Why do muslims make women drag themselves around under heavy black robes and cover everything except eyes?

Question

Its ridiculous. Why must they dress that way but not men? Why do they have to be so subserviant and not treated as equals? Whya re they to be seen and not heard?

Honest questions I just wouldn't mind answers to. Thanks

ROSA- unfortunately it is due to the brainwashing over time that you believe it is 'your' choice. Everyone who has answered and pointed out that it really is due to the MALE DOMINATING CULTURE OVER THERE- IS RIGHT. It is so that THEY don't get turned on and have to rape some poor innocent woman then blame it on her beauty and their lack of control. What a sickening display of inequality. Rosa MY beauty is something I have the right to be free with and wear what I truly want. Beauty should not be hidden. In the words of Cindi Laupers' 'girls just wanna have fun'- "Some boys take a beautiful girl,
And hide her away from the rest of the world.
I wanna be the one to walk in the sun.
Oh,girls,
They wanna have fu-un."

Answer 1

It was a form of oppression. It still kind of is, but now it's become more like brain-washing, because muslim woman wear the veil even if they don't have to. I'm not one to make predjudice on religious beliefs, but this is one that I definitely do NOT agree with. I do not agree with woman being put down, being treated as inferiors, and forced to stay "modest", in other words, hidden from male eyes. If a man gets turned on by a woman's hair, than the problem lies in this guy's perverse mind, and not in the woman.

If you are interested in muslim culture, you read the graphic novel 'Persepolis'. It explains A LOT.

Answer 2

In our contry, almost all the Islamic scholar I have met say that women are allowed to keep their face, hands and feet uncovered. The "Burka" or "Hizab" is a personal choice, not at all a mandatory provision by Islam. A good trouser and a good shirt may serve the purpose, and if you visit Bangladesh or Pakistan or any other predominantly Muslim country, you'll see that. Some people just choose to use the "Burka" - their own choice, what to do?

All Islam asks for it you don't unnecessarily show off skin and your clothes, unless you are in the company of family, don't give people idea about your certain curves.

Men too have their share of restrictions. I am not allowed to roam around topless or in a shorts in a public place!

Answer 3

In my personal opinion, this is a result of culture. Arabs have always been quite a traditional people who are steeped in ignorance and age-old bigotist practices.
Frankly speaking, even though I'm not a big fan of Islam, when Islam came out the Arab women were afforded certain rights and privileges if they became Muslim, as opposed to the whole female infanticide, "men-are-Gods" mentality of the past.
However, this had led to these so called rights and privileges that were once such to become burdens and hurdles to the women's progress because they still practice Islam like they were back in 1400 years ago, which is not right!
Religion should progress with the times, and it's not right nor fair that they should be covering their faces like that especially in a desert setting (some might say there is air conditioning everywhere in the mid-east, however, the poorer people do not have such a luxury and are usually the beasts of burden and victims of age-old Islamic pasts and tradition which might not be compatible with today's practices!).
I actually think that covering the face and showing just the eyes isn't necessary or even compulsory. It was probably meant to be a hair cover for modesty as opposed to the whole 'wrap them up in black swathes and stick them in the storage room' mentality many Muslims carry around today.


Jenova

Answer 4

It is not a sin not to cover your face, were it, I would be in so much trouble. Sometimes; I ask myself why do they any how? You ought to see the gobs of eye make-up they wear over her, they look like made-up clowns. Your ex friend told you that because that is what she was told. Some places in Saudi are more relaxing that others. I live in Dammam and often I go out with out even covering my hair. It all depends upon where you live I guess; some places are stricter. The key is to dress modestly that's all. Do what you believe is right for you and not what others have to say.

Answer 5

I am a christian and believe the man to be the athoritive figure in the home. I also believe in agape love, which means you love each other so much you want what is best for them and would never do anything to hurt them as in abuse. People are now against the man being dominant because of so much abuse and I agree that is never acceptable. If my man is taking care of me and loving me then I should respect him and his authoritive position. I disagree with this extent o fmaking the women wear these garmets to hide them to keep men from sinning. A man has the power to control himself and has no one to blame for falling into temptation but himself. I do not think we should walk around with our boobs and butt hanging out, but we should not have to cover our entire body up.

Answer 6

It is a show of modesty. In certain countries women have no choice. It is the law. Where it is not the law of the land, it is the woman's choice to cover herself. Many believe that it is keeping their bodies to themselves and away from prying eyes.
As a woman, I know that I have felt violated in my life by having unwanted stares while I was wearing a tee shirt & jeans no less!

Answer 7

Supposedly, women are "desirable" and by wearing the viel and dressing "modestly" that will prevent men from looking at them in a "sexual" fantazing way. Hence why only the eyes are shown. Everything is loose from head to toe. Women are allowed to take the viel off but only infront of their husbands, sons, brothers and family. There is a contradiction, why do the men get to dress normally? BECAUSE WE LIVE AND HAVE ALWAYS LIVED IN A MALE DOMINATED SOCIETY. THESE RULES HAVE BEEN CREATED BY MEN AND IF ONE ARGUES THAT THIS "WEARING A VIEL RULE" IS A COMMAND OR GOD OR THAT GOD "WANTED" IT TO BE THIS WAY....THEN WE ARE CLEARLY ATTRIBUTING A MALE ATTITUDE TO GOD....HE IS BIASED AND SEXIST......clearly God wanted men and women to be treated very differently...perhaps "allah is sexist" and wants segregation......i wonder often wonder why god would create this rule knowing that in the future women would want freedom...or will be dressing differently....then hes clearly not "all knowing"....really...religious rules piss me off, especially since there is no substance

Answer 8

I dont get it either! My dad went to saudi arabia for a business trip and he took a bunch of pics of the people there. Apparently (my dad told me) all the men wear usually white t shirts and pants/shorts. But the women wear a full set of clothing (pants and a shirt) PLUS the big, heavy, thick black robe thing. Wanna know something else? When he was there, it was 105 DEGREES! And this was SPRING...meaning it gets HOTTER there! And heat stroke isnt a worry here?

I've heard its something to do with other men seeing your wife and lusting after her, so they cover the women up and stuff. My question, if this is true, is why then dont the MEN have to cover up? Dont the wives not want other women lusting after their husbands? Dont the wives, then, have a right to cover up their husbands in a black TARP? Sexist, male-dominated culture is all it is.

Answer 9

Not all Muslims do this, those that do often choose to for reasons already given by other people.

The reason that men do not have to be equally covered is because, generally speaking, women don't get heavily lustful with simply a glance at a guy's anatomy. We're kind of gross.

Answer 10

first of all it is not heavy and it is not a must that it should be black..i know this for sure because i am A Muslim, Saudi, and Wear Niqab ''showing the eyes only''
Why you people are so bothered?!!!!!! ^.^
Allah ordered me to wear hijab and i know it is for my own benefits...
when i wear hijab i feel that my body is mine, not all men have to enjoy my beauty like something cheap..

when i talk witha man, i know he is talking to my mind, not busy with how my '......' looks like!
it is MY RIGHT
why are you guys keep questioning that! your women are walking almost naked in the street, we never told them to cover up, so why you want us to leave away the hijab?!!
Mary peace be upon her wearing a decent clothes in the church picture, if she to live in this time, would you too ask her to shorten her dress?!
pleeeeez ppl go over it!!!!!! i like my hijab, so stop being my merciful advocate who thinks h/se now what's better for me

you say in the question:Whya re they to be seen and not heard?
actually i am heard but not seen..and THIS IS WHAT'S REALLY MATTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Prozacnation:
why not that you are the brainwashed not me :)
if you walked on the beach almost naked, there are huge number of men who is going to benefits of such scene, but me wearing decently, no one will benefit of such a thing, so why would men brainwashed me to do so! ;)

the verse about hijab in Quran says:(O Prophet! Tell thy wives and thy daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks close round them (when they go abroad). That will be better, SO THAT THEY MAY BE RECOGNISED and not ANNOYED. Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful.)
see, islam states the first reason for hijab is that the may NOT GET HURT...yeah, that's true another reason is to limit rape to spread in society, and this solution does really works..no one can deny that this crime is almost unheard of comparing to your society where women get rape every hour, however, women are not to be guilt when they get rape at all!!!!! but when they wear decently this reduce the chances of getting rape...

by the way, i can go to beach and enjoy myself, and guess what!! i can swim too ^..^