The Burqa Enigma
In Middle Eastern
countries there is a very controversial fashion choice that many women make.
They wear a "Burqa" or “Hijab” which are types of veils which cover
women’s bodies. It is typically worn by post pubescent Muslim females when they
are in the company of men who are not of their family. The controversy
surrounding these veils is that many people believe they represent the cultural
domination of women however many of the women who don these veils say
otherwise. They state that the veil actually helps them to be free and more
comfortable. They say that the veil allows them to practice modesty and that it
frees them from the overpowering mindset of the west which is so focused on
beauty and the way a woman looks. The veils also protect these women from many
potentially damaging experiences with men. A Muslim writer named Maysan Haydar
wrote an article with the title "Veiled Intentions: Dont Judge a Muslim
Woman by her Covering" and another writer, named Lila Abu-Lughod wrote an
article titled "The Muslim Woman: The Power of Images and the Danger of
Pity". Both of these articles counter our western beliefs concerning the
practice of head veiling. As a Muslim woman Haydar has been veiling herself
since she was 12 years old and has more than half a lifetime of experiences
with her veils and it is evident in her writing as she relies heavily upon
personal anecdotes throughout her article. Abu-Lugodh however does the
opposite. She presents many facts and makes very logical counter arguments to
western beliefs surrounding the veil.
Maysan Haydar Is a Muslim female who grew
up in Midwest America. She Is currently an essayist and she advocates for the
redefining of the meaning of the Burqa and Hijab. Haydars’ essay “Veiled
Intentions” is geared more for a younger generation of women who are interested
in the topic of feminism. In her essay she attempts to show these young women
that the way in which we view the veil greatly differs from its meaning to most
Middle Eastern women. In “Veiled Intentions” Haydars' main claim is that most
of the women who veil do it as a choice and not because it is forced upon them.
Haydar states that "the practice of covering hair and body is a choice for
many women" (260). Haydar claims that most of the women who veil do it as
a part of their religion. Most religions advocate modesty regards to dress and
the Muslim culture just takes it further than most other cultures do.
Accordding to Haydar, many veiled women are not oppressed but are in fact
devout. Many of these Muslim women also do it out of social respect. We think
of the Burqa as hiding women. Western cultures feel that a good standard of
dress is jeans and a T-shirt however, Many Muslim women feel that a good
standard of dress for themselves is a Burqa.
Most people would never go in public around people who are not their
family and friends in nothing but their underwear! They would feel too
uncomfortable showing that much of myself. Perhaps that is what these Muslim
women would feel wearing shirts and shorts.
Another claim that Haydar makes is that although their "degree of
modesty is high, the value Muslim women place on the bodies underneath [their]
veils is higher". She says this as a counterargument towards the western
idea that because Muslim Women cover their bodies, they see no sexual value in
themselves. Haydar believes that Muslim women place a very high sexual value
upon themselves. Muslim women believe, in fact, that their bodies are so
valuable that they should only be shared with their loved ones. They disagree
with our western culture which places such an emphasis on the sex appeal of
women whereas Middle Eastern culture places a higher emphasis on the modesty of
women.
