If muslim women are forbidden to wear hijabs, shouldn't nuns have to take theirs off too?

Question

After all.. the covering of women goes back to the day of moses. Nuns cover themselves to remain pius and plain. Is it so hard for christians to believe that some women respect God enough to respect themselves? Why does everyone think we are so repressed?

if a nun isn't wearing her habit, then she is ignoring her own faith and beliefs. Thus, is she really a nun?

Answer 1

Absolutely... either men need to wear the same or neither gender wears them.

Answer 2

Actually, there are plenty of nuns (indeed, perhaps a majority nowadays) who do not wear a habit and instead wear garments just like those worn by "ordinary" women.

But I understand your point. For many Muslim women (not all, mind you - there are plenty of places around the world where the hijab is not optional, where women face physical violence for failing to cover), covering themselves is a noble practice borne of a choice to be faithful to a long-standing principle. I admire their decision to remain true to their beliefs even if this places them in an obvious minority category in Western nations.

Answer 3

Where are they forbidden not to wear it? But no I don't think you are repressed. I actually had admired some of them from way back. I even noticed how the Indians would dress and the Jews, the Amish..I said you know what why aren't we wearing matilla's and dressing a little differently? My mom got mad at me. There are some Christians that dress conservatively also and cover their hair. If you are in the USA then you can cover up or not. It's up to you.

Answer 4

Correct me if I'm wrong ... but from my understanding, Muslim women can't cover their faces when it comes to taking pictured IDs and/or Drivers' licenses. It's the same with a nun, I think. Since W went bonkers with the National Security thing, it's almost a given.

Answer 5

Where are muslim women forbidden to wear the hijab in the US?

I know that there have been some controversies regarding photo ID's (as on a driver's license) and the requirement that the face be shown on them. Since photo ID is not required in the US, but is a request of the holder, women can be compelled to meet those requirements in order to obtain the desired document.

Women are free to cover as much or as little as they feel appropriate in US society. I see few women in full cover (such as burqa, chador, or niqab, etc.) in my area, but I do see many with simple head scarves. I have seen them in schools, on the streets, at the grocery, etc. Their rights are not suppressed. If you feel it is appropriate for you and your family, go right on ahead and cover. There are Christian women (not just professed religious) who also cover, and they are accepted in society as well.

I have done some light reading on this issue, and I find it interesting that so much of what is dictated as appropriate hijab is dictated more by culture rather than the application of religious belief. There ARE cultures using gender as a repressive rationale under the guise of "modesty." I think that is the greater concern, not the hijab itself.

I respect myself, and I do not cover. The whole issue of modest dress and self-respect is a concern to me and my daughters, but I don't find that sequestering and covering is necessarily the only response to those issues. If you find it appropriate for you, feel free.

Answer 6

In Turkey which is extremely anti-Moslem country Moslem women wearing head cover are not allowed to enroll in College or enter post office, hospital, court house or any public building. The wives of Turkey president and prime minister were barred from attending their husbands inauguration ceremonies because they were head covers. They are banned from state dinners. Khair-Al-Nissa the wife of the president was denied college education because she wears head cover and prays 5 times a Day. Turkey bans all forms of Islam or Jumma Friday prayers on TV or radio and all Islamic oriented news papers or magazines. Any thing of this nature is banned and closed down immediately. Kemal At-Turk is what is worshiped instead of God. This is known is Kemalism. In the North Africa Arab country of Tunis police use clubs and beat very savagely any girl or female going to school or college wearing head cover.

Answer 7

I understand from men that are Arabic or Muslim that they are as turned on by woman wearing Muslim garb as non Muslim men are by women who are dressed provocatively. A glimpse of an exposed ankle or wrist sends them into orbit the way a skimpy shirt and skirt would a red blooded American man.
Odd isn't it.
It is just what you are used to. Not necessarily repressed, I always think wow that must be uncomfortable, but I would suppose that I would be wrong it is probably the opposite and a comfort because that is what you are used to. Like I am used to my blue jeans and T-shirts. My modest blue jeans and T-shirts, because I have a very high value on myself and my modesty. Thank you very much.

Answer 8

I'm a Christian and I know that there are many women of every faith imaginable who respect God enough to respect themselves and dress modestly. Some Muslim women do, some Christian women do, there are even atheist women who respect themselves enough to dress modestly. I commend those women for their modest behavior. For a religion to REQUIRE a particular type of behavior.... now we're talking about repressed women.

Answer 9

Nuns are "the brides of Christ."

They NEVER marry, NEVER have sex, NEVER give birth to children and depending on the order they belong to, they live lives of quiet reflection and poverty. I have no problem with women feeling compelled to cover their heads while attending their place of worship, but when they are forced to wear excessive clothing all day long, from dawn to dusk, seven days a week, every year of their lives ... while men wear what they want and feed the women the story that they don't want other men to stare at them ... THAT'S oppression to me.

I live in Canada. I am free. While Muslims here are often writing that westerners believe a biased media, the same could be said about them! What do you think I wear every day as a free Canadian? What's all this talk about mini-skirts and tank tops?

Excuse me, but I wouldn't be caught dead in a mini-skirt! I wear jeans and a blouse most often, sometimes Capri pants and sleeveless tops and flip flops in summer. I am not a prostitute! Nor am I looking for sex! I'm a middle-aged artist and writer, not a hooker.

Muslim women should be proud of their beautiful hair and be proud of their beautiful faces and exotic eyes. Sure, men in the west will gawk at a pretty face, but most of them feel beauty is way out of their league. Men here LOOK, but they don't touch. EVER.

Women who are raped are in the extreme minority here; it is NOT a common crime in North America, and if it ever happens, the perpetrator is captured immediately and severely punished. (Jail time, not beheading) Quite often, the other criminals in a prison will victimize the rapist horribly while in jail. It's thought of as a "heinous offence" in North America.

Women in the west want to free our sisters ALL OVER THE WORLD, no matter what their faith or race. We don't have to do what men tell us to. We are equal to men and deserve to be treated that way. Men may be stronger than us, but they can't give birth. They NEED us, or their line does not survive. That sounds like a 50/50 deal to me.

Please know we object to theocracy and we dislike misogyny. THAT'S what ticks us off most.

Cheers.
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Answer 10

Not ALL Christian women are nuns, and the majority who are not nuns don't wear any covering like you are referring to.

Answer 11

When have you seen a nun wear her habit in the recent past? Probably not unless its a very formal event because nuns no longer dress like that. So your argument is just plain stupid.