The problem of the veil
May. 16th, 2015 07:56 pmOver the last few days we've seen people from almost every continent. I'm sure there were precious few Chinese here even 10 years ago, but there are lots here now, so that's encouraging. However, we've also seen quite a few women who are completely covered, save the eyes and hands. Often as not, their husbands are dressed in tight T-shirts and/or shorts.
Now, my feminist sensibilities instruct me that women have every right to wear just what they choose so, if these women were to assure me that their choice of dress is purely their own, I'd be duty bound to accept it. However, I cannot shake the suspicion (at the very least) that these women's choice has not been made entirely in a vacuum. It seems to me that the dress code was designed by men - and let's be honest here, it was men - who appear to have laid down rather stricter rules for what women should be allowed to wear than those laid down for men. Or at least, if the rules for dress in the Qur'an are strictly even handed, then the interpretation of those rules seem rather less so. I find it hard to believe in a God that would restrict one half of his/her creation more than the other half. So, again, I find it difficult to shake the suspicion that the men who codified the rules were, at best, less than even handed in their interpretation.
A postscript to this occurred today (Saturday). A woman in a head scarf approached us to ask a question. Her (rather generously covered) husband said something to her and she turned towards him to reply. I then saw her doing something with her scarf and when she turned around, only her eyes were visible. Clearly, she had no qualms about talking to us with her face uncovered, but he obviously did. A little while later we saw them again. She was on a swing, again open-faced, while her husband had his back to us. As we passed he suddenly became aware of our presence. I purposely did not look in their direction, but I'm sure I saw her covering her face again.
Now, my feminist sensibilities instruct me that women have every right to wear just what they choose so, if these women were to assure me that their choice of dress is purely their own, I'd be duty bound to accept it. However, I cannot shake the suspicion (at the very least) that these women's choice has not been made entirely in a vacuum. It seems to me that the dress code was designed by men - and let's be honest here, it was men - who appear to have laid down rather stricter rules for what women should be allowed to wear than those laid down for men. Or at least, if the rules for dress in the Qur'an are strictly even handed, then the interpretation of those rules seem rather less so. I find it hard to believe in a God that would restrict one half of his/her creation more than the other half. So, again, I find it difficult to shake the suspicion that the men who codified the rules were, at best, less than even handed in their interpretation.
A postscript to this occurred today (Saturday). A woman in a head scarf approached us to ask a question. Her (rather generously covered) husband said something to her and she turned towards him to reply. I then saw her doing something with her scarf and when she turned around, only her eyes were visible. Clearly, she had no qualms about talking to us with her face uncovered, but he obviously did. A little while later we saw them again. She was on a swing, again open-faced, while her husband had his back to us. As we passed he suddenly became aware of our presence. I purposely did not look in their direction, but I'm sure I saw her covering her face again.