Look my point is, I honestly don’t CARE how people dress. As long it was THEIR OWN choice to dress a certain way, then they can do whatever they want. Governments and people should not restrict OR enforce a dress code!
SUPERB! I am so sick of all the islamophobes with miscast labels everywhere! But you know, freedom of speech and thought in Lebanon ends as soon as anyone disagrees with you.
that’s deep Sareen, oppression is oppression whether forcing women to wear something or forcing woman not to wear something … fake liberals wont get it … keep up
May I disagree… by stating ” western opinion” the comic is very judgemental. the fact that people can wear headscarfs in sweeden, USA, london… and even i know people who write anti usa blogs inside USA… contradicts this.. when people interven in burkas it s because burkas are a full cover and security breech is a big chance. let s not forget that islam is well famous for jihad…. so…..
I heard from an interview that the woman who wear niqab can show their faces for security matters [e.g. passport, check in flight etc].
Remember, niqab is not a must in islam. women should cover hair and chest [face can be seen]. so, niqab is a choice by women, whether they want or not =) well, i choose not to but i doesn’t mean i don’t support niqabs. niqabs are awesome too.
Eli, media made Islam well famous for Jihad, when in fact our religion forbids us to harm anyone unless they were directly heading towards us to kill us. Our religion says not to kill anyone unless it was in an actual war with soldiers trying to kill us. So only in cases where it is direct self defense. Also, the word Jihad means to give something up for Allah. So it is Jihad to give away half my money for charity for example.
Great last comment Rafa, thank you for stating facts, as mentioned in Quran, and not just personal opinion. I just wish religious labels and stereotypes were not used to fuel general opinion, with or against any certain people worldwide. It’s all part of a political scheme.
Sareen, I love this post. It’s quite critical that you shared this comic particularly during this time. I have met one too many Arabs (Lebanese and non-Lebanese) and Muslim-born individuals (not by practice) that have passed judgement and made snarky comments on freedom of expression and then contradict themselves (within the same conversation) when it comes to Islamic practices such as wearing the veil. They claim to be ‘open-minded’, but seem to be having more of Westernized Opinion Brainwash–this is seen in various ways in our Oriental/Western-influenced communities.
So thank you.
(and sorry about my blabbing-I’m just coming out of a writer’s block )
I love this, Sareen! One of the most ironic things I’ve been exposed to is the “be open minded and think just like me!” kind of ideology that a lot of faux liberals subscribe to. Yes, some people don’t have a choice about what they wear, and that is wrong and sad. But it has nothing to do with the vast majority of women who practice some form of modest dress because of their own deeply personal beliefs or convictions. My choice does not negate others’ lack of choice, but at the same time, their lack of choice does not negate my freedom. When justifying my life choices to arrogant concern trolls like the guy in your comic, I usually pull out the marriage analogy. Yes, some people have no say about if they or going to get married or at what age or to whom it will be, but that experience, while tragic, does not negate my own experience with marriage or the experience of millions of other happy, successful marriages around the world.
Many people use Jihad like they want and not like it is in Quraan. And about dress, it shouldn’t be a problem but I wouldn’t feel comfortable with women hidding their faces with a “burka”, even being a woman.
People who choose to cover their faces generally are pretty incredibly strong and don’t care what other people think of them. It’s a choice done to express a level of piety or to help them achieve a level of piety to which they aspire. None of the amazing women I know who have chosen to cover their face with a nikab (Please try to get the terminology right.) would care that you personally are uncomfortable with it. It’s their choice to cover and it’s your choice to dress as you personally feel most comfortable and most true to your own convictions and beliefs.
Arifi: Niqab, burka etc. can hide a man’s face, that’s why I dislike. I hope u r understanding my wrong terminology. And women should “hide” their voices right? Cause many men thinks that they should…..
I don’t think I’m understanding your point. What I’m saying is that your opinion on how others should dress is invalid because your comfort is not the reason that many strong, intelligent, extremely vocal women choose to express their faith through various forms of modest dress. The stereotype for which you appear to be advocating that submission to God is somehow indicative of submission to a patriarchal system of silence and subjugation is extremely dangerous and extremely offensive to those of us who choose to practice modest dress.
I still don’t understand the point you’re trying to make. What I’m interpreting from your last comment is that you appear to be expressing anger and hostility in response to the fact that I am behaving in precisely the way you seem to be indicating that women who practice modest dress must necessarily abstain. If so, I am deeply amused by the level of irony inherent in this comment.
However, as amusing as I’m finding this entire situation, I think it may be in both our best interests to disengage from one another since I feel that we are talking past each other at this point. Thank you very much for providing a platform from which I was able to express the lack of correlation between choosing to adopt modest dress and subjugation to institutionalized patriarchy. Please feel free to respond as you see fit, but as I’m having a bit of difficulty grasping your message, I will probably not choose to respond after this. I hope you can understand that this is because I feel like engagement is becoming futile and do not take it to mean that I am snubbing you on an individual level.
Nice comic, well said! freedom is dressing how we want and dressing in a certain way doesn’t require anyone to come free us as we have chosen that… thumbs up!
The main purpose of Women Scarf and Muslimah Dress Code (Hijab) are to protect Men Sexual arousing behavior… It is not to protect Women directly from Sexual Harassment, it is to protect every Women Sexual appeal to Men… Men Sexual behavior and Women Sexual appeal are well preserved if Women are not overexposed them self.
I wear my scarf to express my identity as a pious Muslim woman. I carry mace to protect myself from poorly-raised men who think that a woman’s clothing is an invitation to sexual harassment or assault. Some people do seem to view modest dress as a means of policing male sexuality, but many of us who make this choice are dressing for ourselves, not for the male gaze. Also, I and other women I know have been sexually harassed and assaulted while practicing modest dress. These kinds of crimes are generally far more related to the ill will of the aggressor than any sort of perceived temptation or messages sent by a victim’s clothing.
Actually, this comic isn’t really a very good representation of the West or at least certainly not the US. In the US, the percentage of men that say they both support women’s movements and the open “objectification” of women based on their dress is very low. It is the men who OPPOSE women’s movements (the “men’s rights activists” — generally rightwing and non-religious) who are the strong supporters, even advocates, of objectifying women based on their dress.
The issue of women’s “modesty” in regards to her dress/clothing is a pretty hot issue in the US right now. In fact the US has a quite active “modesty movement” based in conservative/Evangelical Protestant churches, who are very politically active and vocal in the US. A blog post by a conservative Christian on the issue of young women’s modesty went viral a few weeks ago and it was all over the news with a huge controversy/debate. In case anyone is curious about how this issue actually plays out in the US, this is a good entry point. The original blog post has been edited, but it is called “FYI (If You’re a Teenage Girl)” and it is here: http://givenbreath.com/2013/09/03/fyi-if-youre-a-teenage-girl/. There are responses all over the web but here is one starting point: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/05/fyi-teenage-girl-controversy-mother-slut-shaming_n_3874957.html
Western Governments and Middle Eastern Governments have the same problem, they want to regulate how people behave, Don’t speed, Don’t drink, Don’t do this, Don’t do that, they are reflections of each other fighting over who gets to control the population. The US has just as many rules and regulations as the Arabic countries, they just charge you huge fines instead of whipping or beating you.
.
SUPERB! I am so sick of all the islamophobes with miscast labels everywhere! But you know, freedom of speech and thought in Lebanon ends as soon as anyone disagrees with you.
Quebec is doing just that, they are banning all religious wear from public offices.
that’s deep Sareen, oppression is oppression whether forcing women to wear something or forcing woman not to wear something … fake liberals wont get it … keep up
ok and i think he should buy a longer t shirt !
May I disagree… by stating ” western opinion” the comic is very judgemental. the fact that people can wear headscarfs in sweeden, USA, london… and even i know people who write anti usa blogs inside USA… contradicts this.. when people interven in burkas it s because burkas are a full cover and security breech is a big chance. let s not forget that islam is well famous for jihad…. so…..
I heard from an interview that the woman who wear niqab can show their faces for security matters [e.g. passport, check in flight etc].
Remember, niqab is not a must in islam. women should cover hair and chest [face can be seen]. so, niqab is a choice by women, whether they want or not =) well, i choose not to but i doesn’t mean i don’t support niqabs. niqabs are awesome too.
Eli, media made Islam well famous for Jihad, when in fact our religion forbids us to harm anyone unless they were directly heading towards us to kill us. Our religion says not to kill anyone unless it was in an actual war with soldiers trying to kill us. So only in cases where it is direct self defense. Also, the word Jihad means to give something up for Allah. So it is Jihad to give away half my money for charity for example.
Great last comment Rafa, thank you for stating facts, as mentioned in Quran, and not just personal opinion. I just wish religious labels and stereotypes were not used to fuel general opinion, with or against any certain people worldwide. It’s all part of a political scheme.
Sareen, I love this post. It’s quite critical that you shared this comic particularly during this time. I have met one too many Arabs (Lebanese and non-Lebanese) and Muslim-born individuals (not by practice) that have passed judgement and made snarky comments on freedom of expression and then contradict themselves (within the same conversation) when it comes to Islamic practices such as wearing the veil. They claim to be ‘open-minded’, but seem to be having more of Westernized Opinion Brainwash–this is seen in various ways in our Oriental/Western-influenced communities.
So thank you.
)
(and sorry about my blabbing-I’m just coming out of a writer’s block
One of your best work!
I love this, Sareen! One of the most ironic things I’ve been exposed to is the “be open minded and think just like me!” kind of ideology that a lot of faux liberals subscribe to. Yes, some people don’t have a choice about what they wear, and that is wrong and sad. But it has nothing to do with the vast majority of women who practice some form of modest dress because of their own deeply personal beliefs or convictions. My choice does not negate others’ lack of choice, but at the same time, their lack of choice does not negate my freedom. When justifying my life choices to arrogant concern trolls like the guy in your comic, I usually pull out the marriage analogy. Yes, some people have no say about if they or going to get married or at what age or to whom it will be, but that experience, while tragic, does not negate my own experience with marriage or the experience of millions of other happy, successful marriages around the world.
Sareen why do you have to draw the line somewhere at all?
If someone overweight want to show off their belly and thighs what do we care ?
Many people use Jihad like they want and not like it is in Quraan. And about dress, it shouldn’t be a problem but I wouldn’t feel comfortable with women hidding their faces with a “burka”, even being a woman.
People who choose to cover their faces generally are pretty incredibly strong and don’t care what other people think of them. It’s a choice done to express a level of piety or to help them achieve a level of piety to which they aspire. None of the amazing women I know who have chosen to cover their face with a nikab (Please try to get the terminology right.) would care that you personally are uncomfortable with it. It’s their choice to cover and it’s your choice to dress as you personally feel most comfortable and most true to your own convictions and beliefs.
البرقع كلمة صحيحة
Arifi: Niqab, burka etc. can hide a man’s face, that’s why I dislike. I hope u r understanding my wrong terminology. And women should “hide” their voices right? Cause many men thinks that they should…..
I don’t think I’m understanding your point. What I’m saying is that your opinion on how others should dress is invalid because your comfort is not the reason that many strong, intelligent, extremely vocal women choose to express their faith through various forms of modest dress. The stereotype for which you appear to be advocating that submission to God is somehow indicative of submission to a patriarchal system of silence and subjugation is extremely dangerous and extremely offensive to those of us who choose to practice modest dress.
Are u “taurus”? Did u eat a dictionary? Since when u feel so powerful? Tell me your problems… but not…
I still don’t understand the point you’re trying to make. What I’m interpreting from your last comment is that you appear to be expressing anger and hostility in response to the fact that I am behaving in precisely the way you seem to be indicating that women who practice modest dress must necessarily abstain. If so, I am deeply amused by the level of irony inherent in this comment.
However, as amusing as I’m finding this entire situation, I think it may be in both our best interests to disengage from one another since I feel that we are talking past each other at this point. Thank you very much for providing a platform from which I was able to express the lack of correlation between choosing to adopt modest dress and subjugation to institutionalized patriarchy. Please feel free to respond as you see fit, but as I’m having a bit of difficulty grasping your message, I will probably not choose to respond after this. I hope you can understand that this is because I feel like engagement is becoming futile and do not take it to mean that I am snubbing you on an individual level.
Your verbiage was immensely interesting and I loved to see you throwing the dictionary,but I didn’t change my opinion. You are TAURUS
Goodbye
Nice comic, well said! freedom is dressing how we want and dressing in a certain way doesn’t require anyone to come free us as we have chosen that… thumbs up!
God forbid someone dress how they like. Wait, no, it’s just people are SAYING god forbids it.
The main purpose of Women Scarf and Muslimah Dress Code (Hijab) are to protect Men Sexual arousing behavior… It is not to protect Women directly from Sexual Harassment, it is to protect every Women Sexual appeal to Men… Men Sexual behavior and Women Sexual appeal are well preserved if Women are not overexposed them self.
I wear my scarf to express my identity as a pious Muslim woman. I carry mace to protect myself from poorly-raised men who think that a woman’s clothing is an invitation to sexual harassment or assault. Some people do seem to view modest dress as a means of policing male sexuality, but many of us who make this choice are dressing for ourselves, not for the male gaze. Also, I and other women I know have been sexually harassed and assaulted while practicing modest dress. These kinds of crimes are generally far more related to the ill will of the aggressor than any sort of perceived temptation or messages sent by a victim’s clothing.
Actually, this comic isn’t really a very good representation of the West or at least certainly not the US. In the US, the percentage of men that say they both support women’s movements and the open “objectification” of women based on their dress is very low. It is the men who OPPOSE women’s movements (the “men’s rights activists” — generally rightwing and non-religious) who are the strong supporters, even advocates, of objectifying women based on their dress.
The issue of women’s “modesty” in regards to her dress/clothing is a pretty hot issue in the US right now. In fact the US has a quite active “modesty movement” based in conservative/Evangelical Protestant churches, who are very politically active and vocal in the US. A blog post by a conservative Christian on the issue of young women’s modesty went viral a few weeks ago and it was all over the news with a huge controversy/debate. In case anyone is curious about how this issue actually plays out in the US, this is a good entry point. The original blog post has been edited, but it is called “FYI (If You’re a Teenage Girl)” and it is here: http://givenbreath.com/2013/09/03/fyi-if-youre-a-teenage-girl/. There are responses all over the web but here is one starting point: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/05/fyi-teenage-girl-controversy-mother-slut-shaming_n_3874957.html
Thanks for speaking up Sareen!! You rock!!
And you rock too!
Western Governments and Middle Eastern Governments have the same problem, they want to regulate how people behave, Don’t speed, Don’t drink, Don’t do this, Don’t do that, they are reflections of each other fighting over who gets to control the population. The US has just as many rules and regulations as the Arabic countries, they just charge you huge fines instead of whipping or beating you.