The Forum > Article Comments > Intelligent debate will respect women wearing the burqa > Comments
Intelligent debate will respect women wearing the burqa : Comments
By Elizabeth Lakey, published 6/9/2010The paternalistic lack of respect for the women who wear a burqa, masquerading as 'enlightened ideals', is an abomination.
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Unless they are women, says Runner, because women should not be allowed to wear trousers, since he finds the concept of female equality or power offensive.
And unless they are Muslim women, write many posters, because they should not be allowed to wear either burkas, niqabs or full-body gowns (and presumably hijabs ?) these being unpleasant and offensive in the sight of these other people whose opinions, it seems, are supposed to vastly outweigh those of the Muslim women themselves about what they might wear.
So in equal and democratic Australia, we have a hierarchy ? Men above women, of course, but also pretty much everybody above Muslim women ? The rest of us can all dictate to them at will ? What next, the clothes police ? Come back, Himmler, all is forgiven ?
For Christ's sake, give them a break. If they wish to wear their hijabs, leave them alone. If they are forced to wear hijabs by male relatives, in order to be able to leave the confines of their house, then tolerate it and support their right to wear whatever they like when the opportunity arises. But don't penalise them for some crap cultural practice based on some Neolithic notion of female inequality and danger, and thereby validate male power over them. Don't presume to dictate to them. Leave them be.
Joe