what do you think of muslim women who cover? opressed or liberated?

Question

and why? where do base ur opinion on? media? politicians? did u ever make the effort and ask a muslim woman? did u look into Islam? did u do ur own research?
no sarcastic comments please

Answer 1

I discussed this 25 years ago with a Saudi woman who was teaching me Arabic. She said a) She did not have to worry about people staring at her; b) She did not have to fret about wearing makeup like English girls. For her it was liberating. How would European women feel about wearing just their underwear in the street?

Answer 2

I can certainly understand why the hijab would be a liberating thing. I believe that there are plenty of women in the world who wear it for the right reasons.

I also believe, however, that in some places around the world, the hijab - as well as other, more restricting garments like the burqa - are worn by women who fear the repercussions of not wearing it. In some societies, the teachings of Islam have been distorted (just as much of Christianity has been distorted here in America) and the hijab is a symbol of oppression of one-half of humanity by the other half of humanity.

Answer 3

There is nothing in the Qur'an which states that women should cover their faces Like many traditions which have crept into Christianity, this idea came later to Islam.
I studied Islam at University.
Apart from that, isn't it up to the woman to decide if she wants to wear the Hijab or the Niqab?
I know many Muslim women in Europe who insist on wearing the hijab, even though their husbands say, 'We're in Europe, you don't have to cover your head.'
As a non-Muslim, I don't believe that a man should force his wife to cover her head, but if it's her choice, then it's her choice and he shouldn't force her not to!
After all, I didn't go to Church without a hat until I was over 20. Nuns cover their heads and so do women from the Sally Army.

Answer 4

I read on a site over 12 months ago, that all this palava over a burkha or other face covering is simply the muslim males dictate. Reading between the lines I guess it's to stop western eyes looking at them, pity they did'nt practise what they preached. Author of the article I read at that time was a muslim woman funny that don't you think. So I would have to answer that with being under the thumb

Answer 5

The Muslim world has managed to suppress half of its population - women - by finding ways to oppress and prevent them from developing their full human potential. An American Muslim woman once delivered a speech wearing a head-scarf. A Muslim man later mentioned nothing of the content of her message, but quickly reprimanded her for leaving her ears and neck exposed. This type of mentality must be challenged and exposed. Some of these men who are perturbed at the sight of a Muslim woman’s hair or neck, have no problem freely mixing with non-Muslim women, greeting them with hugs, or by shaking their hands. However, this duplicity is always overlooked.

Many Muslim apologists argue that Islam liberated women more than fourteen hundred years ago. However, this theoretical emancipation is not manifest in the Islamic world. When it comes to Muslim women, sometimes no amount of modesty is ever enough. Women are almost always segregated from their families at Islamic functions, and some mosques have solid partitions so that they can be visually and audibly isolated. Some men also discourage women from going to the mosque or leaving their homes. This "quarantine mentality" stems from traditional baggage that has no place in Islam anywhere. During the Prophet’s time, women actively participated in Muslim society. However, since that period, the Biblical tradition of "the woman being inherently evil" has managed to infiltrate Islam. This ideology is perpetuated by some questionable ahadith, which proclaim that the majority of the occupants of hell will be women. This is contrary to the teachings enshrined in the Qur’an, which invites everyone to do good deeds, and promises both men and women their just rewards.

The following hadith is often quoted to justify the hijab: Asma, daughter of Abu Bakr, entered upon the Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) wearing thin clothes. The Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) turned his attention from her. He said: O Asma, when a woman reaches the age of menstruation, it does not suit her that she displays her parts of body except this and this, and he pointed to her face and hands. (Abu Dawood) It is generally agreed that this is a weak hadith.

Answer 6

For the most part id say opressed.

The Koran does not say a woman should be covered head to toe with just slits showing for her eyes, merely that she should cover her beauty. It doesnt say that a woman should be punished for being raped, prevented from working or be the victim of honour killing either!

I guess the point im making is that mysoginistic societies will use religion to legitemise their attitudes....unfortunately many societies where islam is prevelant are also socially backward, therefore using religion in this way is easy. I do think islam does lend itself to people who want to use it to legitemise violence, intolerance of other religions or subjugation of women, thats NOT to say i think islam is those things in itself!

I'm from a country where islam is the major religion, Iraq.

Under the Baathists in iraq, muslim women were encouraged to gain education, employment, dress as they pleased etc...but then Saddam's Baathism had nothing to do with religion, it was in fact founded by Christians.

Women in Iraq are now being harrassed(even christian women), beaten and even killed for wearing western clothes, not covering up, dancing, listening to music, mixing with men, smoking, having jobs etc...i can assure you these women feel opressed, not liberated!

PS; Im not muslim or arab, im Assyrian and Christian.

PPS Its noteable that in Bangladesh, women do not completely cover up, but when Bangladeshis come to the UK, many do! Why? I think its because they actively with to isolate themselves from the natives here, and its a statement, a very insulting one at that!

Answer 7

Hijab is not banned in America. Catholic nuns have worn hijab for centuries, and nobody complained. Well, they probably didn't complain because the nuns are so darned helpful, you can can't help but love them. However, many traditional hijab wearers are not particularly helpful like Christian nuns are, so people just get annoyed. It's nothing to do with the clothing, it's the whining ATTITUDE! Have you noticed that nobody ever complained about Mother Theresa's "hijab"? Or are you just thinking about muslim women?

Answer 8

The use of the veil is more a custom than a requirement of the Koran , One suspects it is a macho requirement of the Arab male to cut out the competition . In early Victorian times the British woman would have never let the public see her ankles , and would have been shocked to see them displayed in public , but each age and culture has its hang ups and i guess it always will .

Answer 9

Oppressed, I would say. Sometimes the conditioning they receive during their upbringing causes them to oppress themselves. Remember the female liberation movement and their philosophy that girls were conditioned to be compliant and feminine through the perceived values applied to them during their childhood ? Well, the same applies here. Muslim women need to be liberated and yet here in a liberal western democracy the government colludes with the male dominated muslim establishment to oppress muslim women.

Answer 10

You can't jugde from the person by just the cover.

It is the mind and heart that needs to be known. I have observed fully covered, head to toe, girls talking about very liberated sex things in.

Then, friends who are covered and very conservative but not oppress. Some are very liberated, but still under cover for the sake of complying to their society and religion.

So, it's the person under the cover that matters.