Burka/Niqab/Hijab/Islamic 'Headscarves': Religious Freedom or Religious Oppression?
I've considered starting this thread before, but have finally been compelled to do it today. I'm hearby opening the floor for enthusiastic and respectful debate on the subject of Muslim Head Coverings. I'm curious about whether the act of a woman covering her head is an act of religious freedom or religious oppression. As usual, our resident muslim, Dlish, is more than welcome to jump in and give his valued opinion.
I was at work recently, and observed a young muslim woman with her friends. She was wearing a hijab, which completely covered her head, neck and shoulders. Below that, she was wearing the tightest pair of jeans I had seen this year. I thought it was an interesting juxtaposition, with the one seemly in the name of modesty and the other flagrantly not so.
Now I'm not having issues with a woman's choice to wear whatever she wishes, but I'm curious about a religion that wants a woman to cover up. The western christian part of me can't help but think that any religion that forces a woman to dress differently than men is doing it out of a sense of oppression, and yet I've read articles and blogs from muslim women who say that they wear it out of choice. I know that in a lot of places and cultures, a woman doesn't have the right to choose. Even in Canada, I wonder if a lot of these young women that I see, with the head covering and the tight jeans are being forced to wear it by family pressures.
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I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls.
- Job 30:29
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