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Modesty and protection

In Reply to: Modesty and protection posted by Nikhil Jaikumar on July 05, 1999 at 17:54:00:

: Depends on whom you ask. Muslims, including Muslim women, argue that its purpose is to shield and protect women from lustful attention and harassment. This seems to be what Muslims think, so it's the reason i, as a non-Muslim, would accept. Some western feminists however, including some people i know, believe that its purpose was to subjugate women.

I see. It reminds me of orthodox Jewish (married) woman who must wear wigs or scarves always (also to shield from lustful attention), except for in the prescence of their husbands. Its their belief that no man should ever see the hair of a married woman( besides her husband), hence the "headwrap". Traditionally the hair was covered by the wrap, but modern woman choose to wear wigs instead! So letting anyone see your actual hair is a no no, but fooling them into thinking the expensive wig is your hair is perfectly acceptable. (Sigh). How does that make sense? I can see how the whole moslem garb would protect a woman from anyones lustful attentions, but how can a wig? What if the woman has naturally unattractive, thinning hair and then applies a pretty wig which makes her look ten times better? It defeats the whole purpose of covering up in the first place. IMO just another rediculous law of religion.

: speaking of which, I think it's outrageous that the French refuse to let muslim girls wear headscarves in school. And this is a supposedly liberal government.

Yes I agree, that is quite outrageous.

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