The headscarf is no 'innocent' piece of clothing
April 13th 2008 03:19
:
The headscarf is no 'innocent' piece of clothing
In yesterday's Sydney Morning Herald, I came across a small article on Shakira Hussein, who did fieldwork amongst the women of Pakistan for her PhD. In Australia, Shakira Hussein is a prominent figure in debates on Islam-related issues and as such I always appreciate her participation, even though I mostly disagree with her. What I like about Shakira Hussein is her style of debating, which - as far as I have seen it - is calm, stressing her points of view, well argumented and without reverting to the cheap overuse of the r-words - 'racism' and 'right-wing'.
However, In the article I read yesterday (for those who have the SMH; see page 38), I came across some lines that immediately raised some question marks:
'For Hussein [...] going overseas was crucial to her research. "It has given me a different understanding on a lot of the issues that Muslim women face," she says. "For example, the way in which wearing the hijab is seen in Australia: Australians see it as women being oppressed because they have to wear it in Muslim countries, whereas Muslim countries see Australian women being oppressed because they don't wear it."'
That's it. I know it is a small article, but I am annoyed by the lack of background in stating this. Who are these 'Muslim countries'? Is Hussein talking about the authorities or is she talking about women in these countries? And if so, which women? What is their background? Whom did they represent? Did Hussein speak to Pakistani women who are forced by their husbands, brothers, mothers, wider family and community to wear the veil? I don't belive that all Pakistani women share the above vision, I simply don't buy it.
What annoys me most of all is that a quote like this one taps into the discussion that has been going on for years and that has - as all Islam-related issues - been given extra weight since September 11. The question whether Muslim women wear the veil out of their own free will or whether they are forced to wear it. 'Insight'-type discussion programs like to portray the idea that it's Muslim women's own choice, but the girls and women who hate it but are unable to leave their homes - let alone appear at 'Insight' - without it, have no voice. It reminds me of former Democrats-Senator Natasja Stott-Despoja who once appeared in parliament wearing a veil, this in support to Muslim women. I once asked her what her thoughts were on Muslim girls and women, forced to wear the veil and unable to engage in public life without it. "As a feminist, I find that a real problem," she said, "but I don't have an answer." Well, I thought, the answer definitely doesn't involve appearing in parliament wearing a headscarf.
Why do 'Muslim countries' think Australian women are oppressed? The only thing I can think of is that they are being seen as objects of desire. But the same applies to Muslim women wearing a veil. In fact, wearing the veil is based on the idea that women are dangerous creatures that have to do everything to keep men from assaulting them like some raunchy sex beasts who can't control themselves. "Every pre-marital sexual attempt by a man is the woman's fault," says French-Iranian writer Chahdortt Djavann - who fled from Iranian oppression and the headscarf in the 90s - in her book 'Bas les voiles!' ('Down with the veil!'). It is a shame that this book is not available in English translation. It could incite some healthy debate into the stifled discussion about the headscarf, especially on the fact that girls as young as five are degraded to a sexual object by having to wear the headscarf, which is far from an 'innocent' cultural piece of clothing.
I hope it may be clear that I think Shakira Hussein can explain and defend her point of view with good arguments and a solid background about how, why and when. However, quotes like the above only enforce the view that is forced upon the public by all politically correct media; the view that we are not to engage in any debate on the headscarf as all Muslim women wear them out of their own free will. Not only does this idea - and the continuous blame of 'racism' and 'islamophobia' - stifle any healthy discussion, it also doesn't help women in Muslim societies who are forced to wear the veil while they long for the freedom Western women have. Just look at any program on Iranian women and their persecution by the authorities and you know what I am talking about.
However, In the article I read yesterday (for those who have the SMH; see page 38), I came across some lines that immediately raised some question marks:
'For Hussein [...] going overseas was crucial to her research. "It has given me a different understanding on a lot of the issues that Muslim women face," she says. "For example, the way in which wearing the hijab is seen in Australia: Australians see it as women being oppressed because they have to wear it in Muslim countries, whereas Muslim countries see Australian women being oppressed because they don't wear it."'
That's it. I know it is a small article, but I am annoyed by the lack of background in stating this. Who are these 'Muslim countries'? Is Hussein talking about the authorities or is she talking about women in these countries? And if so, which women? What is their background? Whom did they represent? Did Hussein speak to Pakistani women who are forced by their husbands, brothers, mothers, wider family and community to wear the veil? I don't belive that all Pakistani women share the above vision, I simply don't buy it.
What annoys me most of all is that a quote like this one taps into the discussion that has been going on for years and that has - as all Islam-related issues - been given extra weight since September 11. The question whether Muslim women wear the veil out of their own free will or whether they are forced to wear it. 'Insight'-type discussion programs like to portray the idea that it's Muslim women's own choice, but the girls and women who hate it but are unable to leave their homes - let alone appear at 'Insight' - without it, have no voice. It reminds me of former Democrats-Senator Natasja Stott-Despoja who once appeared in parliament wearing a veil, this in support to Muslim women. I once asked her what her thoughts were on Muslim girls and women, forced to wear the veil and unable to engage in public life without it. "As a feminist, I find that a real problem," she said, "but I don't have an answer." Well, I thought, the answer definitely doesn't involve appearing in parliament wearing a headscarf.
Why do 'Muslim countries' think Australian women are oppressed? The only thing I can think of is that they are being seen as objects of desire. But the same applies to Muslim women wearing a veil. In fact, wearing the veil is based on the idea that women are dangerous creatures that have to do everything to keep men from assaulting them like some raunchy sex beasts who can't control themselves. "Every pre-marital sexual attempt by a man is the woman's fault," says French-Iranian writer Chahdortt Djavann - who fled from Iranian oppression and the headscarf in the 90s - in her book 'Bas les voiles!' ('Down with the veil!'). It is a shame that this book is not available in English translation. It could incite some healthy debate into the stifled discussion about the headscarf, especially on the fact that girls as young as five are degraded to a sexual object by having to wear the headscarf, which is far from an 'innocent' cultural piece of clothing.
I hope it may be clear that I think Shakira Hussein can explain and defend her point of view with good arguments and a solid background about how, why and when. However, quotes like the above only enforce the view that is forced upon the public by all politically correct media; the view that we are not to engage in any debate on the headscarf as all Muslim women wear them out of their own free will. Not only does this idea - and the continuous blame of 'racism' and 'islamophobia' - stifle any healthy discussion, it also doesn't help women in Muslim societies who are forced to wear the veil while they long for the freedom Western women have. Just look at any program on Iranian women and their persecution by the authorities and you know what I am talking about.
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Comment by Morgan Bell
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i think alot of western fathers (and mothers) do the same thing but perhaps to a lesser extent
its a shame that the fear of rape is such an issue in the way women have to behave and dress everywhere across the globe
as for oppression well its a bit of a toss-up sometimes, is it worse to fear the sexuality of women or to exploit their bodies for entertainment and marketing? its two extremes and both are bad, if i had to choose between being constantly clad in a bikini or a berka i dont know what id choose?
to what extent particular cultures or countries enforce or guilt a woman out of having a choice i do not know . . . i only know i do not feel forced as a white australian woman, and the select amount of muslim women i have met that live in australia did not feel forced . . . what happens overseas is a different story, it would have been more valuable if shakiras article gave more information than a throw-away line
this is a very interesting topic, i enjoyed reading your post, thanks
Comment by Krystal
feelings
Maybe their men do look after them more, it's become quite awful in the Westernworld, the way men treat women and the way women accept it, expecting nothing from their males and getting exactly what they expect. I think we're going backwards and the females are too silly to see it.
Comment by AVe
I can also recommend the article Setting Themselves Apart by Ayaan Hirsi Ali.
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