them be.


EDIT.. Sexual harrashment, is a completly different point. It is too much for me to write here...
But that is the PROBLEM of (some) MEN, and why they do not follow Islamic behaviour codes that ban that sort of thing.
You can't blame it on woman's dress. Men are responsible for their OWN misbehaviour.


Last EDIT: I have addresses your question about double standards (if you read my answer) So have a few others. It is just that we do not agree with you.

Answer 3

"If we go by the saying, when in Rome, dont you think its only natural that it is applied both ways?"
No, I don't.

You talk about dressing modestly as if it was a crime ..
Would it kill you not to reveal too much of your body while walking down a street in any arab country ? Or can't you stand wearing long pants, t-shirts, long skirts (that reach your knees), shirts or even abayas only out of respect to the ethics and traditions of the arab country that you're in ?

Maybe it's too hard for you to understand that arab women don't need to expose their bodies just to be noticed, that's why you can't deal with the fact that when you're in an arab country you should give your body some sanctity and privacy.

Answer 4

Do you think you live on Mars? I live in the heart of Arab lands. You can dress as you like. However, don't expect to be treated good if you dress like a whore. When it is said to dress with modesty when you visit other places, it would be like no different then you would dress when you have a meeting with someone you respect. If you go to a club when visiting that is a different thing. Just think about what your saying. Would you wear a bathing suit to the mall? Then the same ideas apply here.. I am not interested in what you wear nor am I interested in wearing the same clothes as you.

You should ask better questions. The tone of this just shows some type of prejudice. Where ever you go if you dress nice you will be treated better not just here but other places.

Answer 5

In most Arab and Moslem countries (with the exception of Saudi Arabia and Iran) you are fee to wear what ever you like, laws do not enforce a certain dress code, you are missing the point totally here.

It is preferable though to dress modestly as a show of respect to local customs and habits, why would you insist on walking around half naked when people say they prefer not to see your... mmm... to put it delicately... "skin".

On the other hand who told you that europe doesn't enforce its dressing code on Moslems, not just visitors but also locals... You are not as tolerant as you like to claim after all. Haven't you heared of the laws in France that prohibit female students fronm attending public schools if they cover their heads. What do you think about that? Isn't this a transgression on freedoms?

As for considering wearing mini skirts and skimpy tops the traditional costumes in Western societies, I'm not arguing the correctness of this statment here, enough said by others. But I guess I would have no problems letting you force this dress code on Moslem women visiting the west only if you force it on all your women first including you mothers and grandmothers. Enforcing this dress code should be across the board... not just on... how can I put this delicately again... ill reputed western women, and Moslems!!!

As others said, I can't understand though what is the pride and obsession you find in walking around dressed like... mmm... you know who. Why do you consider that unless you dress like... you know who... your humanity will be maimed?
Do you have so much problems dressing decently even for a few days while visiting a foreign country!!! This is gross.

Cheers

Answer 6

It is in the culture of Arab countries for women to dress modestly... I do not know which countries strictly enforce a dress code, but not all Arab countries do.

Yes, the Arab countries that don't strictly enforce it still RECOMMEND (not require) that women dress modestly, they do not expect that all non-Muslims or Muslims from other countries to dress in their black abayas and shaylas (the black scarf and outergarment). It is just a recommendation that no matter what style of clothes you wear, that it be modest.

There are plenty of women, however, who don't... I walk by women wearing tank tops, midriff bearing shirts, shorts, mini-skirts etc... along with those who dress in jeans and long tunics, or long skirts etc... often here in UAE.

I don't think its respectful to the culture here for people to not dress modestly... but thats on them and I'm not going to go out in the streets and start protesting that the government should require modest dress on everyone.

In Europe, culturally, the locals dress as modest or as skimpy as they wish. miniskirts and skimpy tops are not the abayas and shaylas (kind of like a "uniform" since most locals wear them) of some of the Arab countries. European or Western dress has many different styles and not everyone goes around in skimpy clothes.

And even if people think its shocking in the West if an Arab or Muslim woman dresses all in black--which not all do--well, aren't there non-Muslims who dress in all black as well? Like Punks or Goths?

oh, and lets not forget all the nuns who cover their body and hair as well. I'd like to see for once people trying to "save" nuns from their oppressive clothing.

I am American and I am Muslim. When I am in the Gulf Arab countries I dress more like the locals do, in the black abayas and shaylas. But when I am not in the Gulf, I wear long, loose tunics, wide-legged pants/jeans, or long skirts...or a long loose jacket if its cool/cold, and the hijab in different colors just to blend in the best I can with whatever culture I am around.

Answer 7

I am european too, greek..Also in my country, in some villages, they wear coverage, not for religious reasons, but by tradition.In their states, for religious reasons, they have to wear it, in some others, it is not obligatory..
Dont confuse Europe, when you say that we have to shout to them not to wear hijab...Because in Europe, this is not a status, e mean,in Europe everyone can wear, even the foreigners what they want..But in their countries, this is a status, for religious reasons...
The europeans, wear cross..They never received any restrictions in any arabic country for it, since we know from the story, that having there their colonies in the past, they created big comunities, and their churches, which are still respected and conservated nowdays(Patriarcate of Egypt)...
Needless to say how much the arabs contributed to save the greek letters and writers(this is another topic)...
But...when in a country some things are status, and traditions, when you are visitor, you have to accept them...and tpo respect them...
At the end...to tell you the truth, i prefere the covered women to see who dont harm anyone, than all the prostitution which comes from some countries i dont want to mention,this has destroyed Europe and families,(they dont try to take the husband of anyone) not the hijab...

Needless to say also, that about the rights of these women...have you ever thought how many women from western european countries are bad treated, without wearing hijab?so, about what freedom in the western world are we talking about?

We dont speak about Saudia which has its own status, but think about the other arabic countries where europeans have been, and they have created their own societies...

Answer 8

hello ,,i want to compliment u on this question ,,,its very interesting ...simply i answer traditions and cultures r different ,,,thats y ,...dont get upset its the traditions ,,,i respect a woman in her dressing so much and i honestly dont see anything wrong if she chooses more open or more conservative ,,becoz its personal belief and traditions,also religious factors,,,but believe me its personal and what a woman chooses to wear is her own belief ,,and i understand the compromise europeans make when they come to arab countries ,,best wishes

Answer 9

Why is it so hard to accept that different people have different expectations of what is appropriate? Cultural differences are something to celebrate, not eliminate. It would be boring if the whole world was the same as Europe.

Anyways, it's childish to have the attitude "If I can do it here in Europe, then I should be able to do it anywhere!"

Answer 10

Anybody do as he likes but then he has to face the consequences.

There is a reason the clothing must be modest. Do you want to discover it first hand? OK.

I am sure we will find you here again asking why Arabs dont respect the free woman. But dear, wasnt it you who didnt respect their ethics in the first place?