Do you think [UK] muslim women who Choose to hide their face are ignorant or being deliberately provoca-...?

Question

...provocative, in trying to assert their identity in this way?

in a [UK] culture where down the centuries, only thieves murderers and rapists have gone about their business hiding their faces...it is surely impossible not to believe that these incomers are perfectly well aware of the snub they are delivering to the social norms of the UK [..safe in the smug belief they Used to have...that political correctness would protect them from any criticism]

the connotation that hiding your face has always had in our country, is of Treachery.so why would any incoming group to this country try to assert themselves with an action that would be guaranteed to put the backs up, of the local population....given than there is no religious injunction on them to do so?

dont others also read this behaviour as being much more about a spiteful rejection of uk culture, rather than anything genuinely religious?

is it that they come from a culture where "the other" is viewed with contempt, where a culture-wide view is present that all other faiths are inferior and destined to succumb to eventual worldwide proliferation of islam - and so, others norms dont need to be respected?

also in a warped [arabic] culture, where honour is tied to a womens sexual conduct...it creates a situation of extreme s*x-scarcity for arab males and only reinforces a womans need [in public] to appear sexually unavailable if not invisible, in order to protect them from molestation by frustrated single arab males.

i feel personally insulted by the implicit accusation that a woman having to hide her face from a males gaze, levels at me...due to the ******-up sexual traditions of culture she's come from.

shouldnt these people abide by Our customs when they come to live in Our country...or find another country to live in, if they want to go around dressing like lepers..whose face no one can see?

Answer 1

they came to the country to feel free, or r u saying that UK is not a free country. if it's not then twats like would not even be hear and saying this kind of stuff. i have noticed that sombody said "they are brainwashed", i think u'r the one that is brainwashed and u should be mre open minded.

Answer 2

Their motives for veiling are probably very personal and spiritual.  And NOT necessarily simply provocative.

And wait, wait...."in a warped [arabic] culture, where honour is tied to a womens sexual conduct."

Sorry, did you miss the bit in History class where the *exact* same thing was true about women until, oh, say, the 1960's in the UK, US, and just about the rest of the West??

Answer 3

I think it's become more and more popular to make a fuss over ones heritage by adopting clothing that makes a cultural statement - no matter where the wearer was born.

I think that adaptation is necessary to successfully travel and move among other cultures and within other countries.

But many would say that they are not willing to give up their own heritage just because they live in a new place and they see the fabric they choose to put on their bodies as a part of that heritage.  What these women are doing is requiring their hosts to adapt to them rather than adapting themselves.  I agree that it's rude.

It's not your fault that these women and their husbands, who are probably in tight control of these women, are so inflexible that they cannot make some appropriate changes in order to better fit into their new home.  

I can't tell you how to feel but do think you are wasting your energy being insulted by their behaviour.  Like you, I am annoyed by those people who want to move to my country (US) and force us to learn their language rather than taking the time to learn ours...but unless I can make some actual changes to these situations, getting angry only hurts me.

It sounds like you're not feeling very at home in your country...I know how you feel and I'm sorry for it.

Best to you.

Answer 4

They are totally nuts.  Let the men run all over them if they wish.

Answer 5

Many of the women ive met/seen/know who purposelt hide thier face come from Pakistan and heres the funny things ...... During the 3 weeks that I spent in that country I didnt see even ONE woman who hid her face. Sure , they'd wear asain clothes, but thats like the fashion over there, so when I see all these women hiding thier faces claiming its part of thier culture/religion im like whateverrrrrrrr.

I see it as saudi culture, NOT muslim culture. People need to stop latching onto anything arabic and label it as 'religious' or 'holy'. And Im a muslim myself, i dont see anything wrong with covering your head, but the whole IM COVERING MYSELF HEAD TO TOE COS I DONT WNAT TO BE SEEING THING pees me off. Way to draw attention to yourselfs.

Answer 6

In feel that (rightly or wrongly) Muslim women are following what they believe their religion says they should do in much the same way some Christains believe in no s*x before marriage. We may not agree with either of these things but surely we should respect what people want to believe. I do not think they are being either ignorant or provocative, just following their beliefs.

I'm not sure you can compare them to rapists or murderers. In Mexican culture Lucha Libre wrestlers are never seen without their masks yet I wouldn't compare them to a rapist or murderer.

Our customs in Our country. Last time I checked our culture allows anyone to do anything they want as long as it is not prohibited by law. Go to somewhere like Camden town and you will see that we don't have a single culture we have many different cultures.

Personally I don't agree with the totally covered face as it can be intimidating to some. But at the end of the day Britain is a country that allows everyone to be different - surely a good thing.

Answer 7

if these customs hurt or caused a great inconvenience then yes i would agree (if they refuse to learn the language the general populous speaks for example).  but from what you tell me you think they should conform just because it bugs you.  in that case i say get over it.  either that or listen to me play the worlds smallest violin

Answer 8

Both

Answer 9

The answer to your question is NEITHER.

I fail to see why it bothers you.

Answer 10

no, they have the right to wear what they want, i personally disagree with it though...i am glad they have the choice in the UK unlike country's with sharia law where they a forced...

Answer 11

this is a touchy one really because it has Many answers... my view is.

Religeon should not be ONE! giant way everybody thinks differently and for that reason i believe that anyone should be able to dress as they like.

now the question it raises is that it hides their true identity.. but honestly is there any proof of them using it to their advantage? i dont think there rele is.. and people who think so are partially racist..

the problem with this country is it is very hard to be yourself because of people always trying to label or force you down.

now maybe they should abide by our customs you say? im  sure that if you went to their country they would welcome you if you turned up in chavvy attire..

i think overrall there should be less judgment cast upon people who dont share the accusers mind.

Answer 12

You should go up to them and ask them. Each person will probably give a slightly different answer.

Many muslim women have adapted to modernity, and are not opposed to it. They see it as being modern in their own way, and want to not be associated with western values.

A lot of 'muslim' countries have had secular leaders that forced women to remove their veils in order to be more 'western' or 'modern'.  So sometimes, wearing the veil is a backlash to recent western ideas.

Also, I believe that the veil came from old Arab traditions, and not Islam, if I remember correctly.

Answer 13

they claim its "liberating"

*smirk*

Answer 14

I think that they sud abide to our rules within reason, yeah fine cover your head with a scarf wear the clothes you want, but dnt cover your face. Its intimidating.

x

Answer 15

I don't personally agree with the tradition but it highlights our great British freedom to wear what we jolly well want, d**n it!

I have a friend who's a goth and has, as part of one of her more elaborate outfits, a black lacy veil. Should we stop her from wearing it?

I would say though that when British law requires a person's face to be on view, they should do it and not cry "discrimination".  

Answer 16

A very good question...except you lost it a little at the end with a rant.

I agree totally with most of what you say.  They do not need to wear the full headdress they choose to do so and I believe that most people are not deliberatly snubbing UK culture but expect us to accept them as they are the minority.  This all stems from the problem of racism.  If people complain it is racism.  

Answer 17

Perhaps they think that their rudeness is excused by the fact that it's based on religion.

Answer 18

They're brainwashed.

Answer 19

Its both i think because i have a muslim frienwho wanted to  get back at the islamophobia and stuff like that so started wearing one.. which i thought was stupid but whatever it's their choice as long as they keep their religion to themselves and DON'T try to convert me which does seem to be a very big part of Islam.